Thai Customs reward system revisal

[Admin]

Thai Customs reward system revisal 
Bangkok Post: 20 Jul 2010
Customs reward system to be revised

The Finance Ministry will propose amending the Customs Act to reform the system of paying rewards to customs officials and outside informers in smuggling cases, for the sake of greater transparency, says Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Phataraprasit.

Businesses frequently complain that the high reward payments to both informers and customs officers lead to abuse of the system.

Currently, 55% of the auctioned value of confiscated goods is distributed as a reward to informers and customs officers _ 30% of the value to the former and 25% to the latter.

Mr Pradit said the form of the amendment had yet to be determined but that the intention was to close any legal loopholes that might lead to corruption.

He believes the reward system should be continued, as the Customs Department is unable to inspect all of the con tainers due to their huge numbers. Only 10% of containers can now be inspected randomly.

''Rewards remain necessary to help government officials arrest lawbreakers,'' said Mr Pradit.

The proposal must be approved by the cabinet before being examined by the Council of State and then read in parliament.

The ministry earlier received cabinet approval to amend the Customs Act in terms of the fines levied in court cases. The act previously stipulated the loser in a case had to pay four times the value of the smuggled goods, so most companies declined to stand trial and opted instead for a compromise with the Customs Department in which they paid a fine equal to the value plus interest.

Through the amendment, the court now has discretionary power to set the fine from zero to four times the value of the smuggled goods, depending on intent and the degree of severity.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/186939/customs-reward-system-to-be-revised

[nookiebear]

Does anyone on here believe any of that!!!!!!!!!!!