Toyota top executive to be arrested

Toyota top executive to be arrested

BANGKOK: A court has issued an arrest warrant for Toyota's top Japanese executive in Thailand over breach of contract allegations by a former auto dealer, a newspaper reported on Saturday.

Toyota Motors Thailand President Royichi Sasaki failed to follow previous court directives to fulfill agreed upon shipments of automobiles and car parts to its former dealer in Krabi, the Bangkok Post reported, citing court officials in the southern Thai province.

A civil lawsuit by Sinprasert Saengsirattanakul - owner of Toyota Krabi - claims Toyota Motors Thailand wrongfully terminated dealership contracts leading to losses of 3 billion baht (US$76 million), the Post reported.

The Krabi Court on Sept. 9, 2003, ordered Toyota Motors to deliver cars and parts to Toyota Krabi within 30 days to fulfill its contractual obligations.

Representatives from Toyota were not immediately available for comment. But the Post quoted Sasaki as saying a statement would be issued soon to clarify the situation. -- AP