Big Joke launches crackdown on illegal foreign workers and Thai nominees

 

 

New Thai immigration chief Maj-Gen Surachate Hakpal has scored a big first week hat-trick.

 

Following the Maj-Gen's drive against bent officials in his own new department and rogue taxi drivers he has now turned his attention to foreigners.

 

Specifically foreigners working illegally in Thailand and those setting up illegal businesses with Thai nominees.

 

Surachate - called Big Joke in the media - appeared at a press briefing with other top ranking immigration officers on Thursday to announce the arrest of 59 foreigners rounded up on Wednesday.

 

Bangkok raids took place in the tourist areas of Nana in Sukhumvit and Khao San Road in Banglamphu and Huay Kwang.

 

Foreigners arrested came from China, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Nigeria.

 

Seven had no work permit, 22 (all Burmese) were working in forbidden occupations, nine had entered Thailand illegally to reside, three (two Thais) were illegally hiring foreigners, three had not made 90 day reports and fifteen had a combination of failing to report and working illegally.

 

Surachate said that most would be deported.

 

Those acting as nominees would be further investigated to cast the net wider.

 

The immigration website quoted the Maj-Gen as saying: "I have ordered all immigration officers nationwide to flush out illegal workers in the country and investigate foreigners working in the country under Thai nominees".  

 

The new chief moved from being deputy at the Thai Tourist Police Bureau on Monday to become Immigration Commissioner.

 

Source: https://www.immigration.go.th/read?content_id=5bb5ac6c2934aab903d4ab1f

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-10-4

"Those acting as nominees would be further investigated to cast the net wider."

Once he decides to "cast the net wider", going after "nominees" and their Farang customers having formed companies to "legally own" property,

WATCH OUT BELOW........!

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Specifically foreigners working illegally in Thailand and those setting up illegal businesses with Thai nominees.

Can you imagine "owning" a house in Thailand and reading this? I can't.  

Edited October 4, 20187 yr by Ron19
Crude text removed

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Those acting as nominees would be further investigated to cast the net wider.

 

Gonna be a lot of transferring to wives and even GF's.

show pony for the gang of thieves, clearly going to enjoy his new greater wealth, but always cast your minds back 6 years to the protest at the stadium next to MBK; when the show ponies puppet masters were saying such delights as,

 

"shutting down Thailand for 5 years and rid Thailand of foreigners,"

 

or in other words make it a lot more uncomfortable for foreigners; and the crazed protesters cheered with joy

                    

                   

Wonder if the "agents" arranging retirement visas and the like for people without the requsite funds are getting nervous now ?

8 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

Can you imagine "owning" a house in Thailand and reading this? I can't.  

I don't think that a non-profit makeing business is what is being referred to here.

But good to see that it was cause for you to have a good laugh anyway....strange what makes some people happy. 

Edited October 5, 20187 yr by dotpoom

Wonder if the "agents" arranging retirement visas and the like for people without the requsite funds are getting nervous now ?

If they just stopped them queue jumping then I’d be happy !!

When you have been in Immigration for...well... forever !! and it it’s getting close to your turn and some smarmy lady walks into Immigration wais all the IO’s and on the premise of asking a simple question sits down next to some bemused farang and while still “ chatting “ pushes her huge pile of passports and papers over the desk to be served next !! Happened to me twice last week !!

Okay, morning rant over [emoji51]

2 hours ago, Esso49 said:

Wonder if the "agents" arranging retirement visas and the like for people without the requsite funds are getting nervous now ?

That has made the news somewhere this morning. 400,000b went into the bank on the morning of the visa application and came out same evening.

Foreigners arrested came from China, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Nigeria.

 

all know as quality tourists countries.

10 hours ago, swissie said:

"Those acting as nominees would be further investigated to cast the net wider."

Once he decides to "cast the net wider", going after "nominees" and their Farang customers having formed companies to "legally own" property,

WATCH OUT BELOW........!

Was thinking the same thing. It has been a while since they announced their usual 'two week crackdown' option in this area.

8 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

Can you imagine "owning" a house in Thailand and reading this? I can't.  

All these guys that have asked for advice on this forum over the years about buying a house here with a nominee and been told by so many that it was not really legal no matter who tells them, and not to do it.  Big Joke has not said he is going after corrupt illegal home ownership, YET!!!   But imagine being deported and in worst case scenario banned, after spending X million baht to buy a house that some legal local person now owns and possesses the important 51% of.  Not a good situation to be in.  Possibly always waiting for a knock on the door.

1 hour ago, dotpoom said:

I don't think that a non-profit makeing business is what is being referred to here.

But good to see that it was cause for you to have a good laugh anyway....strange what makes some people happy. 

Don't think there is a direct referral. However, I believe there are a lot of people who have opened businesses that although have returns are effectively dormant, many of which have Thai shareholders from the lawyers office. They use this to buy properties in Thailand.

 

So, although not direct, it is going to come up with the investigation of Thai nominees in lawyer offices.

 

If I were one of those people with property I would be selling asap for sure, but thats just me. I do know that if this does really kick off then the properties that were bought in such a way will become worthless. I can see a lot of rich locals offering to release them of their property for "the right price" before the authorities get to them.

 

As said, maybe nothing will happen, but maybe these people could end up losing their homes. If it buys political favour with local people to do this then it is entirely possible with elections looming.

 

Worrying times indeed for many I think. 

1 hour ago, dotpoom said:

I don't think that a non-profit makeing business is what is being referred to here.

But good to see that it was cause for you to have a good laugh anyway....strange what makes some people happy. 

Isn't the actual  ruling that seasoning funds is at the discretion of the I.O. ? 

 

11 hours ago, swissie said:

"Those acting as nominees would be further investigated to cast the net wider."

Once he decides to "cast the net wider", going after "nominees" and their Farang customers having formed companies to "legally own" property,

WATCH OUT BELOW........!

have to agree with you. nothing good will come out of this for all involved. 

All show and no pants.

If kicking out all foreign workers doing jobs they are not allow to do, specially those from Myanmar, the country comes to a stand still, as the locals just don't wanna do these jobs.

 

8 minutes ago, Deli said:

If kicking out all foreign workers doing jobs they are not allow to do, specially those from Myanmar, the country comes to a stand still, as the locals just don't wanna do these jobs.

 

Have no fear,  Indians will always fill the gaps as they have everywhere else. They are more than capable

Edited October 5, 20187 yr by Esso49

3 hours ago, Esso49 said:

Wonder if the "agents" arranging retirement visas and the like for people without the requsite funds are getting nervous now ?

Oh didn't you know that's not illegal, according to the people doing it that is! I reckon it's definitely not legal and on the list to be looked at. Does Thailand really want people staying here who have not got a fairly measly amount to be able to get an extension normally? probably not.

40 minutes ago, quandow said:

If you have to ask, you'll never get it.

In other words you have no answer.

General Pryuth is diverting the attention on something else, so that he can stay on power.

Expatriate Foreigners are going to be victims for sure.

Wonder if the "agents" arranging retirement visas and the like for people without the requsite funds are getting nervous now ?

 

Why should they?

 

TIT - Every time somebody new on the job makes a fuss it’s nothing but re-distributing the funds - and in this case getting into the news as well.

 

If somebody should come up someday and revolutionize their outdated system I am going to applaud big time - but as the Thais say : “if nobody orders them to change something from above - they won’t”

 

And how could some dinosaur from above - who where born when they did not even have cars in the streets think of what the 21st century is all about.

 

Nothing but photo opps - if you ask the Thais they don’t even like the guy - they say he is just another “fake Rolex” who likes to be in the news every day.

 

There is nothing he can do alone in this corrupt “swamp” as another ex-commander called the immigration department - he will find out soon.

 

The real big time foreign criminals are all well known by the immigration department in this country - if he would be serious he would not go after some small time overstayers or people without a work permit - all he needed to do is contact a certain journalist who had to flee the country out of safety concerns - not going to happen money always wins in this country - nothing but publicity stunts.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

44 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

i respect that. having a "hobby" house you can walk away from and not be ruined is OK.

 

thanks. over 20 years with the same woman so in a good situation, 1 kid graduated Uni, 1 going next year, and last one another 2 years before she goes. I will just live my life out this way there as I'm not going anywhere. Other things will be willed or trusted to her and the kid. If things did go south, it is ok, it will still be there for the kids.

10 hours ago, blackhorse said:

Gonna be a lot of transferring to wives and even GF's.

Transfer fees are expensive, especially if the wife kicks you out of the house after you've put it in her name ????

My neighbour who is from Germany has lived in his house for 30 years i must remember to ask him how his "hobby house" is doing!

And here I was thinking that the Immigration Bureau’s responsibility was merely to enforce the Immigration Act.

No mention of boiler room boys who employ people without work permits to commit fraud. He could show sincerity by going after these as a priority.

10 hours ago, humbug said:

show pony for the gang of thieves, clearly going to enjoy his new greater wealth, but always cast your minds back 6 years to the protest at the stadium next to MBK; when the show ponies puppet masters were saying such delights as,

 

"shutting down Thailand for 5 years and rid Thailand of foreigners,"

 

or in other words make it a lot more uncomfortable for foreigners; and the crazed protesters cheered with joy

Wait, they actually said that? I was in Thailand during that time and don’t remember the reds or yellows suggesting that foreigners should be kicked out. And none of their disagreements were around foreigners. 

 

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