BANGKOK, June 17 – Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung today rejected an allegation that he failed to pay the full tax for his Rolls Royce.
Former senator Ruangkrai Leekitwatana filed a complaint with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), charging Mr Chalerm with evading tax for the Rolls Royce, carrying a licence plate Por Or 4444, which he recently drove to Government House.
Mr Chalerm said earlier that he bought the luxury car at Bt26 million but Mr Ruangkrai argued that the car should cost Bt37 million if the deputy prime minister paid tax in full.
The deputy prime minister said today the Rolls Royce which belongs to his son’s Singaporean business partner was legally imported with tax payment in full to the Customs Department.
“It is not a reassembled car. The Singaporean owner who left two of them with me mortgaged them with a financial company,” Mr Chalerm said.
He said he would discuss with his lawyer to see if he should file a counter-lawsuit against Mr Ruangkrai.
DSI director general Tarit Pengdith said investigators will look into Mr Ruangkrai’s allegation against the deputy prime minister.
Meanwhile, the DSI will launch its one-stop service centre tomorrow to check the legality of 548 luxury cars to determine if they were legally bought by their owners.
