Four Russians held in Chonburi THB5bn property probe

14 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Nonsense, if you pay any attention to these reports you'd know that they frequently reference the lawyers etc., being investigated also. Before confiscation happens the foreigners are given the opportunity to dispose of the illegally held property, if they can't or won't then that's when the state steps in.

Really????

From Siam Legal website.

https://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-law/thailand-expands-crackdown-on-nominee-shareholders/

"Legal Risks of Nominee Structures

Nominee arrangements can expose both foreign investors and Thai participants to serious legal risk. Depending on the facts of the case, penalties may include:

• Imprisonment of up to 3 years

• Fines of up to 1 million THB

• Forced closure or restructuring of the business

• Seizure or freezing of assets

• Loss of commercial operating permits

• Suspension or cancellation of visas or work permits

The bigger risk is that a structure treated casually at the beginning can become a major legal problem later. This is especially true when a business grows, buys property, applies for licenses, seeks investment, becomes involved in a dispute, or is reviewed by government authorities."

Do you see the part, "Seizure or freezing of assets?"

16 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Oh, the joys of owning property in Thailand. This guy lost 65 million baht.

In this case, a lawyer was bribed 1.2 million baht to lose his case.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/585145/cops-to-probe-b65m-phuket-asset-scam

"Mr Vard later filed a lawsuit to reclaim his properties but the scammers paid 1.2 million baht to his lawyer to ensure he lost the case."

I wouldn't trust a Thai lawyer one bit.

An 11-year-old, one-off (at that value) example, not of one lawyer being a bit dodgy but a group of people conspiring to deliberately defraud one particular person from a huge amount of money. That's not representative of the typical lawyer's modus operandi in Thailand.

15 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Nonsense, if you pay any attention to these reports you'd know that they frequently reference the lawyers etc., being investigated also. Before confiscation happens the foreigners are given the opportunity to dispose of the illegally held property, if they can't or won't then that's when the state steps in.

Really????

From Siam Legal website.

https://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-law/thailand-expands-crackdown-on-nominee-shareholders/

"Legal Risks of Nominee Structures

Nominee arrangements can expose both foreign investors and Thai participants to serious legal risk. Depending on the facts of the case, penalties may include:

• Imprisonment of up to 3 years

• Fines of up to 1 million THB

• Forced closure or restructuring of the business

• Seizure or freezing of assets

• Loss of commercial operating permits

• Suspension or cancellation of visas or work permits

The bigger risk is that a structure treated casually at the beginning can become a major legal problem later. This is especially true when a business grows, buys property, applies for licenses, seeks investment, becomes involved in a dispute, or is reviewed by government authorities."

Do you see the part, "Seizure or freezing of assets?

Yes, really, and I do see that part, do you see the part where it says "depending on the facts of the case" and "may include"?

"Under Sections 94 and 96, individuals found to possess land illegally must dispose of it within a timeframe set by the Land Department, ranging from 180 days to one year. Failure to comply within this period allows the Land Department to enforce the land’s disposal"

https://silklegal.com/nominee-land-ownership-in-thailand-can-follow-you-to-the-grave/

These 'dirty farangs' have damaged the Thai economy so much. Without them, there would just be natural, empty land covered in weeds and garbage. And instead of getting paid, all the Thai people involved in construction—from architects and laborers to the land office and concrete suppliers—could just beautifully survive on government subsidies, enjoying life and doing nothing. I'm glad the punishment for this terrible contribution to the economy is justified. Hopefully, there will be no new developments—only wasteland.

2 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

An 11-year-old, one-off (at that value) example, not of one lawyer being a bit dodgy but a group of people conspiring to deliberately defraud one particular person from a huge amount of money. That's not representative of the typical lawyer's modus operandi in Thailand.

Sure, but never the less, a Thai lawyer, right?

2 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Yes, really, and I do see that part, do you see the part where it says "depending on the facts of the case" and "may include"?

"Under Sections 94 and 96, individuals found to possess land illegally must dispose of it within a timeframe set by the Land Department, ranging from 180 days to one year. Failure to comply within this period allows the Land Department to enforce the land’s disposal"

https://silklegal.com/nominee-land-ownership-in-thailand-can-follow-you-to-the-grave/

I wouldn't trust Sections 94 and 96 as far as I could spit, nor any Thai authorities, for that matter, but if you feel secure with it, good for you.

Did anyone expect the Russians to play by the "rules". This is not a surprise. Same for the Chinese and anyone with "Big Money".

On 7/18/2026 at 11:30 AM, ChipButty said:

Once they have confiscated all this property and the fixtures and fittings which will amount to millions, what are they going to do with it all?

I know a few people who must be treading very carefully right now, My wife reckons she saw gangs of Officials and police going around Rawai the other night,

Those people could have been looking at anything though. Cannabis shops, chasing down an Interpol red notice target, I mean literally anything.

The nominee company thing is all about documents and paper trails, at least initially. I would have thought raids would more likely be in the day time.

But that said, who knows? For sure there are a lot of foreign owned businesses in Rawai, legally or otherwise.

I was at an “MOT” shop the other day getting an old motorbike checked so that it could be taxed. While in the office, a big Russian guy came in( could have been Ukrainian I suppose) handed over 3 number plates and received 3 new ones in return. He asked how much and handed over 15k baht. Why would a Russian need three new number plates for 5k each? It’s got me stumped but it doesn’t sound kosher.

44 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Those people could have been looking at anything though. Cannabis shops, chasing down an Interpol red notice target, I mean literally anything.

The nominee company thing is all about documents and paper trails, at least initially. I would have thought raids would more likely be in the day time.

But that said, who knows? For sure there are a lot of foreign owned businesses in Rawai, legally or otherwise.

I was at an “MOT” shop the other day getting an old motorbike checked so that it could be taxed. While in the office, a big Russian guy came in( could have been Ukrainian I suppose) handed over 3 number plates and received 3 new ones in return. He asked how much and handed over 15k baht. Why would a Russian need three new number plates for 5k each? It’s got me stumped but it doesn’t sound kosher.

Do you mean that new MOT place on the main road on the way down to Rawai? Why 5000 baht for a set of plates? sounds dodgy,

22 hours ago, Taboo2 said:

Did anyone expect the Russians to play by the "rules". This is not a surprise. Same for the Chinese and anyone with "Big Money".

The rules are stacked against all foreigners here, not just the Russians and Chinese, and not just against those with big money.

Edited July 19Jul 19 by KhunHeineken

They'll find a ton of these in Phuket.

On 7/17/2026 at 8:29 PM, EVENKEEL said:

There's got to be some apprehension among the foreigners who bought a house with a fake company. Should be some really good deals coming up. Sell cheap or lose it.

There are already housing estates in Hua Hin and Cha Am where properies were up for sale for "cheap". The problem is that few people want the property even at a discount. Thai property, unless it is built to quality specification does not age well. The quality dwellings are priced accordingly and are beyond the reach of the common purchaser.

On 7/17/2026 at 10:24 PM, Keeenok Powell said:

Lots of bottoms will be squeaking across Pattaya and Jomtien now that the farangs have to sign their company house over to their loving wife’s

Good luck with that lads

If the Thai wife owns 51% of the company and the foreign husband owns 49%, its perfectly legal and legitimate. Not sure, but I also believe its the only way you can have joint ownership with a foreigner involved.

On 7/18/2026 at 9:24 AM, Keeenok Powell said:

Lots of bottoms will be squeaking across Pattaya and Jomtien now that the farangs have to sign their company house over to their loving wife’s

Good luck with that lads.

It is an ugly thing to gloat over the misfortune of others.

On 7/18/2026 at 10:08 AM, Liverpool Lou said:

Yes, really, and I do see that part, do you see the part where it says "depending on the facts of the case" and "may include"?

The scheme involving tens of millions of baht or in this case billions will certainly be siezed as it involves money most likely obtained by criminal activity.

16 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Do you mean that new MOT place on the main road on the way down to Rawai? Why 5000 baht for a set of plates? sounds dodgy,

Well, it’s an old place on the way down to Rawai pier but it has been remodeled and seems to be under new ownership.

Yep, it sounded completely fishy to me. I couldn’t come up with a single legitimate reason for such a thing. And it was three sets at 5k each, so not just their own personal bike. And they gave in an old set for each one. Decidedly dodgy. But I guess we mind our own business 🤷‍♂️

On 7/18/2026 at 6:13 PM, KhunHeineken said:

I wouldn't trust Sections 94 and 96 as far as I could spit, nor any Thai authorities, for that matter, but if you feel secure with it, good for you.

I don't need to feel secure about it, I was just quoting the law as some people posting here seem to think that everyone with a dodgy nominee company-owned property will immediately lose it, it's not necessarily the case because they get the opportunity to dispose of it in many cases.

5 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

I don't need to feel secure about it, I was just quoting the law as some people posting here seem to think that everyone with a dodgy nominee company-owned property will immediately lose it, it's not necessarily the case because they get the opportunity to dispose of it in many cases.

"The law" - in Thailand? 😂

Imagine a serious crackdown, with many foreigners forced to sell, even foreigners who thought their ownership was 100% legitimate. The property market would be flooded, and people would be selling for way less than they bought in for.

Some may suggest this is why it will never happen, but all it would take is a right wing Thai politician on a platform of "Returning Thailand to Thai's" come election time and it could kick off.

I'll continue to happily rent and not have to worry about Thailand's foreign ownership of property "laws."

14 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

don't need to feel secure about it, I was just quoting the law as some people posting here seem to think that everyone with a dodgy nominee company-owned property will immediately lose it, it's not necessarily the case because they get the opportunity to dispose of it in many cases.

"The law" - in Thailand? 😂

Imagine a serious crackdown, with many foreigners forced to sell, even foreigners who thought their ownership was 100% legitimate. The property market would be flooded, and people would be selling for way less than they bought in for

I'm aware of that but, so what... who cares? That's a consequence of trying to bypass the law regarding foreign ownership.