DSI recommends prosecution against tax evaders, with over 4.9 billion baht in total damage

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI), by its Bureau of Tax Crime, has conducted an investigation into the allegations filed with DSI by the Revenue Department, against juristic persons and concerned individuals for making false VAT refund claims during 2001 and 2003. The DSI investigation revealed the individuals made money from VAT fraud and could not declare the source of such funds.

       The investigation team has gathered facts and evidence sufficient to believe that Surarak (last name withheld for anonymity purposes), as the owner of various companies engaged in copper/brass antique trade, obtained money from the juristic persons and concerned individuals who made false VAT refund claims and failed to declare such income for tax purposes, costing the government baht 4,915,093,268.32 of lost income.

       The DSI Director General therefore has made a prosecution recommendation on a criminal charge against the alleged offender of evading or attempting to evade tax by fault, fraud, scheme or any other method of similar nature under Section 37 of the Revenue Code. On 15 September 2023, the special case inquiry officials, Bureau of Tax Crime, submitted the investigation file of Special Case no. 58/2566, together with the alleged offender, to the Special Litigation Department, Office of the Attorney-General. The case is currently under consideration by the public prosecutor.