Bangkok: Former Democrat Party MP Wachara Petchthong has taken decisive action by submitting an urgent notice to the Director-General of the Revenue Department, pressing for legal measures to be taken against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's assets. Wachara's demands include the immediate seizure, freezing, and auctioning off of Thaksin's assets following the Supreme Court's dismissal of Thaksin's lawsuit to overturn a tax assessment initiated in 2017.
According to Thai News Agency, Wachara emphasized the urgency of the matter, citing that the state's ability to claim the outstanding tax debt is constrained by a 10-year statute of limitations as per the Civil and Commercial Code. This period commenced on March 31, 2017, when the state received the assessment notice. To avert the risk of the statute of limitations expiring and to safeguard the state's interests, Wachara urged the Revenue Department to act swiftly under Section 12 of the Revenue Code, which permits asset seizure and auction without a separate court order.
In addition to asset seizure, Wachara called for a coordinated effort with the Department of Consular Affairs to revoke all of Thaksin Shinawatra's passports. He also requested that security agencies, including the Royal Thai Police and various airport authorities, suspend Thaksin's international travel until his tax obligations are fully met. Wachara has mandated that the Revenue Department provide a progress report to him and the public within a 30-day timeframe.