The Koh Samui Provincial Court has fined an Israeli man 5,000 baht for threatening the life of the owner of Samui Exotic Park, a zoo on the island in Surat Thani.
Koh Samui police said on Thursday 20 August 2026, that the man, identified only as Mr Jacob, was arrested after Jindarat Sattayapun filed a complaint over a Facebook post threatening her life.
Police had set up a safety checkpoint outside Samui Exotic Park from August 15 after learning of the alleged threat. They said they are still seeking another person accused of placing a 500,000-baht bounty on the zoo owner.
Dispute followed refusal of entry
The row began after an Israeli couple travelling with two children said they were refused entry to the park on August 12.
Ms Jindarat, described by police as the Thai woman operating the zoo, said she had decided not to admit Israelis after several visitors allegedly refused to pay entrance fees, took animal feed from other guests' baskets, ignored park rules and squirted milk into pigs' faces.
Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee said he had received reports of disputes between the zoo owner and Israeli expatriates living on Koh Samui. Separate reports said an Israeli national had ordered Ms Jindarat to close the zoo and leave the island.
Separate development referring to flags and online exchanges
In a separate development, Koh Samui district chief Amorn Chumchuay said officials, police, immigration officers and other agencies were investigating online claims involving the French co-owner of Samui Exotic Park and his Thai wife.
That account said the online dispute was linked to flags displayed at the entrance to the park in Moo 1, Mae Nam. Officials said a Palestinian flag bearing the words "Free Palestine" was displayed, along with an Israeli flag carrying a symbol saying Israelis were not welcome and a paper shooting target.
Authorities said these displays had offended Israeli people. Immigration officials reportedly found that an Israeli accused of making a death threat online, was in France, rather than on Koh Samui, and had exchanged criticism and challenges with the French zoo owner.
Amorn said authorities would establish the facts before deciding whether any law had been broken, and that safety and legal protection would apply equally to all nationalities on Koh Samui.
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21 August 2026
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