Bangkok: Ekniti Nitithanpraphas, the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, has directed the Revenue Department to collect 17.6 billion baht in taxes from former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in accordance with a Supreme Court decision. The Ministry of Finance is also coordinating with prosecutors to investigate Thaksin’s foreign assets.

According to Thai News Agency, the Supreme Court’s ruling pertains to the transfer of Shin Corp shares between AmpleReach Sons and Temasek. The Ministry is tasked with implementing the court’s order using standard procedures for tax cases. The Revenue Department will meticulously review the court’s verdict. Thaksin’s tax case is being treated as a routine case, and all units within the Ministry of Finance are obligated to comply strictly with the court’s directives.

Mr. Lawaron Sangsanit, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, explained that the tax collection process initiates with the Attorney General’s investigation into the asset locations. The process then advances to the Legal Execution Department. Once the tax collection amount reaches the specified 17.6 billion baht, a tax collection committee will be formed and coordinated with various agencies to set a timeline. For assets located abroad, the Attorney General will conduct a thorough investigation and is expected to issue a statement upon achieving clarity.