UK police have confirmed 13 luxury cars Thai authorities impounded from a Bangkok dealer had been stolen in Britain, the chief of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said on Tuesday.
DSI chief Paisit Wongmuang was responding to the legal action recently taken by the dealer, who also imported the vehicles. It insisted they had been legitimately acquired and taxed.
Pol Col Paisit said the UK's National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service had sent information to the DSI and it showed that 13 of the luxury cars impounded from the showrooms of STT Autocar Co in Bangkok had been stolen in Britain.
He said he was waiting to see if the UK police would file a complaint in Thailand or do so in England and seek extradition of suspects.
On June 5, STT Autocar owner Intharasak "Boy Unity" Techaterasiri filed a 50-million-baht lawsuit against the DSI after its raids to seize allegedly illegal cars from his two showrooms dealt his company a heavy financial blow.
The DSI impounded 34 luxury cars from his company but he claimed to have evidence they had been legitimately acquired and properly taxed.
The DSI seized altogether 160 luxury cars from many locations in Bangkok last month on suspicions of under-declaration to evade import duty. It said about 40 of them had been stolen in Britain.
Pol Col Paisit on Tuesday said the Customs Department would report its findings on the lost tax on 32 imported cars on Thursday.
After receiving the information, the DSI would inform concerned car importers and owners about the charges. If they fail to report to the DSI, the officials will seize the cars, he said.