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