7-8-2023 (BANGKOK) Srettha Thavisin, prime ministerial candidate of the Pheu Thai Party, has filed a defamation lawsuit against whistleblower Chuvit Kamolvisit, seeking 500 million baht in damages. The legal action comes in response to comments made by Mr. Chuvit regarding a land purchase made by property developer Sansiri Plc.
Before entering politics, Mr. Srettha served as the chief executive officer of Sansiri. Winyat Chartmontree, Mr. Srettha’s lawyer, stated at the Criminal Court on Monday that his client initiated the lawsuit due to concerns that Mr. Chuvit’s remarks during an August 3 press conference could mislead the public and parliamentarians, tarnishing Mr. Srettha’s reputation and suitability for the role of prime minister.
The Pheu Thai Party recently announced its nomination of Mr. Srettha to the joint parliament as their candidate for prime minister.
During the press conference, Mr. Chuvit insinuated tax evasion in Sansiri’s acquisition of 400 square wah of land on Sarasin Road in Bangkok in August 2019, when Mr. Srettha was still serving as the CEO. Mr. Chuvit suggested that Mr. Srettha and Sansiri colluded with the landowners to evade 521 million baht in taxes related to the purchase of the prime land.
According to Mr. Chuvit, Mr. Srettha approved the purchase and sale agreement with the 12 individuals who collectively owned the land under one title deed. These owners formed an “ordinary partnership,” making each of them liable for excise tax on the proceeds of the sale, amounting to a total of 521 million baht.
To avoid this substantial tax obligation, Mr. Chuvit claimed that each of the 12 individuals separately transferred small sections of the land to Sansiri over a period of 12 days. These transactions would then be subject to different tax treatment compared to an ordinary partnership.
Mr. Chuvit alleged that only 59.2 million baht in taxes were paid for the transaction.
In response, Mr. Srettha’s lawyer, Mr. Winyat, argued that the previous landowners were not required to pay taxes as an ordinary partnership because they individually acquired ownership of sections of the land and subsequently sold them to Sansiri. As a result, the sellers were subject to personal income tax, according to the lawyer.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chuvit stated that he has additional concerns regarding Mr. Srettha’s qualifications and would be willing to address them. Separately, activist Rueangkrai Leekitwatana has urged a senate committee to investigate the same land purchase made by Sansiri.
