SAAB AFFAIR
Muller tax schemes falling on the Board
Published 15:23 Updated 15:41
Muller's tax structure falls on the Board
According to GP experience is a clear link to the prosecutor's current suspicions of crimes against persons in Saab Automobile's former board and how Victor Muller took payment for their work from February 2010 to bankruptcy in December 2012.
When Victor Muller, a major owner of Spyker Cars, which bought Saab Automobile in February 2010, sat in Saab's board as chairman was no written agreement on how and for what he would be paid. Nevertheless began invoices come from Muller's own companies Latin America Tug Holding of the Netherlands Antilles.
But Saab's payments were not made to the company but to Muller's own private account, showing Tax identification.
"The procedure supports the conclusion that the purpose was to Saab would pay compensation to you and that you would escape taxation for the same," claims Tax.
Until Saab's bankruptcy in December 2011, was paid about eight million in consulting fees to Victor Muller. It was only in September 2011 that Victor Muller, as he sat alone in the board and the economic crisis at Saab accelerated, as consultant fees were governed by a written contract. The payments were secured.
Tax Board therefore believes that the whole approach of consulting fees in lieu of salary for the job as chairman was to Victor Muller would not pay tax in Sweden for his work in Saab Automobile. In September last year took therefore the Tax Agency's decision to require Muller at about two million in taxes.
In the current fiscal process claims Victor Muller's defense that the possibility of consulting fees in lieu of salary is within the law.
According to GP experience is the payments to Victor Muller as the basis for the preliminary investigation EBM now operates with alleged breaches of directors of Saab's former board.
The responsibility for the shortcomings in the management of Saab's bookkeeping and accounting, to the payment of consulting fees in lieu of wages and that there is a significant tax gap falls on the directors.
In the Tax review decision about Victor Muller is also clear that payments made without itemized invoices from Latin America Tug Holding. Payments have also been made before the alleged work has taken place.
Tax has the following arguments on payments where the responsibility falls on the board:
"It seems to Tax nor reasonable that an independent client would accept invoices without further specifications of the work performed, time spent, etc. According to the Tax opinion, it is doubtful whether the invoices from Lat (Latin America Tug) had even been deductible for the company if they intended consulting fee. Off Accounting shows that a verification among other things, include information about when the corporate event took place and what it means. An invoice must therefore answer the questions which concrete work done and when it occurs. they in this case invoices in question does not this basic information. "
It may therefore be that the directors of Saab Automobile approved payments to Victor Muller without knowing or reviewing what they paid for. Lack of organization and the Board's actions may thus be hampered fiscal control.
Chief prosecutor Olof Sahlgren do not specify the basis for the allegations of violations of the three persons. GP has been looking for him for a comment.
For anyone who followed Victor Muller, Spyker Cars and other corporate roles in the saga of Saab Automobile, it was Muller who ruled and stood and spoke for the company.
When Victor Muller in dispute with the Tax describes his role in Saab has the closest shrunk to a consultant person on par with many other consultants.
Victor Muller has "not been subsumed in Saab's operations or dependent of Saab to a greater extent than has been required for a limited period of one year and ten months conducting consulting work within the Saab acute areas specified under the commission agreement."
The written agreement signed in September 2011, states that Victor Muller and Latin America Tug shall have an "advisory role to the Saab in matters of recapitalizations, restructurings, and the search for strategic partners."