Tax reprieve likely for Pinthongta
Pinthongta Shinawatra, a daughter of deposed prime minister Thaksin, might not owe the expected Bt2.8 billion in personal income tax on her sale of Shin Corp shares because she was in the country less than 180 days last year, a source said yesterday.
The Assets Exami-nation Committee source also said Pin-thongta would not have to answer many questions when she appears today before the AEC panel probing alleged tax evasion in the Shin deal, as Shin Corp CEO Boonklee Plangsiri is believed to hold the critical information on the share sale. Meanwhile, AEC member Udom Fuangfung insisted that if the Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF) refused to put a figure on the loss it incurred from the sale of Ratchadapisek Rd land plots to Pojaman, Thaksin's wife, the AEC could not hold the former premier responsible. He said the AEC would decide if it would take legal action against certain officials for dereliction of duty - after Phairoj Hengsakul, Bank of Thailand assistant governor in charge of the FIDF, testifies before the subcommittee tomorrow. Phairoj was summoned to explain why the FIDF failed to indicate the estimated damages in its complaint to the AEC. Auditor-General Jaruwan Maintaka said she would personally welcome Pinthongta to the building where the Auditor-General's Office and the AEC are located in order to dispel publicity that the authorities are harassing her. She would also have fewer police on security at the office to tone down any image of political tension. About 50 police will be deployed today to keep security and prevent turmoil as hundreds of Thaksin fans are expected to show their support for his daughter. Sniffer dogs have already been hunting for suspicious items. Budsarakham Sinlapalavan The Nation
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