BANGKOK (The Nation/Asia News Network): Two former state revenue officials were given life sentences for their involvement in embezzling more than Bt3 billion from the state through fraudulent value-added-tax (VAT) refunds, and ordered to reimburse the Revenue Departnent.
The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct cases on Thursday (Aug 19) found the former director-general of the Revenue Department, Sathit Rangkhasiri (pic), and a former official of Bangkok Revenue Department Area 22, Siriphong Riyakantheerachote, guilty of approving VAT refunds to 25 companies in Bangkok and Samut Prakan provinces several times since 2013, despite those companies not being eligible for a refund.