Public prosecutors postponed the indictment decision for tobacco giant Philip Morris for alleged tax evasion worth 68 billion baht to Jan 19, 2016, due to the unavailability of the company's foreign executive on Friday.
Troy Modlin, manager of Philip Morris (Thailand), was due to meet prosecutors on Friday to hear the prosecutors' decision on indictment for alleged tax evasion relating to the company's imports of Marlboro and L&M cigarettes from 2003 to 2007.
Chartpong Chirabandhu, deputy director-general of the attorney-general's Department of Special Litigation, said Mr Modlin's lawyer reported his client was in Indonesia seeking the extension of his work permit and the process needed the client's passport.
The lawyer also said that the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration issued a letter confirming it had Mr Modlin's passport. Therefore, he could not meet Thai prosecutors in Bangkok on Friday.
Mr Chartpong said the letter was verified and the man had a reason for being absent. Therefore, prosecutors postponed the meeting to Jan 19 when seven other Thai suspects were also scheduled to show up in the same case.
Mr Chartpong did not think that Mr Modlin intended to flee. He was only a representative of the company and if there was any penalty it would affect the company.
Earlier Mr Modlin had failed to meet prosecutors as scheduled on Wednesday, reporting he had personal business in Indonesia.
He and the seven Thai staff are among 14 defendants in the case in which Philip Morris was alleged to have made false declarations about the value of cigarettes imported from the Philippines between 2003 and 2007, to avoid paying the full amount of tax and thereby depriving the government of an estimated 68 billion baht.