Thread: DSI raids Niche Cars Group, impounds all 60 luxury supercars

Authorities from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) yesterday raided Niche Cars Group, the country’s leading high end distributor of luxury supercars, after suspecting it of tax avoidance.

The DSI team was led by its deputy director general Pol Lt Col Koravajara Panpraphakorn.

The team raided the company’s four-storey showroom building on Rama 9 in Suan Luang area for search after receiving information that the supercar importer made false declaration of the prices of luxury cars to avoid the high import duties.

Inside the showroom are over 60 luxury super cars, 40 of which are Lamborghini cars, and the rest comprising Lotus, McLaren, Pagani, Ferrari, Hummer, and Koenigsegg cars.

The DSI deputy chief said all the 60 supercars in the company will be impounded until the importer could produce evidence that show import duties were properly and legally paid.

During the raid yesterday, the owner of the company denied any access to the premise by news journalists.

Niche Cars Group is Thailand’s leading high end distributor of elite automotive brands. Niche Cars Group has been in business almost 30 years and become a leading car importer in Asia.

DSI raids Niche Cars Group, impounds all 60 luxury supercars - Thai PBS English News

DSI seize 122 super cars in nine raids in Bangkok

A total of 122 super cars have been impounded by the Department of Special Investigation following coordinated raids of nine car showrooms and warehouses, especially the Niche Car Group, in Bangkok on Friday.

The impounding of the 122 luxury cars were announced at a press conference by justice deputy permanent secretary Pol Col Dusadee Arayawuth and DSI chief Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang.

Officials of the DSI split up to raid nine locations connected with import of luxury cars, including showrooms at Siam Paragon and Ekamai, Raminthra road and the residence of Mr Wittavat Choenbaramee of the Niche Car Group.

The cars impounded include Lamboghini, Ferrari and Lotus.

DSI deputy director-general Pol Lt-Col Korawat Parnprapakorn told the media that initial investigation findings showed that the Niche Group was linked to the grey market’s import of luxury and super cars into the country.

He alleged that these importers falsified invoices that under-declared the actual prices of the cars by 10-18 million baht per unit in order to avoid paying full amount of import taxes if the actual prices were declared.

He said that, at this stage, it was not concluded whether there were any government officials involved in this tax illegal business.

It was noted that the raids came ahead of Niche Car Group’s plan to hold an exhibition of second-hand super cars.

DSI seize 122 super cars in nine raids in Bangkok - Thai PBS English News

The probe has been expanded.

10,000 supercars face tax probe | Bangkok Post: news

I am happy everytime cheating governments are cheated ! This is what they deserve, and anybody paying tax on anything is plain stupid.

Daylight robbery!

DSI submits list of 110 officials to graft buster for probe in supercar tax evasion scam

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has submitted a list of 110 state officials to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for probe after finding them responsible for customs documentation clearance of the 122 supercars impounded from several car importers in Bangkok and Samut Prakan on Thursday and yesterday for suspected import tax avoidance.

The supercars impounded include famous brands such as Lamborghini, Lotus, McLaren, Pagani, Ferrari, Hummer, and Koenigsegg.

DSI said over 10 billion baht in tax was avoided a year from such false declaration of actual car prices by these unscrupulous importers.

The 110 names of state officials comprise both high ranking officials at executive level and low ranking officials.

According to the DSI, the impounding of these supercars came from several years of investigation into an incident in Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima in May 2013 when several supercars were damaged in a mystery fire while these cars were on the way to deliver to customers in Sisaket province.

Trailing of these cars back to Bangkok showed they were delivered by some of these car importers raided yesterday by DSI.

DSI found these importers have exploited loopholes on the customs law to evade tax. They forged prices in the invoices to under-declare the actual prices from the manufacturers.

DSI deputy director general Korawat Panpraphakorn cited an example of a supercar of which the original price at factory was 200,000 Euro but was changed to 100,000 US dollars so as to pay lower taxes.

He declined comment when asked why customs officials didn’t have information on pricing data from manufacturers, saying he could not get interfered in their works.

All the names were in the hands of the NACC to look into any collusion, he said.

At the same time deputy permanent secretary for justice, Pol Col Dusadee Arayawut said there were collusions between companies and state officials.

So they would be held responsible for the missing taxes.

DSI submits list of 110 officials to graft buster for probe in supercar tax evasion scam - Thai PBS English News

10 impounded super cars were stolen cars from abroad

About 10 of the super cars out of over 100 impounded by the Department of Special Investigation Department last week for suspected tax evasions were reported stolen from abroad and sold to buyers in Thailand by transnational carjacking gangs.

DSI director-general Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang told the media on Thursday that his office had received information from its foreign counterparts that as many as 10 of the super cars seized by the DSI last week from grey market car show rooms in Bangkok had been reported to have been stolen from their owners.

DSI officials continued their hunt for tax-dodging super cars by visiting several car show rooms. About 20 cars suspected to have under-declared their actual import prices to dodge paying higher import taxes were impounded for further examination.

On May 18, DSI officials raided Niche Car Group on Rama IX road and nine other show rooms and seized 122 super cars and luxurious cars for further examination.

DSI officials said the import prices of the cars were under-declared, causing the state to lose about 2.4 billion baht in lost tax revenue.

10 impounded super cars were stolen cars from abroad - Thai PBS English News

I wonder who the buyers are.

Originally Posted by sabang

I wonder who the buyers are.

I kind of hope that they are people who believed that a military government would be good for them.

Originally Posted by sabang

I wonder who the buyers are.

how many were for the krateng ya dong heir ?

Navy man admits involvement in car laundering

A naval officer attached to the Supreme Command turned himself in at Wang Thong Land police station on Friday to face charge of falsifying documents and used counterfeit documents concerning a Porsche sports car which was already impounded by the police.

Accompanied by officials of the judge-advocate department, Commander Suthat Wantavek reportedly told enquiry officers of Wang Thong Land police station he was aware that the yellow Porsche in question had a fake registration certificate and the car was illegally modified.

After the initial questioning, Suthat was charged with abetting the falsification of official documents. He was later released on 10,000 baht bail.

Three suspects were earlier arrested for involvement in falsification of papers and using false documents. They were identified as Somdul Sridurongrith, Pornchai Tiyavanich and Chinkrit Tanyamont. They were released on bail.

Informed police source said that 3-4 police officers might be involved with the gang in falsifying documents concerning with luxurious cars whose import prices were alleged to be overly under-declared.

The Porsche has been sent to Forensic Crime Detection Division for close inspection.

Navy man admits involvement in car laundering - Thai PBS English News

Hunt on for stolen UK cars

MORE THAN 40 luxury cars have been stolen from Britain and sent to Thailand, according to Thai and British authorities.

Of them, at least three have already been sold to buyers who may not know about the illegal background of the dream cars.

Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) launched an investigation to locate the stolen vehicles after being contacted by Britain’s National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service.

more Hunt on for stolen UK cars

TV heartthrob Dome to meet DSI officials regarding his Lamboghini

Wellknown entertainer Pakorn “Dome” Lam has promised to present himself to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officials this coming week to clarify the procurement of his Lamboghini sports car which was recently impounded by the DSI.

The super car which was put on sale at a car showroom raided by DSI officials last week was found to be one of the 42 cars stolen in Britain by carjacking gang as reported by Britain’s National Vehicle Intelligence Service.

Dome wrote in his Facebook page that he had prepared documents regarding registration and purchase of the luxurious car a receipt of his payment from the car dealer and would personally present himself to make clarification with DSI officials without have to wait for a summons from the officials.

DSI officials have impounded more than 100 super cars from “grey market” car dealers in recent raids.

TV heartthrob Dome to meet DSI officials regarding his Lamboghini - Thai PBS English News

Greed, greed and more greed.

As if anyone buying one would NOT guess the duties were underpaid. As they say, liability goes with the car and it is for the new owner to make up the unpaid taxes.

And does it never cross their minds that these cars may be stolen?

Serves them all right. (And that is not envy)

Dome and his super car.

More suspected stolen cars found in Customs Department’s free zone

Three more luxurious cars believed stolen in Britain and exported to Thailand have been found at Customs Department’s free zone in Samut Prakan.

A team of officials from the Department of Special Investigation led by the department’s deputy chief Pol Lt-Col Korawat Panprapakorn went to the free zone in Bang Bo-Bo Kaew area to examine two of the cars which were parked inside a warehouse.

The other two were on board a freighter which was about to sail out of port, prompting customs officials to order the skipper to turn back so that DSI officials could examine them.

DSI officials have, so far, retrieved 10 of some 40 stolen luxurious cars reported by Britain’s National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVICIS) to have been shipped to Thailand.

An informed DSI source said it was suspected that there was a group of people attempting to ship some of the stolen cars out of the country to prevent them from falling into the hands of the DSI.

The source added that some corrupt customs officials were involved in falsifying invoices to facilitate the import of the stolen cars into the country.

More suspected stolen cars found in Customs Department?s free zone - Thai PBS English News

i wonder if the cars stolen from abroad will be returned, or auctioned off at the customs department bi annual car auctions at their khlong toey offices. this is what usually happens to most vehicles seized by the authorities.

anyone who has attended one of those auctions will know that the bidding process is suspect to say the least and that the obscene circus is no more than a disgraceful paean to mammon as gold encusted bidders and sleazy officials backslap themselves into hysterics as the bentleys, porsches, lamborghinis and ferraris come under the hammer.

entrance is free, and is a perfect day out for either petrol heads or people watchers with an interest in "the rich thai at play"

DSI seizes a Range Rover sports utility vehicle in Lat Krabang

The Department of Special Investigation on Wednesday seized another stolen luxury car at a company in Lat Krabang industrial estate.

The seizure of a Range Rover hybrid from JMW Motors Company has brought the number of luxury cars reported stolen in Britain to 13 out of a total of 42 stolen cars believed shipped to Thailand as reported by the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service.

DSI deputy director-general Pol Lt-Col Korawat Panprapakorn said that the chassis and engine numbers of the seized Range Rover matched with the numbers of the stolen car.

After the seizure, the car was placed under the care of Customs Department.

As for the remaining stolen cars which are yet to be retrieved, Pol Lt-Col Korawat admitted that he was afraid some of them might already be shipped out of the country to elsewhere.

Regarding the buyers of the stolen cars, he said that they might not know the cars were stolen and could claim themselves of being the damaged party.

He also appealed to owners of about 1,000 luxury cars which were under-declared to avoid paying full taxes to turn in their vehicles for inspection by DSI officials otherwise they would not be allowed to pay road tax next year which means that they could not use the cars legally.

DSI seizes a Range Rover sports utility vehicle in Lat Krabang - Thai PBS English News

Seeing the topic on Chalerm's son made me wonder if the stable of luxury cars he had including a pink Bentley, which he said were not his as he was only looking after them from someone from Singapore, are part of this 'investigation'.

Long overdue for his name to appear on the list of those involved in crooked dealings.

Apparently they are going to check every luxury car at tax renewal, at last a comprehensive approach, if enforced

Who is this ex-politician?

Ex-politician threatens to sue over seized stolen car: source

A former politician who reportedly possesses a luxury car stolen from Britain has threatened to sue investigators who refused to withdraw a confiscation order to let him keep the vehicle, a source at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said on Thursday.

Following the confiscation of 166 luxury cars – 13 of which were found to have been stolen from the UK –from various locations last month as part of the DSI-Customs Department investigation into alleged import tax evasion, the unnamed ex-politician this week informed DSI investigators that he had one of the stolen cars in his possession.

He insisted that since he bought the car legally, he should be regarded as a damaged person and allowed to keep it, the source said.

After being told the car must be sent back to Britain, he became furious, claimed to be a former politician of a major party and threatened to sue the whole investigation team, the source said.

DSI officers would check cars parked at warehouses in the Laem Chabang Port's duty-free zone next week, the source added.

DSI chief, Pol Colonel Paisit Wongmuang, said on Thursday several car importers had contacted the department to explain their car imports so as to retrieve the cars. The DSI promised to ensure justice to all parties according to the evidence.

Ex-politician threatens to sue over seized stolen car: source

State suffers 1.8 billion baht in lost tax revenue from luxury cars

The state has sustained 1.8 billion baht in lost tax revenue from a total of 124 luxury cars which were imported into the country and under-declared their actual prices by car importers to avoid taxation, said Customs Department deputy director-general Chaiyuth Kamkoon.

Mr Chaiyut was speaking at a press conference held at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Tuesday (Aug 1). Also present at the press conference were DSI director-general Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang, DSI deputy director-general Pol Lt-Col Korrawat Panprapakorn, Foreign Trade deputy director-general Kirati Ratchano and Pol Lt-Col Pakorn Suchivakul, commander of Tax Cases Office.

Mr Chaiyuth said that the lost revenue from uncollected import taxes, amounting to 1.838 billion baht was a civil case and it did not include fine in accordance with the Customs Act, amounting to four times the actual prices of the luxury cars.

Pol Lt-Col Korrawat , meanwhile, said that 16 individuals of five groups of luxury car importers had been summoned to acknowledge the charges against them while some buyers of the under-priced luxury cars had been told to claim their 59 luxury cars, which has been confiscated by the DSI, to be kept with them.

The DSI deputy chief dismissed allegation that the DSI had dragged their feet in investigating the under-priced luxury cars, saying that DSI officials had to coordinate with the Customs Department as well as the car manufacturers to obtain necessary information to back up their case.

Mr Kirati, meanwhile, said that 20 used Japanese cars were brought back to Thailand by Thai students who studied in Japan, but it was discovered by the Foreign Trade Department that only two of them had driving licenses issued by Japanese authorities.

He added that the department then sought cooperation from the DSI to investigate the 18 other used cars whether their import documents were proper or not.

State suffers 1.8 billion baht in lost tax revenue from luxury cars - Thai PBS English News

So don't bother importing a luxury car into Thailand because the police will impounf it and auction it off. Then funnl the money around the police department in pecking order. Great news for all those wishing to import a luxury vehicle.

DSI returns 38 super cars to their owners

The Department of Special Investigation has returned 38 super cars to three importing companies because they are not included in the list of cars marked to be impounded, said DSI deputy director-general Pol Lt-Col Korrawat Panprapakorn on Thursday (Sept 7).

The 38 super cars from England were initially impounded because the importers were yet to submit to the DSI evidence of the car prices from the manufacturers, said the DSI deputy chief.

All the 38 cars were returned to the three importers. These include 17 Rolls Royce belonging to Millennium Auto Sales and Services; 15 Aston Martin, one Ferrari and one McLaren belonging to Heritage Motor Sales and Services; and four Maserati belonging to Design Motors.

The DSI deputy chief assured that not all the impounded luxury cars were returned to the owners nor was the DSI selective in its decision to return the seized cars.

He reiterated that the cars which are kept at the showrooms of the importers and proven to be stolen cars or which were underpriced would not be returned to their owners.

Investigation by the DSI shows that some 300 Lamborghini, Maserati and Ferrari which were imported from the manufacturers in Italy were under-declared and 160 of them are still kept at the importers’ showrooms with 120 others already sold.

The DSI deputy chief said that the DSI could not impound any of the imported super cars while the DSI was awaiting information about the actual prizes of the vehicles from the manufacturers.

DSI returns 38 super cars to their owners - Thai PBS English News