Thread: Phuket to crack down on illegal foreign businesses using Thai nominees

Phuket administration has agreed to set up a centre to deal with illegal alien businesses, after complaints from Thai business operators that many foreigners have set up businesses on the resort island, using their Thai wives or other Thai nationals as nominees.


Governor Sophon Suwannarat said the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will be asked to help, especially in checking the money trails of the Thai nominees and the identities of the real foreign business operators.


The governor admitted that it is difficult to crack down on these businesses, because they are legally registered, with 51% of the shares owned by their Thai wives or other Thai nominees and, on numerous occasions, when officials visited their business premises, they would claim to be the owners of the businesses.


There are more than 200 companies with foreigners holding a 49% percent stake operating in Phuket, in such businesses as massage parlours, restaurants, tour agencies, tattoo and cannabis shops and car rental services. The foreign businesspeople include Russian, German, Swedish, Chinese and South Korean nationals.


Governor Sophon cut short his European trip after he was ordered by Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to return to Phuket to deal with the problem of illegal foreign businesses, following the incident over a week ago when a Swiss national allegedly assaulted a Thai doctor, whom he had accused of trespassing on his property when she sat on the staircase of his rented villa on Yamu Beach in Phuket.


Pol Maj-Gen Sinlert Sukhum, commander of Phuket police, said that, after the establishment of the centre, police will coordinate with local administration officials to check foreign business partnerships and deal with those found to be using Thai nationals as nominees.


According to the DSI’s investigation, there are two groups of businesses with organised crime connections. One is a Russian group in the real estate business, catering to foreign customers, and the other are Chinese and South Koreans, mostly operating integrated tourism businesses, covering hotels, restaurants, spas and travel agencies, catering to South Korean and Chinese group tours.


Pol Col Parinya Klinkesorn, deputy police spokesman warned that any Thais who willingly act as nominees in foreign run businesses may face a jail term of three years and/or a fine of up to one million baht if convicted.


The foreigners involved may face deportation and blacklisting, he added.


Phuket to crack down on illegal foreign businesses using Thai nominees | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

Hang on, are they not legal businesses?

This is pretty confusing to me. There are so many businesses owned by a Thai wife with her foreign husband. If the husband isn’t out front and working in a job reserved for Thais, what is the problem?

Flavour of the month. Crackdown on foreigners and foreign businesses.

so no mention then of all those illegal full english fry up emporia depriving the thai of their rightful income.

Originally Posted by taxexile

so no mention then of all those illegal full english fry up

Those should be illegal.. they are F'n awful. I always laugh when I see some Tat'd up shaved head old brit sitting alone out front at a table on his phone hoping some countrymen stop in for an overpriced shit bfast. His wife is probably in the back on her phone hoping for something to make.

Originally Posted by misskit

This is pretty confusing to me. There are so many businesses owned by a Thai wife with her foreign husband. If the husband isn’t out front and working in a job reserved for Thais, what is the problem?

Smart thing would be two guys opening bars directly opposite/next door to each other and always sitting in the other's bar. Problem solved.

Or just leave it in your wife's name 100%...

If you're married properly, you're entitled to half her shit anyway.

Originally Posted by Stumpy

Those should be illegal.. they are F'n awful. I always laugh when I see some Tat'd up shaved head old brit sitting alone out front at a table on his phone hoping some countrymen stop in for an overpriced shit bfast. His wife is probably in the back on her phone hoping for something to make.

they are nowhere near as disgusting as the american fast food joints, that are killing people worldwide with their ultra processed shite.

a fry up consisting of eggs, beans, a bit of bacon, a cumberland sausage and a slab of black pudding is the perfect way to start the day, and far healthier than the liver pickling piss you cant keep away from.

Originally Posted by misskit

This is pretty confusing to me. There are so many businesses owned by a Thai wife with her foreign husband. If the husband isn’t out front and working in a job reserved for Thais, what is the problem?

It's the principle through the highly uptight authority's eyes - don't care for the ideals of a Farang underwritten business, even though said businesses will take on Thai employees....
They also are remiss in comprehending the contributions that Farang residents bring to the economy - in one form or another.

A touch of convoluted sensibility mixed with a hint of hard wired xenophobia from the Thai authorities/establishment.

It is what it is.

The Voice of reason and experience

Originally Posted by taxexile

they are nowhere near as disgusting as the american fast food joints, that are killing people worldwide with their ultra processed shite.

a fry up consisting of eggs, beans, a bit of bacon, a cumberland sausage and a slab of black pudding is the perfect way to start the day, and far healthier than the liver pickling piss you cant keep away from.

Both should be consumed in moderation..not daily you clown.

^

says mr. blobby.

It simply more deflection. The government diverts the attention of its people from its failings by blaming foreigners. Think a man named Adolph perfected that idea followed by Vlad and Trump.
The govt will make it difficult for foreigners, enough to be inconvenienced but not enough to make them leave with their money to friendlier shores.

Originally Posted by taxexile

they are nowhere near as disgusting as the american fast food joints, that are killing people worldwide with their ultra processed shite.

No argument from me there Tax. I don't eat at those places and seldom ever did.

Originally Posted by taxexile

a fry up consisting of eggs, beans, a bit of bacon, a cumberland sausage and a slab of black pudding is the perfect way to start the day, and far healthier than the liver pickling piss you cant keep away from

Nonsense. I think you are smarter than that. That shit you call Bfast is as bad as that fast food shit you whinged about. Sugar slop beans, fried eggs, processed crap sausage and more processed crap with black pudding. Eating that to start everyday is why most are fat slobs, with likely a host of medical issues early in life.

it's funny how a bunch of fat alcoholics suddenly become obsessed with some grease and sugar.