BMW distributor refutes fraud allegations

December 28, 2016 | 11:28

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Vietnamese customs authorities did not ask Euro Auto Corporation, the authorised distributor of BMW and Mini automobiles and BMW motors, to submit the certificates of origin (C/O) of its purchased BMW automobiles, which resulted in the lack of C/O during the inspection, according to newswire Vietnamplus.

According to Euro Auto Corporation’s announcement in a document submitted to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to explain suspicions, the company said that BMW group also confirmed the above information with MoF and the General Department of Vietnam Customs via e-mail.

A BMW representative said that they will provide the C/O to the company and the group requested the customs authority to continue the customs clearance of BMW automobiles.

BMW added that representatives of the group, MoF, and the General Department of Vietnam Customs will participate in a working session in Hanoi in mid-January 2017.

Regarding Euro Auto Corporation, the company received the C/O of the automobiles the company paid tax for in last November. The company submitted these C/O to customs authorities on December 23.

On December 26, the General Department of Vietnam Customs issued a decision to suspend Duong Phu Dong, director of the Post Clearance Audit Department for 15 days and to verify his responsibility in import management in general and Euro Auto Corporation’s incident in particular.

Earlier in late November, MoF asked the General Department of Vietnam Customs to collaborate with the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam to investigate foreign-owned Euro Auto Corporation after detecting signs of smuggling and trade fraud.

The MoF also asked the General Department of Vietnam Customs to suspend the customs clearance of BMW automobiles, with the exception of those enjoying special incentives or diplomatic immunity.