Swiss Barber Arrested for Illegal Work and Taunting Thai Police

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Khaosod.co.th

 

In an audacious and unexpected turn of events, a Swiss barber named Oliver E. was apprehended by Thai authorities on Koh Phangan Island. He had been operating a barbershop and taking jobs from locals while openly challenging the police to "catch me if you can."

 

Leading up to the arrest, Police Lieutenant General Saksasira Puekarm, commander of the Tourist Police, instructed Police Lieutenant Colonel Winich Boonchit, commander of Tourist Police Division 5, Subdivision 2, Division 3, alongside Koh Phangan tourist police and local administrative officers, to detain the 51-year-old Swiss national. The action took place at Oliver Twist Hair, situated in Baan Tai, Koh Phangan, Surat Thani.

 

Authorities had received numerous reports about a foreigner illegally performing barber services on the island. Investigations revealed a Facebook page under the name "Oliver Twist Hair," where Oliver promoted his haircuts and facilitated bookings via WhatsApp.

 

Picture courtesy: Khaosod.co.th

 

Speaking candidly, Oliver acknowledged his role, stating that while he had permission to work as the managing director for Oliver Twist Art Co., Ltd., his activities as a barber at Oliver Twist Fashion extended beyond the authorised scope.

 

 

The barbershop, in operation for nine years, charged between 500 and 4,000 baht for haircuts, depending on the style.

 

Upon detention, Thai officials informed Oliver of his charges, noting that he was "a foreigner working outside the scope allowed (barber)." He was then escorted to Koh Phangan Police Station for further legal proceedings.

 

This incident sheds light on the stringent regulations surrounding employment for foreigners in Thailand, aiming to protect local job markets.

 

As the situation unfolds, it poses questions about the challenges expatriates face in navigating local laws and the consequences of flouting them.

 

-- 2024-06-26

 

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[webfact]

Hair-raising arrest in Koh Pha Ngan: Swiss stylist snips rules
by Bright Choomanee

 

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Police apprehended a 51 year old Swiss hairstylist in Koh Pha Ngan for operating a barbershop without proper authorisation, challenging the local police’s ability to detain him. He was arrested at Oliver Twist Hair in Ban Tai, Koh Pha Ngan, on charges of working illegally in Thailand.

 

The arrest took place after Police Lieutenant General Saksira Pueak-am, Commander of the Tourist Police, ordered Police Lieutenant Colonel Winit Boonchit and a team of Koh Pha Ngan Tourist Police, in collaboration with local administrative officials, to investigate the matter. The police had received reports of a foreign national unlawfully working as a barber, a profession reserved for Thai citizens.

 

Further investigation on social media, specifically on www.facebook.com, revealed a fan page for Oliver Twist Hair, advertising hair-cutting and styling services by Oliver Ehrat. Customers could book appointments through the WhatsApp application.

During questioning, Oliver admitted that while he held a permit to work as a Managing Director of Oliver Twist Art Co., Ltd., he had been working as a hairstylist at Oliver Twist Hair, which had been operating for nine years. The charges for haircuts ranged from 500 baht (US$14) to approximately 4,000 baht (US$110), depending on the style, reported KhaoSod.

The police informed Oliver of the charges.

 

“You are charged with being a foreign national working outside the scope of your permitted occupation (hairstylist).”

 

Following this, he was taken to Koh Pha Ngan Police Station for legal proceedings.

 

In related news, Royal Thai Immigration officers, along with relevant agencies, conducted a search operation at a factory in Krathum Baen, Samut Sakhon, following a report from the Damrongdhama Centre about a significant number of illegal immigrant labourers.

 

The operation led to the discovery of over 72 illegal immigrants working at the site.

Among the discovered workers, 45 had no legal documentation or work permits, while 27 Burmese workers had some documentation but lacked work permits.

 

The immigrants admitted to working illegally at the factory and disclosed that they were paid 363 baht (US$10) daily in cash. They revealed that they had been employed there for one month.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-06-26

 

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[AnotherOneHere]

Judging from his Facebook guy is a professional and knows what he is doing. Not some desperate farang giving 50 Baht haircuts to be able to afford the food.

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Authorities had received numerous reports about a foreigner illegally performing barber services on the island.

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The barbershop, in operation for nine years,

 

The police were not very diligent in this case then.

[Wayne G]

Deport the arrogant muppet 

[hotchilli]

2 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

 

The police were not very diligent in this case then.

On the ball... not.

[NorthernRyland]

12 minutes ago, AnotherOneHere said:

Judging from his Facebook guy is a professional and knows what he is doing. Not some desperate farang giving 50 Baht haircuts to be able to afford the food.

judging by his own haircut and color I would say he doesn't know at all what he's doing and probably should be deported on that basis alone.

[dougieboy]

43 minutes ago, webfact said:

Hair-raising arrest in Koh Pha Ngan: Swiss stylist snips rules
by Bright Choomanee

 

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Police apprehended a 51 year old Swiss hairstylist in Koh Pha Ngan for operating a barbershop without proper authorisation, challenging the local police’s ability to detain him. He was arrested at Oliver Twist Hair in Ban Tai, Koh Pha Ngan, on charges of working illegally in Thailand.

 

The arrest took place after Police Lieutenant General Saksira Pueak-am, Commander of the Tourist Police, ordered Police Lieutenant Colonel Winit Boonchit and a team of Koh Pha Ngan Tourist Police, in collaboration with local administrative officials, to investigate the matter. The police had received reports of a foreign national unlawfully working as a barber, a profession reserved for Thai citizens.

 

Further investigation on social media, specifically on www.facebook.com, revealed a fan page for Oliver Twist Hair, advertising hair-cutting and styling services by Oliver Ehrat. Customers could book appointments through the WhatsApp application.

During questioning, Oliver admitted that while he held a permit to work as a Managing Director of Oliver Twist Art Co., Ltd., he had been working as a hairstylist at Oliver Twist Hair, which had been operating for nine years. The charges for haircuts ranged from 500 baht (US$14) to approximately 4,000 baht (US$110), depending on the style, reported KhaoSod.

The police informed Oliver of the charges.

 

“You are charged with being a foreign national working outside the scope of your permitted occupation (hairstylist).”

 

Following this, he was taken to Koh Pha Ngan Police Station for legal proceedings.

 

In related news, Royal Thai Immigration officers, along with relevant agencies, conducted a search operation at a factory in Krathum Baen, Samut Sakhon, following a report from the Damrongdhama Centre about a significant number of illegal immigrant labourers.

 

The operation led to the discovery of over 72 illegal immigrants working at the site.

Among the discovered workers, 45 had no legal documentation or work permits, while 27 Burmese workers had some documentation but lacked work permits.

 

The immigrants admitted to working illegally at the factory and disclosed that they were paid 363 baht (US$10) daily in cash. They revealed that they had been employed there for one month.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-06-26

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

"Catch me if you can.........." Smart!

[outsidetrader]

Work Permits clearly say what you can do .Some people can do multiple tasks with them but if is did not say he was,permitted to cut hair ,then he should have been aware a,long time ago ....

[BestB]

Perfect example of Thai utter stupidity.

those who go to local barbers for 100-150 baht would not have gone to him and those who went to him paying 500-4000 would not be going to local 100 baht barber.

 

so who was he hurting ? In addition him being a company some taxes were being paid where as local shop pays 0 and never paid more than 0

[luckyscruff]

Hair today , gone tomorrow?

[malt25]

"As the situation unfolds, it poses questions about the challenges expatriates face in navigating local laws and the consequences of flouting them." Utter nonsense ! Your IQ would have to be similar to the temperature to not  know about what is & not permitted re working.

 

[Butts]

Gave the wrong person a bad hair cut Doh!!!

[Sydebolle]

a) hair dressing/barber shop operation is indeed a "Thai only" profession as so stipulated in the "Alien Business Law"
b) the average Khon Thai will never ever pay 500 - 4,000 Baht for a hair cut
c) since the guy has been in business for that long, it can only be assumed that some zealous barbers in the +/- 100 Baht league went to alarm the authorities who, in turn, started the hunting of the dirty farang. 
d) instead of pissing around like cowards, the local figari thailandesi might want to study, why a farang gets that much more money for a hair cut than the usual "bowl on head and cut around" league 

I do not feel sorry for the Swiss guy, he knew exactly what he was in for. It is a special kind of stupidity to "provoke" the Figaro congregation on the island - serves him right! Unless he has an otherwise clean record he will be requested for the little brown manillas 😉 

[BestB]

7 minutes ago, outsidetrader said:

Work Permits clearly say what you can do .Some people can do multiple tasks with them but if is did not say he was,permitted to cut hair ,then he should have been aware a,long time ago ....

In theory , he is allowed to supervise local cutting hair. For example if local was standing right next to him looking , then it would be allowed , again in theory 

 

some 16 years ago I was nabbed for turning a wheel on bike for rent parked outside my business. They claimed I was not supposed to be moving bikes which i was not. Giving donation was cheaper than going to court 

[SbuxPlease]

31 minutes ago, outsidetrader said:

Work Permits clearly say what you can do .Some people can do multiple tasks with them but if is did not say he was,permitted to cut hair ,then he should have been aware a,long time ago ....

 

I believe the rules about needing more work permits to work more jobs changed some time ago. Here are some articles about it:
 

https://thepattayanews.com/2018/07/29/thailand-changes-work-permits-with-a-work-permit-one-can-now-work-in-a-permitted-job-anywhere-at-any-time/
https://www.thephuketnews.com/new-work-permit-rules-confirmed-by-phuket-employment-office-chief-68463.php

 

Unless they changed it back and forgot to update us...

 

 

Also Barber doesn't seem to be on the prohibited occupation list: https://www.thailandlawonline.com/thai-company-and-foreign-business-law/prohibited-occupations-thailand-work-permit

 

So it is a little unclear what the problem with this guy was, it seems like he's on the up and up.

 

Edit: someone pointed out that barber is indeed on the very list I shared, not sure how I missed it on the first scan. Well, let him fry. Or maybe he's a Strand Structuring Engineer, which as we all know is quite a different professional altogether.

[MarleyMarl]

They took yer jerbs!

[Ironmike]

4000 for a hair cut in Thailand,,,shoot him out of a cannon and deport him

[digbeth]

5 minutes ago, SbuxPlease said:

 

Also Barber doesn't seem to be on the prohibited occupation list: https://www.thailandlawonline.com/thai-company-and-foreign-business-law/prohibited-occupations-thailand-work-permit

 

 

"Haircutting, hairdressing or beauty treatment" is there on the list

[Drumbuie]

3 minutes ago, SbuxPlease said:

 

I believe the rules about needing more work permits to work more jobs changed some time ago. Here are some articles about it:
 

https://thepattayanews.com/2018/07/29/thailand-changes-work-permits-with-a-work-permit-one-can-now-work-in-a-permitted-job-anywhere-at-any-time/
https://www.thephuketnews.com/new-work-permit-rules-confirmed-by-phuket-employment-office-chief-68463.php

 

Unless they changed it back and forgot to update us...

 

 

Also Barber doesn't seem to be on the prohibited occupation list: https://www.thailandlawonline.com/thai-company-and-foreign-business-law/prohibited-occupations-thailand-work-permit

 

So it is a little unclear what the problem with this guy was, it seems like he's on the up and up.

On the prohibited list is " haircutting, hairdressing or beauty treatments" - which must presumably include barbering. The French for beard is barbe - hence " barber"  - so maybe there isn't a Thai word for it.  

[spidermike007]

This man was tearing apart the very fabric of Thai society by working without a permit for his specified job. One cannot even count the number of Thai people that would be lining up for a 500 to 4,000 baht haircut.

 

If this kind of thing were to continue society could have a meltdown, and it's very foundations could crumble. 

[Gecko123]

♫

consider yourself deported

consider yourself blacklisted

♫

 

[sung to tune of Broadway musical 'Oliver' theme song]

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsyiMn6OPQA

 

[dogfish180]

Thought he was a cut above the rest. Been getting away with it for years, even after many close shaves. Sounded like the police had been dying to catch him, but had to comb the island to find him. Doubt he'll see any permanent trouble. Just a clip around the ears. He'll easily brush it off. 

[PoorSucker]

59 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

 

The police were not very diligent in this case then.

Perhaps they did not get a cut.

[Dr Jon]

I know what everyone is thinking:

'Oh no, not another dodgy Swiss barber!'

[fredwiggy]

Who in their right minds pays 4000 baht for a haircut anywhere on earth? You can get a professional cut anywhere for less than 2000 baht, and even a lot less with only cutting done. As far as the barber, he shouldn't be arrogant but apologizing and making sure he doesn't work here illegally again.

[Dr Jon]

17 minutes ago, dogfish180 said:

Thought he was a cut above the rest. Been getting away with it for years, even after many close shaves. Sounded like the police had been dying to catch him, but had to comb the island to find him. Doubt he'll see any permanent trouble. Just a clip around the ears. He'll easily brush it off. 

Yes, but what about the overheads and the fringe benefits?

[sammieuk1]

Wonder who would go to Swiss Sweeney's and get rolled for 4,000 baht  🤔

[BigStar]

26 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

One cannot even count the number of Thai people that would be lining up for a 500 to 4,000 baht haircut.

 

Our fave red herring whenever a farang is busted for working w/o a permit. Beside the point. I wish the US would be diligent about enforcing its laws.

 

Anyway, those few Thai people need haircuts, so they'd get them from Thai barbers. Moreover, though our old pensioners aren't aware of them, never paying more than B100 or just using Wahl clippers from Lazada (sorted!), Thai hair stylist shops can indeed offer some expensive doos.

[renaissanc]

Hairdressing is one of the jobs forbidden to do if you are a foreigner. If you are a resident here I don't think one needs to explain why.