The Department of Special Investigation has impounded 49 imported cars allegedly falsely declared as locally assembled from assorted parts to avoid high import taxes, costing the state about 500 million baht in lost revenue.
DSI chief Paisit Wongmuang on Wednesday released the figures when announcing progress in the long-running investigation into the false declaration of imported cars.
He said 37 luxury vehicles were seized from SKT Motor Co, in tambon Bang Krabao in Ban Sang district of Prachin Buri. The firm was found to be a place where complete but disassembled imported vehicles were reassembled and falsely declared for tax purposes in violation of Section 27 of the Customs Act.
Pol Col Paisit said the seized vehicles included two Bentleys and 14 Mercedes-Benzes, along with other makes -- BMW, Toyota, Nissan, Porsche, Dodge and Lexus. The total loss to the state was more than 200 million baht in evaded taxes.
The DSI chief said another 12 imported vehicles were seized for examination for alleged tax evasion and falsifying of documents for registration in violation of Section 27 of the Customs Act.
Tax evasion offences carry a maximum prison term of 10 years and a fine of four times the actual priceof the vehicle including tax owed. Offences for falsifying documents under Section 268 of the Criminal Code carry a jail term of up to three years, said the DSI chief.
The 12 seized vehicles were Bentleys, Ferraris, Rolls-Royces and Porsches, with damage to the state through lost taxes estimated at 280 million baht.
Pol Maj Suriya Singhakamol, deputy DSI chief, said the investigation found some vehicles had been imported as whole cars and false documents had been used for registration.
The DSI would take tough action against importers of those vehicles, said Pol Maj Suriya.
Owners of other imported vehicles who wondered whether they were registered properly or not could check with the DSI, he said.