Bestlin says it will deliver imported buses next week

Bestlin says it will deliver imported buses next week

The first batch of NGV-fuelled buses impounded by customs officials is expected to be delivered next week after their supplier, Bestlin Group, was cleared of customs tax evasion. (Transport Ministry photo)
The first batch of NGV-fuelled buses impounded by customs officials is expected to be delivered next week after their supplier, Bestlin Group, was cleared of customs tax evasion. (Transport Ministry photo)

Bestlin Group said it is able to deliver the imported new buses to the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) by next week after it missed the delivery deadline last month, Deputy Transport Minister Phichit Akkarathit says.

According to Mr Phichit, the BMTA director Surachai Eamvachirasakul said Bestlin Group, which was contracted to supply 489 new buses to the BMTA, was expected to get 291 buses out of Laem Chabang Port yesterday after the buses were declared to authorities.

The BMTA anticipates to get the buses from the company by Tuesday and they will be kept at bus terminals the BMTA had provided, he added.

The buses will undergo a test run and are expected to be in service by the end of this month, according to the deputy minister.

Bestlin Group missed the deadline set for Dec 28, 2016 to deliver 489 new buses to the BMTA. The company has been fined by the BMTA.

The Customs Department has accused Super Zara Co, which is handling the import for Bestlin, of manipulating procedures to make the buses appear as though they were manufactured in and imported from Malaysia, to reap a tax-exemption benefit based on Asean's free-trade agreement. The buses were actually made in China.

Bestlin is required to pay 7.8 million baht per bus per day in fines during the time it is still unable to get the imported buses out of Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri as the department is demanding the company pay the 40% import tax, plus a fine.

Altogether, Bestlin will be charged 422 million baht (including VAT) for falsely declaring the first 100 imported buses held at Laem Chabang port.

Mr Phichit said the company has agreed to pay the 40% import tax, plus a fine. It already paid the import tax and a fine to authorities for the first bus.

Mr Phichit said the other 98 buses which are believed to still be in Malaysia are expected to arrive in Thailand next week.

The delivery procedures of the buses must be carried out legally, he said. He has ordered the BMTA's boards to carefully study the terms of reference for the procurement of buses and see whether Bestlin complied with the regulations.

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