Frenchman faces Koh Samui nominee business claims

Surat Thani Immigration Police are investigating a French businessman accused of using Thai nominees to control businesses and land on Koh Samui, including a 12-room property allegedly operating without a hotel licence.

Stephane Thierry Bastok, 74, is also facing separate legal proceedings over claims that he persuaded eight French nationals to invest about 3.3 million baht each, in a cannabis farm project that investigators say was never established.

The investigation forms part of "Crackdown on Foreign Nominee Networks, Phase 7", launched under policies set by National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanphet and Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma, deputy national police chief and director of the Centre for the Suppression of Transnational Crime and Illegal Immigration.

On 15 August 2026, Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanumas Boonyalak ordered an inquiry through Immigration Division 6 commissioner Pol. Maj. Gen. Chuthares Yingyongdamrongsakul.

Koh Samui firms and accommodation examined

Pol. Col. Naruet Phutthawiro, superintendent of Surat Thani Immigration, said officers expanded their work after identifying suspicious company shareholding arrangements involving Thai nationals.

Investigators linked Bastok to Ida B Co Ltd and IDA B Domain Co Ltd, which were involved in land ownership and accommodation businesses in Moo 5, Lipanoi subdistrict, Koh Samui district.

Ida B Co Ltd owns about 7 rai, 3 ngan and 80 square wah of land. A three-storey building was constructed there in 2021 and later operated as IDA B Domain, with 12 rooms, a restaurant, online daily booking advertisements and its own website targeting tourists.

However, officers found no hotel business licence issued by the Koh Samui district hotel registrar. Immigration records filed under Section 38 of the Immigration Act indicated short guest stays, while an application for a health-hazardous business licence described the operation as a 12-room rental business.

Ida B Co Ltd reported continuing losses and no genuine business income, officers said. Three Thai shareholders holding a combined 60% were restaurant employees and a driver, with no apparent capacity to fund such an investment.

IDA B Domain Co Ltd had two Thai shareholders holding 60%. One admitted he was an employee whose name was used as a director and document handler, without control over company finances.

Records showed more than 7.7 million baht transferred from company accounts to Bastok and more than 1.5 million baht to his son. Officers said this suggested Bastok supplied the funds and controlled both businesses.

Risks for foreign investors and nominees

For foreigners in Thailand, the case is a reminder that using Thai shareholders as stand-ins to bypass foreign business or land-ownership restrictions can expose both the foreign investor and Thai participants to prosecution. A Thai-registered company does not automatically make an arrangement lawful if its Thai shareholders are not genuine investors.

Pol. Lt. Col. Arun Musigim has filed a complaint against Bastok under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999), including Sections 8, 36, 37 and 41, and the Hotel Act B.E. 2547 (2004) for allegedly operating a hotel without a licence.

The two companies face allegations of allowing a foreigner to conduct business unlawfully, using Thai nominees and operating an unauthorised hotel. The five Thai nominees face allegations under Sections 36 and 41.

Bo Phut and Koh Samui police have completed the cannabis-farm case files and sent them to prosecutors. Immigration is also considering possible money-laundering action, including whether allegedly illegal proceeds funded investments.

Pol. Col. Naruet said officers had credible information that Bastok previously advertised a hotel, buildings and land for sale at 300 million baht.

Pictures courtesy of Khoasod

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17 August 2026