Government Incentives for Entertainment Industry

17 September 2009

Foreign investors in Thailand’s entertainment industry will be granted tax and non-tax incentives by the government with the objective of transforming Thailand into a production center within the next 5 years, the Thai government has pledged.

In line with this, Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot said yesterday that the BOI is preparing investment guidelines for the whole entertainment industry. The incentives may be in the form of tariff waivers on imported machinery or corporate income tax similar to that given other industries.

Moreover, the Finance Ministry is contemplating proposing a tax credit to foreign film producers as proposed by other ministries.

The government intends to set aside more than 20 billion baht to fund the creative economy under the “Thailand: Investing from Strength to Strength” scheme. The government expects investment in the entertainment industry to peak at 320 billion baht in the next 3 years, an increase from the 160 billion baht estimated this year.

US Film Producers Convicted of Bribing Thai Official

15 September 2009

Last Friday a US court convicted film producers Gerald and Patricia Green of bribing a high-ranking Thai government official.

The couple were charged in March 2009 with sending bribes to Juthamas Siriwan, former governor of the Tourism Authority in Thailand, of around $1.8 million USD or 72 million baht to secure contracts to operate the yearly Bangkok International Film Festival and contracts to provide a “Thai privilege card” to the elite, affluent foreign clientele. The couple operated the BIFF from 2004 to 2006.

The contracts provided the Greens with revenue of $13.5 million USD.

The bribes were paid directly in cash to Juthamas, or transferred through the bank accounts of Juthamas’ daughter and friend in Singapore, the UK, and the Isle of Jersey.

The Greens were both convicted of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and engaging in money laundering activities. They face 10 years in prison each according to the Assistant US Attorney. However, the Greens’ attorneys have stated they will appeal.

New 2009 Law on Sex Change Operations

12 September 2009

Yesterday Dr. Samphan Komrit, secretary general of the Medical Council of Thailand, said that only persons 18 years or older will be permitted to undergo a sex change operation in Thailand based on a new law which will come into effect on November 29.

Young people 18 years old or older but not yet 20 years old will be required to obtain parental consent in order to have the operation performed on them. However, persons 20 years old or older will not be required to do so.

They will also be required to pass a psychiatric evaluation in order to quality for the medical procedure.

Sex change surgeons must register with the Medical Council and attend to any complications that may arise after the surgery.

Surgeons violating the new law would be warned and may have their medical licenses revoked. 

See translation of new law concerning Medical Ethics and Sex Change Operations in Thailand.

Related article: Transsexual and Thai law