Foreigners Held in Koh Phangan Nominee Probe

3 hours ago, impulse said:

Not beating up old ladies

What, no Aussie cops caught in the drag net? No Canadian filth, either, probably due to our anemic currency.

1 hour ago, JerryM said:

In the first phase of the operation, on May 13, investigators searched five law and accountancy firms and seized documents for further investigation.

Pol Maj Gen Suwat said the second phase of the operation expanded on evidence gathered during the searches of the five law offices earlier this month. Investigators identified 32 corporate entities suspected of using Thai nominees and obtained 45 arrest warrants for foreign directors linked to the firms.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3260108/21-foreign-suspects-in-koh-phangan-nominee-probe-in-court-on-monday

Yeah but it's widespread, must be 100s and 1000s of lawyers involved from all over, not just a few mentioned

4 hours ago, henryford1958 said:

Great they are cracking down at last on these farangs crooks. They KNEW it was illegal to own land/property.

Indeed.

But what about the Thai nominees/law firms involved. Nowhere to be seen apparently.

8 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Yeah but it's widespread, must be 100s and 1000s of lawyers involved from all over, not just a few mentioned

Following the meeting, investigators said data scans of companies in several tourism provinces revealed widespread risks of nominee structures involving increasingly complex ownership arrangements. Officials also cited complaints from local residents alleging that some groups of foreigners had improperly exploited local resources and engaged in activities that disrupted communities while disregarding Thai law. In response, the DSI and DBD are now teaming up to implement a strategic audit of these suspected nominee firms.... อ่านข่าวต้นฉบับได้ที่ : https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2026/05/12/thailand-probes-34-suspected-nominee-firms-on-islands/

11 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Yeah but it's widespread, must be 100s and 1000s of lawyers involved from all over, not just a few mentioned

Not on Koh Phangnan and that seems to be the main area having success at the moment. Nationwide, yes 100’s and 1000’s

4 hours ago, Yumthai said:

If Thailand was strictly enforcing their laws since day one, local lawyers, middlemen and officials who are taking juicy money over decades would have replied a straight "No can't do." to any foreign individual inquiring to own land/property. So, who's the crook?

What about foreigners getting retirement visas despite not meeting the legal conditions.

2 hours ago, Off Piste said:

Why would you wish for that..?

Because it's corruption ffs. Why should I go by the rules just to be laughed at by the people with envelopes?

25 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Not on Koh Phangnan and that seems to be the main area having success at the moment. Nationwide, yes 100’s and 1000’s

Businesses in Pai are now being investigated

31 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Not on Koh Phangnan and that seems to be the main area having success at the moment. Nationwide, yes 100’s and 1000’s

Koh Tao will be full of dive shops with these set ups, i recall 28 years ago

6 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Have the lawyers been arrested? seems a massive fix up

I would imagine the prosecutors would press for a conviction against the foreigner first of all- perhaps get a guilty plea in return for a lesser senctnece

Once they have that conviction it would make it much more difficult for the relevant adviser to plead not guilty if their former client has not only been convicted- but has no doubt confirmed the whole scheme was devised for them by the relevant professional

Get a conviction against the foreigner - then watch this space I suspect

...Aren't There Any 'legal nominee business structures' ...(?)

...If Yes...Then...

...Might Most Of These Investors Been Duped Into Buying Into These Illegal Arrangements...(?)

...Otherwise, What Advanage Would They Derive From Breaking The Law & Risking Everything Including Criminal Charges...(?)

...Makes No Sense...(?)

...For The Hapless Foreigners There Are... Thai Marriages... (?)

...And...

...Illegal Nominee Business Structures... (?)

...(Both Cash Cows)...(?)

2 minutes ago, SOTIRIOS said:

.Aren't There Any 'legal nominee business structures' ...(?)

Yes when the Thai majority holder is a legitimate investor even if not necessarily with the full majority funds.

4 hours ago, Yumthai said:

If Thailand was strictly enforcing their laws since day one, local lawyers, middlemen and officials who are taking juicy money over decades would have replied a straight "No can't do." to any foreign individual inquiring to own land/property. So, who's the crook?

Spot on and not only about land ownership laws.

Felt

56 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Indeed.

But what about the Thai nominees/law firms involved. Nowhere to be seen apparently.

right, most nominees are staff or friends of the law firm. But I have my doubt that it will even go to court, because then it will have consequences for the laywers. Most of it will be settled between the directors and the police and under arrest almost everybody gets more generous.....

1 hour ago, Enzian said:

Because it's corruption ffs. Why should I go by the rules just to be laughed at by the people with envelopes?

You should be the one laughing as you've only forked out 1900b...................

Seize passports and assets, revoke visas. ❗

2 hours ago, greeneking said:

What about foreigners getting retirement visas despite not meeting the legal conditions.

Same. Retirees are certainly not begging for that, just using a pseudo-legal "service" that is on offer.

Writing and making laws not followed by strict enforcement, anywhere it happens, is just feeding corruption.

5 hours ago, roo860 said:

The suspects include four Israelis, four French nationals, three Russians, two Ukrainians, and one national each from South Africa, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Australia, Turkey, Germany and the Philippines. They face charges linked to making false statements in official documents and unlawfully acquiring land through nominee company arrangements under the Criminal Code and Land Code.

And not a single Brit involved, 👏👏

not yet or no money for investments😄

The Thai nominees not having the funds to purchase their stake...
The precedent is made here, make a phony/illegal setup and the Thai government will seize your assets and investments. This wouldn't have gotten heavily scrutinized if the Israeli and Swiss hadn't made negative headlines over the last few years.

Are they talking about seizing land and improvements without any compensation? Fines, forced sales, revocations of visa, maybe even jail time perhaps, but I question whether seizing land and improvements without any compensation will stand up in court.

My understanding is that under Thai land law, if a foreigner illegally acquires ownership or control of land, there is a mechanism in the law for forcing the foreigner to sell his interest in the land, and the Supreme Court has previously ruled that the foreigner's ownership interest cannot simply be unilaterally nullified by decree, or usurped by a third party.

7 hours ago, impulse said:

So what? They're accused of operating businesses. Not beating up old ladies.

If they fled, leaving their businesses behind, wouldn't it accomplish the same purpose?

I suppose the idea behind it is this: anyone who has the money to spend several million to acquire land illegally probably also has some money left over to buy themselves a “get-out-of-jail-free card.”

5 hours ago, JerryM said:

In the first phase of the operation, on May 13, investigators searched five law and accountancy firms and seized documents for further investigation.

Pol Maj Gen Suwat said the second phase of the operation expanded on evidence gathered during the searches of the five law offices earlier this month. Investigators identified 32 corporate entities suspected of using Thai nominees and obtained 45 arrest warrants for foreign directors linked to the firms.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3260108/21-foreign-suspects-in-koh-phangan-nominee-probe-in-court-on-monday

Good lord. Sounds like a pukka law enforcement operation. Thailand never ceases to surprise ;D

4 hours ago, impulse said:

If I had a baht for every time I've read that since I started working in Thailand in 2011, I'd have almost enough to buy a Starbucks coffee.

Of course, one day they may get (and stay) serious. Maybe this will be that time. But usually, there are so many palms being greased that they back off pretty quickly. And quietly.

Yes during my 10+ years here there has as you know been several campaigns for this and for that. But they seems to be more serious now then 10-15 years ago.

This whole action sends a very bad message to those who invested or want to invest. For years, officials, lawyers, accountants, developers and goodness knows who else actively helped unwitting foreigners circumvent laws that were not enforced... yes, it was technically illegal, but when you have such people actively participating in the deception/grey areas and breaking the law, then they also need to be brought to book, along with the Thais that let their names be directors for sham companies.

It appears that it is just the foreigners taking the heat and the state will confiscate all the property and money... which makes it look like a money grab and let the foreigners take the hit but don't sanction the Thais at all. This has very bad optics to it.

That's the problem here, you can't safely invest money and make money, as there is always some sly shenanigans or government policy 180 about to happen, or suddenly laws are so strictly enforced after you were lied to, then you lose everything. Even if you do it in a legit way, then you still often get screwed over... just go ask Pepsi, Carlsberg, or Kingsgate mining company. Only a moron would invest in Thailand after all this, as just too risky and can't trust anyone or the advice from anywhere as it means nothing.

I suppose the idea behind it is this: anyone who has the money to spend several million to acquire land illegally probably also has some money left over to buy themselves a “get-out-of-jail-free card.”

That, or I was thinking that someone wasting away in a Thai prison would sell the associated assets for a really, really good price. Just to make it stop...

3 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

Indeed.

But what about the Thai nominees/law firms involved. Nowhere to be seen apparently.

They know it is time to keep a low profile and get ready to pay their way out of possible accountability.

18 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

My understanding is that under land law, if a foreigner illegally acquires ownership or control of land, there is a legal mechanism for forcing the foreigner to sell his interest in the land, and therefore the ownership interest cannot simply be nullified by decree.

This is the case, for example, if you inherit the land because your Thai partner has passed away.

I am not sure whether this also applies if the land was knowingly acquired illegally.

I asked AI about it and what came back: "..Under recent ongoing crackdowns, state confiscation without compensation is also being heavily enforced..."

2 minutes ago, mangkut70 said:

This is the case, for example, if you inherit the land because your Thai partner has passed away.

I am not sure whether this also applies if the land was knowingly acquired illegally.

I asked AI about it and what came back: "..Under recent ongoing crackdowns, state confiscation without compensation is also being heavily enforced..."

It is my understanding that the remedies spelled out under Thai land law for forcing a foreigner to divest ill-gotten interest in land apply irrespective of how the land was acquired, and as I said earlier, I have a feeling that the government is going to run into a legal buzz saw if and when these cases start hitting the courts. These comments are based on a fairly deep review of Thai case law on this matter in connection with a real life case I was involved in.

Years ago, Thai lower courts said that because a foreigner could not legally have an interest in land, he could therefore not defend an illegal interest in court, and the courts acted like the foreigner had no legal recourse if his interest was unfairly infringed upon by a third party. Subsequently, however, the Supreme Court ruled that because Thai land law provided a mechanism for forcing the foreigner to sell or divest his interest in the land, the foreigner's interest, albeit illegal interest in the land must be recognized and protected by the courts.

I wonder how many of the 21 had 60 day visa free entries.
I would bet that the answer is zero.

45 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

That's the problem here, you can't safely invest money and make money, as there is always some sly shenanigans or government policy 180 about to happen, or suddenly laws are so strictly enforced after you were lied to, then you lose everything.

Anyone with any sense would've worked that out a long time ago. It's the chancers who get caught out. I don't have any sympathy for chancers.

20+ years ago I was offered some land on Samui. I was told exactly how I could get around the land ownership laws. I declined because I knew it was risky.

The chaos of Thailand versus more developed western countries is part of it's charm. But it's also the reason I wouldn't bet my life's savings on an 'investment' here.