Phuket police raid Russian ‘owned’ businesses in Thai company crackdown

[snoop1130]

 

Police in Phuket have raided a number of Russian-owned firms accused of using Thai nominees. The raids were conducted by officers from the Provincial Police Region 8, under the direction of Suraphong Thanomchit, and accompanied by various other police teams and immigration officers.

 

One of the premises raided was the Octopus restaurant in the northern sub-district of Cherngtalay, where it was discovered that Thai national Punyanuch Thongkob was listed as holding 51% of the shares. It was subsequently discovered that Ms Punyanuch is only a nominee and the real owner is Vladilav Zinakov, a Russian national with 24.5% of the shares.

 

A third person, Pavel Shapovalov, worked in a financial management capacity, circulating funds of 80 million baht. A fourth person, named in a Khaosod English report as Mr Valerie, is accused of being an “alien collaborating to manage a business that Thais are unprepared to enter without authorisation.”

 

By Peter Roche

Caption: PHOTO: Google Maps

 

Full story: Phuket GO 2024-04-05

 

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[transam]

The noose tightens........😬

[proton]

Great cut the cancer out before it gets any bigger

[rexpotter]

Well, well. What have we here?

[norfolkandchance]

2 hours ago, transam said:

The noose tightens........😬

Around your neck then.

[swerve]

Sounds like there is plenty more crackdown to come.  

[MrPancake]

Thailand... Rule of law...

 

 

 

[frank83628]

51%, isnt that how thing work for 20+ years 

[VBer]

Isn't it a "normal" scheme to perform a business in Thailand? 

So, all farang-owned business are in danger now? House owning "companies" also? We might witnessing a big raising wave.

[Excogitator]

Excellent. Good job. Good guys in, bad guys out. Many more to follow I'm sure..

[thesetat]

5 hours ago, VBer said:

Isn't it a "normal" scheme to perform a business in Thailand? 

So, all farang-owned business are in danger now? House owning "companies" also? We might witnessing a big raising wave.

Yes it is a normal but illegal way of circumventing Thai laws for business and property ownership. This is probably only the beginning. 

[ChipButty]

Where are they going to keep them all? 

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, VBer said:

Isn't it a "normal" scheme to perform a business in Thailand? 

So, all farang-owned business are in danger now? House owning "companies" also? We might witnessing a big raising wave.

If you can prove the Thai owner of 51% + as being your legitimate girlfriend or wife/partner then it's a legitimate family business.

If the Thai is only a nominee on paper without any other evidence then it's fake... nominee is illegal.

Having said that it's a very grey area and many loopholes.

[ChipButty]

Keep this up raiding and arresting people, who will be the eventual losers? Thai people will all be out of a job, One spoke to my wife yesterday after 6 years of working she is now out of a job, 

[CANSIAM]

40 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Where are they going to keep them all? 

Crime tape off a large guarded area at the airport around the Aeroflot Gate.......

[Denim]

Loopholes in the law being closed. Was always going to be a ticking bomb.

 

When a few people circumvent obstacles using this method it doesn't make a wave.  However, once you get too many people doing it , it finally attracts attention  and a crackdown follows.

 

Start stuffing your brown envelopes.

[stevenl]

47 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Keep this up raiding and arresting people, who will be the eventual losers? Thai people will all be out of a job, One spoke to my wife yesterday after 6 years of working she is now out of a job, 

Legal businesses will benefit. She'll find another job.

[transam]

8 hours ago, VBer said:

Isn't it a "normal" scheme to perform a business in Thailand? 

So, all farang-owned business are in danger now? House owning "companies" also? We might witnessing a big raising wave.

The "company" house owner is well known about, the PM is into property, so he knows all about it, he would also know starting up a "company" that does sod all but own a house is illegal........

Of course many Thais are involved in the fiddle, how will things unfold, remains to be seen........

[VBer]

1 hour ago, Denim said:

Loopholes in the law being closed. Was always going to be a ticking bomb.

I not so understand why some people here are happy of these news then. Only because businesses owner is Russian? They think that authorities will be avoiding businesses owned by other nationalities?

 

[VBer]

7 hours ago, Excogitator said:

Good guys in, bad guys out.

What makes this guy bad?

[Excogitator]

6 minutes ago, VBer said:

What makes this guy bad?

'Good guys in, bad guys out' is a motto of Thai immigration. 'Bad', in this context, being anyone (foreigner) not following the rule of law in Thailand, like operating a business without the proper permits, licences, visas etc.

Edited April 6 by Excogitator

[Hakuna Matata]

[impulse]

3 hours ago, stevenl said:

Legal businesses will benefit. She'll find another job.

 

I don't know about the Russkies, but we paid several times what the Thai companies paid in the same field for the equivalent positions.  More than worth it to be able to recruit and retain the best Thai talent.

 

[ChipButty]

6 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I don't know about the Russkies, but we paid several times what the Thai companies paid in the same field for the equivalent positions.  More than worth it to be able to recruit and retain the best Thai talent.

 

It's well know down here, they can get much better pay working for a Farang company, advantage to those who can speak good English, 

[LudwigK]

Phuket,  the Krim of Thailand 💰💰💰💰

[jollyhangmon]

46 minutes ago, LudwigK said:

Phuket,  the Krim of Thailand 💰💰💰💰

 

... need 2 call it 'Crimea',Vickerl, otherwise you're confusing the plebs ...

 

[CANSIAM]

7 hours ago, Hakuna Matata said:

 

[CANSIAM]

Just now, CANSIAM said:

 

This should be step 1, followed by what looks to be serious continuous crackdowns now.......

[NativeBob]

11 hours ago, hotchilli said:

If the Thai is only a nominee on paper without any other evidence then it's fake... nominee is illegal.

Having said that it's a very grey area and many loopholes.

Than RTP should arrest almost whole area around Bang Rak and Silom junction - those jewelers just funny )))

[Maitdjai]

After the rants of “farang-shower-experts”, nothing more, as predictable.
The campaign was prepared after the beach stairways, and is taking its momentum. Like I said in another thread,
the Thaliandbans working down their task list. High season is finished, tourists are mostly gone soon,
plenty of time to investigate the long stayers.
They aim for package tourists, in fenced 5* resorts. Hauled around in VIP buses, directly from the airport,
and straight back to the airport.
Staying 2 weeks, spending 5000 US, or more. After that, bye, bye, cu again next year, with a wai, and a smile.
Long stayers are the thorn in the side.
With some luck, it's cooling down, like so many other campaigns, and crackdowns.

My point is, that I really would like to know, how many of all those screaming, and stupid “kick them out, ban them, jail them” parrots (in whatever case), here in their “Good Guy” sanctuary forum,
are involved in dodgy, but common companies, land deeds, or other circumvented loophole arrangements.
“Schadenfreude” isn't so funny any more, when the targets could include yourself.

Edited April 6 by Maitdjai