Previously, the Revenue Department had issued a tax summons calling on Thaksin’s children, Panthongtae and Pinthongta, to pay tax arising from getting millions of Shin Corp shares below market prices in 2006.

But the Central Tax Court in 2010 ruled in favour with Thaksin’s children, saying that the financial assets belonged to Thaksin.

The Tax Court then referred to the ruling by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders to seize Bt46 billion in assets from Thaksin.

Based on the two courts’ verdicts, the Revenue Department claims the tax summons for this tax case had been issued within the five-year limit.

The department said this meant it could make a tax assessment and demand Thaksin pay taxes.

A tax assessment made within the 10-year limit, or before March 31, is considered in line with the statute of limitations under the Revenue Code, according to the source. The tax assessment is expected to be about Bt12-13 billion.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, or Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, will hold the press conference today after the Cabinet meeting to clarify the issue.

The NCPO spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said after 30-minute meeting that the orders aimed to elevate road safety during the Songkran Festival, traffic measures, and the management of education officials.

He did not detail the fourth order.

Headed by Prime Minister and NCPO chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the meeting was held prior to the weekly Cabinet meeting at Government House on Tuesday.

Interior Ministry General Anupong Paochinda said he planned to propose to the Cabinet meeting a compensation plan for residents affected from “Chao Phraya for All” development project.

He also planned to propose measures to manage transportation during Songkran via cooperation among police, the military, transportation officials and local officials.

AFTER years of international criticism over its human rights policies, a 46-member delegation is strong enough to defend Thailand’s position before the Human Rights Committee on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR), senior government officials said.

Thailand was scheduled to submit its second periodic report to the comฌmittee yesterday and today in Geneva. Each country is required to submit reports on the measures they have adopted which affect human rights.

As well as the report, the committee also provided a list of 10 issues involving 28 inquiries for Thailand to respond to. They include rights and liberty and security of people, as well as rights to freedom of expression, which are constantly highlighted by civil society organisations in Thailand.

Since the 2014 coup, the Thai junta was been widely criticised over its human rights suppression against opponents and poor human rights practices.

While Thailand’s explanation to the international community and UN body is not straightforward, critics quesฌtioned the size of the Thai delegation.

Headed by permanent secretary to the Justice Ministry Charnchao Chaiyanukij, the delegation consists of 14 officers from the Foreign Ministry, six from the Justice Ministry, four from the police and the Labour Ministry each, three representatives of administrative bodies in the deep South, three from the Education Ministry, two from the Interior Ministry, the Defence Ministry, and the Social Development and Human Security Ministry each, an officer from the Office of the Attorney General, Office of the President of the Supreme Court, the Digital Economy and Society Ministry, the National Security Council each and an interpreter.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam yesterday defended the large number of Thai delegates saying it was due to various missions the delegation has to handle.

Wissanu, who did not know the exact number of the delegates, said they would have to split to join in meetings of different agendas. For instance, some of them would need to travel to Austria to join a session there.

The Justice Ministry’s deputy permanent secretary and spokesperson Tawatchai Thaikyo said some delegates are scheduled to join the 60th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs under the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna from yesterday to Friday.

According to published papers, Thailand has the highest number participants, with 46, followed by 33 from Serbia, 25 from Italy, 16 from Bangladesh, 12 from Bosnia and Herzegovina and five from Turkmenistan.

In Geneva, Thailand is obligated to provide information on the use of some of the junta’s orders that give military officers’ authority to search or detain any individual deemed a threat to national security.

Thai representatives will respond that the country did not allow impuniฌty. If a state official, or someone acting on its behalf, commits a crime, that person shall be held accountable and subject to disciplinary action and/or legal punishment, the document says.

The use of the Military Court was also a point of issue raised by the Human Rights Committee, which requested the country clarify whether military courts can try civilians and, if so, how and under what circumstances, and also indicate measures taken to transfer all cases involving civilians from military to civilian courts.

In response, Thailand wrote in the report that “cases involving unlawful exercise of administrative power by state officials are prosecuted by the Administrative Court.

“The Court has the power to order officials to stop or refrain from an act, as well as recompense the damage. The responsibility does not limit to officials committing unlawful acts, but also extends to the state agency to which those officials are affiliated”.

Pol General Chaiya Siri-amphankul, secretary-general of the AMLO, said after an urgent meeting yesterday that the solution – details of which are not known – would make the government “happy”.

The meeting was held and chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam yesterday after the Revenue Department insisted there was no legal recourse to levy back taxes on the sale of Shin Corp shares by former premier Thaksin Shinatra’s family to Temasek Holdings of Singapore.

According to the Revenue Department, the statute of limitations on the case had already expired and it could not seek an extension because that would negatively affect the taxpayers in question.

On the other hand, the agency is empowered by law to seek extensions to the statute of limitations on tax cases if such extensions are beneficial to the taxpayers concerned.

“I cannot reveal the details of the meeting yet, but what I can say is that the government will be happy with the solution,” Chaiya told reporters after yesterday’s meeting with Wissanu.

Wissanu and Chaiya then left to meet Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Wissanu said separately that Prayut would reveal new information regarding the case.

On Sunday, it was reported that the Revenue Department did not have legal recourse to collect taxes from the Shinawatra family over the controversial multi-billion-baht sale of Shin Corp shares in 2006.

It said the five-year tax summons limit had already expired.

The Revenue Department had been under considerable pressure from the Office of the Auditor-General to pursue the case. Auditor-General Pisit Leelavachiropas also threatened to take legal action against the head of the Revenue Department over the dispute concerning the former PM’s family.

‘Unfair trading’?

According to AMLO’s stated mandate, the agency is empowered to fight money laundering and the financing of terrorism. There are currently 25 offences that are regarded as money laundering and related illegal |activities.

The offences include those concerning drug trafficking, prostitution, money lending and fraud, securities fraud, abuses of official duties, violations of customs law, terrorism, and gambling involving more than 100 people or funds amounting to more than Bt10 million.

Also covered are participation in criminal networks; acceptance of stolen assets; counterfeiting banknotes, stamps and promissory notes; violations of intellectual property rights; and the counterfeiting of ownership documents, electronic cards and passports.

The list is rounded out with abuses of natural resources and the environment, holding hostages, unfair trading of securities, trading of arms, abuses of election law and human trafficking.

It remained unclear whether the “unfair trading of securities” offence would be cited by the agency to pursue criminal charges against the Shinawatra family, who sold the majority of shares in Shin Corp to Temasek Holdings of Singapore in early 2006.

On Thai Elephant Day yesterday, National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP) deputy director-general Adisorn Noochdumrong said the number of wild elephants in Thailand was rising at a rate of between 7 and 10 per cent.

Adisorn said areas that had seen a steep increase in the wild elephant population were the western forest in the Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary and eastern forest in the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai forest complex. In the eastern forest, the number of wild |elephants has been rising by up to 10 per cent.

“This is the outstanding outcome of our efforts to protect the |forest ecosystem and preserve the wild elephants, since we have worked on reintroducing wild elephants into the forest and building food sources for elephants,” Adisorn said.

However, the increased number of wild elephants means more competition over limited food sources in the forest and could mean wild elephants will invade farmland near the forest looking for food and coming into conflict with farmers.

Adisorn said that to address the problem, the department was taking measures to create more food sources for elephants and also working with local people to protect the elephants.

“We are now working with the Groundwater Resources Department to develop new water sources for wild animals including elephants in the forest, as many forests experience water scarcity this dry season.

“We also plant more food sources for elephants in the forest in order to prevent them from going outside their territory in search for food in people’s farmland,” he said.

He said the DNP was also working with people around the forest to educate them on protecting their farmland by using harmless |control methods and encouraging them not to harm elephants.

“We have tried a new method to chase away the elephants that invade people’s farmland by raising honey bees on the fences between forest and farmland, and it has proven to be very effective. When the elephants try to cross the fence, the bees will attack them and they will learn not to disturb the bees again,” he said.

“This way the local people can also get the extra benefit by |harvesting honey for an additional income.”

DNA tests restarted

Meanwhile, regarding the operation to identify the DNA of all domesticated elephants, the head of the DNP’s Phraya Suea |(“Tiger King”) unit Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn said the DNA examination process would start over the beginning again at the request of |elephant owners.

“We want to make the process transparent to all stakeholders, so we will comply with this demand and set up a central committee to oversee the DNA testing process. The testing is due to finish within the next two months,” Chaiwat said

He added that the department would have to examine the DNA of 3,700 domesticated elephants and cross-check with the Provincial Administration Department database to find unlawfully registered elephants in line with the National Council for Peace and Order’s order.

“We want to make it clear that all domesticated elephants are legally registered and they are well treated by their owners. Elephants are our national symbol and we have to take good care of them,” he said.

WildAid yesterday announced that it had joined with 15 prominent Thai business leaders in a pledge to never use elephant ivory or other wildlife products, and urged stronger enforcement and more effective wildlife conservation action.

“As business leaders, I think we can lead by example to help raise awareness about this critical issue in Thailand. We can help reduce demand for ivory and demonstrate the Thai public’s strong commitment to protecting elephants and the environment, because when the buying stops, the killing can too,” said William Heinecke, |chairman and CEO of the Minor International Plc.

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