The multibillion-baht Toyota tax-bribery probe threatening to rock Thailand’s judiciary

13 Sept 06:37 Key points summarised by AI

Toyota Motor Thailand (TMT) was ordered by Thailand's Supreme Court to pay 11.6 billion baht in unpaid taxes, concluding a decade-long dispute over imported Prius components deemed ineligible for tax reductions.
The company is simultaneously embroiled in a serious bribery scandal, with allegations that TMT's legal consultants attempted to bribe Supreme Court judges to overturn the aforementioned tax judgment.
Both Thai judiciary and US authorities, including the Department of Justice and SEC, are actively investigating the bribery claims for potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
The scandal, which implicates high-ranking former judicial officials, poses a significant threat to the integrity and reputation of Thailand's judiciary.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Today 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.