Police arrested an Israeli man and a Romanian woman after searching an unlicensed childcare centre on Koh Pha Ngan on July 4, following a tip-off that foreign nationals were allegedly operating the business illegally. Officers found 42 foreign children at the Little Panda childcare centre during the inspection.
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The operation formed part of an ongoing crackdown on foreigners allegedly running businesses unlawfully in Surat Thani province. Immigration officers, district officials and Koh Pha Ngan police carried out the search after receiving information from a member of the public.
Inside the centre, officers found children aged between two and six taking part in classroom and outdoor activities under the supervision of Thai and foreign staff. The centre charged 45,000 baht per four-month term and was equipped with classrooms, teaching materials, furniture, meals and an outdoor activity area.
Police said 39-year-old Singkhamorn Wongsasawan identified himself as a childcare employee and assisted officers during the inspection. Authorities counted three Thai nationals, three foreign nationals and 10 Myanmar nationals working at the premises as childcare assistants, gardeners and cleaners.
During the inspection, 55-year-old Israeli national Ziv Radomsky identified himself as the owner of the business. Police said he entered Thailand through Suvarnabhumi Airport on June 7 on a Non-Immigrant Visa O valid until September 4 but was unable to produce either a work permit or a licence to operate a childcare centre.
Investigators alleged Radomsky managed the childcare centre through Sunshine Shop Co., Ltd., with three other company directors handling company documents, bank accounts, tuition fees, communications with parents and company finances.
Officers also examined the documents of 13 foreign workers. Police said 12 had valid documentation, while 25-year-old Romanian national Meda Andreea Capilna was allegedly working outside the conditions of her work permit.
Capilna had entered Thailand on a Non-Immigrant Visa B valid until May 28, 2027, with a work permit as a marketing manager. Investigators alleged she was instead working as a childcare supervisor and coordinating learning activities. During questioning, she said she had worked at Little Panda since about November 2024, received a monthly salary of 33,000 baht from Radomsky and had not notified authorities of a change in employer or job description.
Radomsky also told investigators the childcare centre had been operating since 2024 without an operating licence. He said the business was preparing documents to apply for one and confirmed he managed the company, signed documents, communicated with parents and oversaw its finances despite not holding a work permit.
Daily News reported that police arrested Radomsky and Capilna before charging them with jointly establishing or operating a childcare centre without a licence, working as foreign nationals without work permits, and failing to notify authorities of the employment of a foreign worker within the legally required period.
Pictures courtesy of Daily News
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 6 July 2026