BANGKOK, 7 June 2013 Officials from the Department of Special Investigation yesterday conducted searches of 4 sites to find links to the luxury cars that burned down on top of a trailer in Nakhon Ratchasima last week, an incident that has sparked a rush by authorities to clamp down on car import tax evasion.
DSI officials searched the home of Thamma Motor Rich company’s managing director Phonphimon Khehathan, and the warehouses of JMW Motor Co. Ltd., TAN Express Co. Ltd., and Phochai Auto Parts Co. Ltd. The search resulted in the finding of 5 cars, 3 Mercedes and 2 Maybachs, suspected of having had gone through the tax evasion process. 24,000 bottles of imported liquor, suspected to have been imported illegally, were also found in the warehouse of TAN Express.
DSI director-general Tharit Phengdit, after conferring with representatives from the Revenue Department, the Thai Industrial Standard Institute, the Central Institute of Forensic Science, the Customs Department and the Land Transport Department, said the ownership of luxury cars will be scrutinized and the total number of such cars and the list of the owners will be revealed by Monday (June 10).
