Thai housemaid’s 100 million baht fortune hits a legal snag

[snoop1130]

 

A Thai housemaid on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani, is unable to claim a 100-million-baht estate left to her by her deceased French employer due to illegal actions surrounding the foreigner’s business.

 

The 59 year old French businesswoman, Catherine Delacote, took her own life on April 29 of this year by shooting herself at her luxury villa on Koh Samui. CCTV footage from the property showed Catherine using a mop to turn the camera away before shooting herself in the temple.

 

Reports indicate that Catherine died by suicide due to her battle with cancer. Her Thai housemaid, Natwalai, also known as Tim, told the police that her employer frequently expressed her struggles with the illness.

 

The story drew public attention when details of Catherine’s will emerged. The will, drafted before her death, stipulated that she wished to leave two luxury villas to her ex-husband Vincent and the remainder of her assets which were valued at about 100 million baht to her housemaid, Tim.

 

The assets Tim was set to inherit included luxury villas with plots of land worth around 30 million baht, cash, savings in bank accounts, jewellery, other valuables, and even Catherine’s three beloved cats.

 

In an interview with several news outlets, Tim expressed her astonishment at Catherine’s decision. She revealed that she had lived with Catherine for about 17 years, starting from when the Frenchwoman was staying in a rented room.

 

 

Tim had been by Catherine’s side throughout her journey of building rooms, resorts, and luxury villas for rent. As Catherine’s business expanded, she moved to Koh Samui, purchasing land and constructing five luxury villas for personal use and rental purposes.

 

Illegal registration and nominees

 

While the story initially inspired heartwarming sentiments, it also raised questions about the legality of Catherine’s business operations and land ownership.

 

This prompted an investigation by the police and Surat Thani Provincial Administration officials. The inheritance intended for Tim was put on hold pending the outcome of the investigation.

 

After more than seven months of inquiries, Surat Thani Provincial Police announced today, November 26, that Tim would not be able to claim the assets because officials discovered illegal practices in Catherine’s business dealings.

 

Police identified two Thai nationals, 50 year old Thongssai Katisuk and 36 year old Ratchaprapa Soreda, as shareholders in Catherine’s company. Investigators suspect the two acted as nominees, enabling Catherine to register her company and hold land on the island illegally.

 

A law firm was also implicated in providing consultation and facilitating the unlawful registration of Catherine’s company. Police would summon all relevant parties for questioning and to face legal charges.

 

Due to these illegal activities, Tim is denied the inheritance, and all of Catherine’s assets will eventually become state property following the conclusion of the legal proceedings.

 

By Petch Petpailin

Photo via KomChadLuek

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-11-26

 

 

[rbkk]

Who to trust when you can't trust the Thai lawyers? I feel sorry for Tim; she did nothing wrong.

[Tropicalevo]

Whilst the French lady was alive, everyone was happy with the status quo - all taking money from her.

Now that she is dead, the ultra-rich and local politicians are circling like vultures.

[chickenslegs]

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Due to these illegal activities, Tim is denied the inheritance, and all of Catherine’s assets will eventually become state property following the conclusion of the legal proceedings.

Of course it will.

[richard_smith237]

Sickening...  Pigs at the trough... 

[lordgrinz]

1 minute ago, chickenslegs said:

Of course it will.

More like the RTP benevolent fund, a new Joe Ferrari is in the wings salivating.

[CallumWK]

When will the next post from the experts on here appear stating, the government will never take action against the limited companies registered to own real estate?

Oh wait, wasn't there a news article just yesterday about the intention of the government taking action about exactly that?

[georgegeorgia]

1 hour ago, CallumWK said:

When will the next post from the experts on here appear stating, the government will never take action against the limited companies registered to own real estate?

Oh wait, wasn't there a news article just yesterday about the intention of the government taking action about exactly that?

No there wasn't 

[CallumWK]

1 minute ago, georgegeorgia said:

No there wasn't 

 

Keep mopping floors, and in your free time consider some reading classes.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, rbkk said:

Who to trust when you can't trust the Thai lawyers?

Who to trust when you can't trust the Frenchwoman's Thai lawyers?

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

Whilst the French lady was alive, everyone was happy with the status quo - all taking money from her.

Who is the "everyone" and the "all" to whom you refer as taking money from her?

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Sickening...  Pigs at the trough... 

Quite right, the pig at the trough should have set up her business legally then there would be no issue.

[ukrules]

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Due to these illegal activities, Tim is denied the inheritance, and all of Catherine’s assets will eventually become state property following the conclusion of the legal proceedings.

 

That statement right there tells us all what will happen to everyone who used a company to purchase any property.

 

They intend to take it all. Second time in a week I've read something that led me to believe this is playing out right now.

[TedG]

Feels like theft.

[SiSePuede419]

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

all of Catherine’s assets will eventually become state property following the conclusion of the legal proceedings.

AKA, FAFO*

*<deleted> Around, Find Out you stupid foreign criminals, 555

[wozzlegummich]

"All of Catherine’s assets will eventually become state property"
  Straight into the pocket of some already rich official or general.

[jacob29]

23 minutes ago, TedG said:

Feels like theft.

Agree sounds like outright theft. If the lady was still alive, and the nominee fraud was discovered, surely she wouldn't be stripped of *all* her assets - just the properties plus maybe a fine.

 

I hope there's a mistake in the report, and the lady still gets jewellery/cash not connected to the property.

 

Edit: I'm almost certain the article is a little off, other reports state company assets will be seized, which won't be everything. If that's not the case.. well people can look forward to tax audits finding irregularities, maybe some undeclared remittances, resulting in your entire estate going to the state 😂. I can't see it working like that.

Edited 1 hour ago by jacob29

[DUNROAMIN]

Load of bull more like it, Looks like illegal activities by Thai government officials, brown envelopes for all. 

[Tailwagsdog]

Never invest a bean in thailand

[thesetat2013]

7 hours ago, rbkk said:

Who to trust when you can't trust the Thai lawyers? I feel sorry for Tim; she did nothing wrong.

She did everything wrong. She bypassed the Thai laws paying some Thais to use their names as 51% ownership so she could open her business and buy land using the business name. 

Although it is common practice to do it this way with foregners wanting to open a business, that does not make it legal. So many foreigners open their businesses this way skirting Thai laws and think it is ok to do it. But that does not change the facts they broke the laws and when caught will lose everything they invested and earned in their business. 

I feel bad for the maid, she should get something. But the French womans actions can not be denied. 

I hope other foreigners in this site pay hede to what can happen when the authorities find out they opened their businesses this way. 

[scubascuba3]

A reminder to those with property in company name using illegal proxy thai shareholders the net will close in eventually 

[ryandb]

why didn't she use Tim as the Thai business partner, like she clearly trusted this Thai lady to want to leave her the fortune, so why not include her officially not as a nominee when her business started to take off even if it was one of the villas. I hope she paid her well at least as now it sounds like she is screwed

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

While the story initially inspired heartwarming sentiments, it also raised questions about the legality of Catherine’s business operations and land ownership.

Here we go, clawing money and property back from the dead..... now I've heard it all.

[mokwit]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

all of Catherine’s assets will eventually become state property following the conclusion of the legal proceedings.

Where they will be put up for auction?

[harryviking]

Of course she would not get that much of a fortune! The vultures in power want it! The scams must go on.....🥺

[Tony Hatzi]

1 hour ago, DUNROAMIN said:

Load of bull more like it, Looks like illegal activities by Thai government officials, brown envelopes for all. 

It’s amazing the tax revenue hasn’t put their nose into it ? 

[terryofcrete]

39 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Here we go, clawing money and property back from the dead..... now I've heard it all.

Inheritance tax ...is that not clawing money from the dead. .