Woman Accused of Orchestrating B800m Corporate Tax Evasion Scheme
Bangkok — A 64-year-old woman has been arrested in Bangkok for allegedly masterminding a sophisticated tax evasion scheme involving eight companies that defrauded the state of 800 million baht.
Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) officers apprehended the suspect, identified only as Anupha, outside a hotel in the capital’s Chatuchak district, according to ECD commander Pol Maj Gen Thatphum Jaruphat. The arrest was made under a warrant issued on May 13 for tax evasion and fraud.
The investigation began after a Revenue Department official flagged suspicious financial activities across eight companies, all registered to the same address — a modest two-storey house in Thung Sukhla, Si Racha district of Chon Buri province.
Authorities found that the companies were involved in large-scale value-added tax (VAT) evasion. They allegedly failed to issue proper tax invoices and receipts, kept no records of payments, and either underreported or completely omitted their sales figures to avoid tax liabilities.
Digging deeper, ECD investigators discovered that the companies’ registered directors were not in actual control of the businesses. Instead, they were ordinary workers and cleaners used as proxies.
One such proxy, identified only as Somboon, was arrested earlier. She held directorships in three of the companies. During interrogation, she told officers she worked as a housekeeper for a business in Laem Chabang, which matched intelligence already gathered by the authorities.
Following her testimony, further investigation pointed to Ms Anupha as the alleged ringleader coordinating the fraudulent network.
Despite the evidence, Ms Anupha denied all charges. She claimed she was merely a broker assisting with business operations and said the address used for the companies was formerly owned by her late husband. She declined to provide further details.
The suspect was transferred to ECD Sub-division 2 for further legal proceedings as the investigation into the tax evasion ring continues.
