Russian and Ukrainian Nationals Arrested for Illegal Car Rentals

[webfact]

 

On September 1, 2024, the Tourism Police apprehended two foreign nationals for illegally renting out vehicles and advertising their services in Russian Telegram groups. They were charged with working in Thailand without a work permit.

 

The operation was led by Police Lieutenant General Sakthira Phueak-um, Commissioner of the Tourism Police, and involved Police Lieutenant Colonel Winitch Bunchet, Inspector of the Tourism Police Division 5, along with Mr. Nopadol Khammali, District Chief of Koh Phangan, and local officials. The team conducted a crackdown on crime, including illegal foreign labor, in Koh Phangan.

 

The two arrested individuals are:

 

Mr. Andrei Petrov, a 60-year-old Russian, found with a gray Mazda CX-3 (license plate Kh 1822 Surat Thani). He was charged with “working in Thailand without a work permit.”

Mr. Dmytro Piaterikov, an 18-year-old Ukrainian, found with a red Yamaha Xmax motorcycle (license plate 1K 4676 Lopburi). He was also charged with “working in Thailand without a work permit.”

Both suspects were taken to the Koh Phangan Police Station for legal proceedings.

Mr. Petrov admitted to running a car rental business, advertising through the Telegram app, and charging a 15,000 baht deposit per customer. He acknowledged that this activity is illegal.

 

Mr. Piaterikov had come to Thailand to study but began renting out his motorcycle via Telegram to earn extra income.

 

He advertised various rental rates:

10,000 baht for one month, 699 baht per day for 1-3 days, 599 baht per day for 3-9 days, 499 baht per day for 10-20 days, and 399 baht per day for 20-29 days. He admitted to renting out the motorcycle for two months.

 

Police Lieutenant General Sakthira Phueak-um emphasized the need for tourism police stations in key tourist areas and nearby regions to intensify efforts against foreign nationals engaging in illegal activities and to enforce strict legal action in all cases.

 

-- 2024-09-02

 

 

Get the ASEAN NOW daily NEWSLETTER - Click HERE to subscribe

[Tropicalevo]

A Russian and a Ukrainian working together, Surely this should be encouraged.

[brianthainess]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Mr. Piaterikov had come to Thailand to study

Sure on Koh Phangan, what was he studying moon parties ?

[mokwit]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Mr. Piaterikov had come to Thailand to study

Translation: Was on an Ed Visa.

[racket]

If you want to spot foreigners working illegally, just walk into a gym and check out the personal trainers... You're welcome.

[Hakuna Matata]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Mr. Dmytro Piaterikov, an 18-year-old Ukrainian, found with a red Yamaha Xmax motorcycle (license plate 1K 4676 Lopburi). He was also charged with “working in Thailand without a work permit.”

 

OMG, those bad Russians and Ukrainians once again hitting the news headlines in Thailand?

 

 

[falang07]

Pathetic.

 

[Hakuna Matata]

1 hour ago, racket said:

If you want to spot foreigners working illegally, just walk into a gym and check out the personal trainers... You're welcome.

 

OMG, how much do they usually charge their clients?

[falang07]

1 hour ago, racket said:

If you want to spot foreigners working illegally, just walk into a gym and check out the personal trainers... You're welcome.

who cares, they should give us the same rights when they want to tax us

 

[Hakuna Matata]

2 hours ago, mokwit said:

Translation: Was on an Ed Visa.

 

Yes, absolutely. 90% of those bad Russians and Ukrainians in Thailand are staying on purchased ED visas (mostly from Phuket language schools). There were numerous crackdowns over the past 10 years, but mafia is difficult to eradicate. Especially in Thailand.

 

 

[macxxxx]

13 minutes ago, Hakuna Matata said:

 

OMG, how much do they usually charge their clients?

500 baht for 1 hour

[Taboo2]

Just give them a 90-day visa and Wai.  You let them in, so deal with it.

 

 

[WoodyKenny]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

 

On September 1, 2024, the Tourism Police apprehended two foreign nationals for illegally renting out vehicles and advertising their services in Russian Telegram groups. They were charged with working in Thailand without a work permit.

 

The operation was led by Police Lieutenant General Sakthira Phueak-um, Commissioner of the Tourism Police, and involved Police Lieutenant Colonel Winitch Bunchet, Inspector of the Tourism Police Division 5, along with Mr. Nopadol Khammali, District Chief of Koh Phangan, and local officials. The team conducted a crackdown on crime, including illegal foreign labor, in Koh Phangan.

 

The two arrested individuals are:

 

Mr. Andrei Petrov, a 60-year-old Russian, found with a gray Mazda CX-3 (license plate Kh 1822 Surat Thani). He was charged with “working in Thailand without a work permit.”

Mr. Dmytro Piaterikov, an 18-year-old Ukrainian, found with a red Yamaha Xmax motorcycle (license plate 1K 4676 Lopburi). He was also charged with “working in Thailand without a work permit.”

Both suspects were taken to the Koh Phangan Police Station for legal proceedings.

Mr. Petrov admitted to running a car rental business, advertising through the Telegram app, and charging a 15,000 baht deposit per customer. He acknowledged that this activity is illegal.

 

Mr. Piaterikov had come to Thailand to study but began renting out his motorcycle via Telegram to earn extra income.

 

He advertised various rental rates:

10,000 baht for one month, 699 baht per day for 1-3 days, 599 baht per day for 3-9 days, 499 baht per day for 10-20 days, and 399 baht per day for 20-29 days. He admitted to renting out the motorcycle for two months.

 

Police Lieutenant General Sakthira Phueak-um emphasized the need for tourism police stations in key tourist areas and nearby regions to intensify efforts against foreign nationals engaging in illegal activities and to enforce strict legal action in all cases.

 

-- 2024-09-02

 

 

Get the ASEAN NOW daily NEWSLETTER - Click HERE to subscribe

Deport all and anyone who is not operating by the Law of the Land.

   No excuses..

 

[kuzmabruk]

2 hours ago, racket said:

If you want to spot foreigners working illegally, just walk into a gym and check out the personal trainers... You're welcome.

Only at the cheap gyms.  The one I visit in Pattaya and the one I visit in Phuket are both staffed with high quality and legal foreigner trainers.   Not all foreigners in Thailand are broke and/or cheap.  

[edwardflory]

I rented a scooter for 2,000bt a month ( gas was all I paid for - maintenance & insurance included ) who would pay 10,000bt a month? Even in tourist areas, renting is not THAT expensive.

[CANSIAM]

Foreign criminals and local corruption thriving ............look harder and deal with it !   

[GordonP]

I live in a fairly large condo complex in Pattaya where there are a good number of Russian tenants. It had been obvious for some time that they are operating a number of operations like this. Car rental (usually of vehicles they themselves have rented) Airport Taxi services (with rented vehicles), Maid services. We have even had children offering daily trash removal services. Some are advertised on notice boards and I had assumed that the rest are via Line and WhatsApp groups.

 

[hotchilli]

15 minutes ago, Taboo2 said:

Just give them a 90-day visa and Wai.  You let them in, so deal with it.

 

 

Ed visa... gotta fund the stay somehow.

[Tropicalevo]

15 minutes ago, GordonP said:

I had assumed that the rest are via Line and WhatsApp groups.

It is usually Telegram for Russians

[LudwigK]

good, that in Phuket there are no illegal car rentals 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[ronster]

2 hours ago, racket said:

If you want to spot foreigners working illegally, just walk into a gym and check out the personal trainers... You're welcome.

Or ask the DJ at the beach club for their work permit 😄

[crazykopite]

There are many more like them in all provinces throughout the Kingdom  do the crime do the time  was the young guy on an education visa 

[racket]

2 hours ago, ronster said:

Or ask the DJ at the beach club for their work permit 😄

 

Yeah. I never thought about that actually.

[sambum]

6 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

A Russian and a Ukrainian working together, Surely this should be encouraged.

 

Beat me to it!

[racket]

2 hours ago, edwardflory said:

I rented a scooter for 2,000bt a month ( gas was all I paid for - maintenance & insurance included ) who would pay 10,000bt a month? Even in tourist areas, renting is not THAT expensive.

 

They might rent out cars, but high-end scooters like the XMAX are quite expensive in tourist hotspots like Phuket and Samui. During the high season, it’s common to see them rented out for well over 10,000 baht per month; finding one for 10,000 would be considered a lucky deal.

Edited September 2 by racket

[wwest5829]

6 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

A Russian and a Ukrainian working together, Surely this should be encouraged.

My first thought … international cooperation by individuals from warring nations. Curious if family relationship there somehow.

[7euner]

2 hours ago, edwardflory said:

I rented a scooter for 2,000bt a month ( gas was all I paid for - maintenance & insurance included ) who would pay 10,000bt a month? Even in tourist areas, renting is not THAT expensive.

 

Mr. Petrov admitted to running a car rental business, advertising through the Telegram app

[NativeBob]

60 years old and 18 years old. That's sick!

[n00dle]

6 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

A Russian and a Ukrainian working together, Surely this should be encouraged.

nothing in the article indicates they were working together. 

[chickenslegs]

7 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

My first thought … international cooperation by individuals from warring nations. Curious if family relationship there somehow.

They were each arrested on the same day for similar crimes, but I didn't read that they were working together.