Irish, Brazilian, Israeli Musicians Arrested in Pai for Working Without Permits

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Authorities have arrested four foreign musicians for performing without work permits at a restaurant in Pai, in Mae Hong Son province. The arrests come amid increasing concerns from local residents about the impact of foreign visitors on their community.

 

A joint operation involving Immigration Police Region 5 Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son Provincial Police, the Mae Hong Son Employment Office, and the Internal Security Command raided Jazz House Pai in Wiang Tai subdistrict on the evening of 13 February, shortly before 22:00. The raid followed reports that the venue regularly hosted unauthorised foreign performers.

 

According to complaints, the restaurant frequently featured three foreign bands:

 

• Walk the Dog 2 (7:00–8:00 PM)

• Pink Fraud (8:00–9:30 PM)

• Mizu and Branda (9:30–10:30 PM)

 

During the raid, officers discovered four foreign musicians performing on stage. The suspects attempted to escape through the back of the venue but were quickly apprehended.

 

The arrested individuals were identified as:

 

• Mr Brian (Ireland, lead singer and guitarist)

• Mr Matheus (Brazil, bass guitarist)

• Mr Yishay (Israel, drummer)

• Mr Shay (Israel, guitarist)

 

All four were charged with working without valid permits and failing to report their employment details within the mandatory 15-day period. The venue owner is also facing charges for employing unauthorised foreign workers.

 

This enforcement action follows a January meeting between the Mae Hong Son Immigration Office and Pai community leaders, during which residents raised concerns about the increasing number of unauthorised foreign workers and the impact on local tourism.

 

Officials have encouraged residents to report suspected cases of illegal employment involving foreign nationals, with the exception of workers from neighbouring countries such as Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

 

Local representatives have urged authorities to prioritise community well-being over purely economic considerations, expressing particular concerns about tourism activities that benefit business operators while disrupting local life. Immigration officials have pledged to address these issues in coordination with other relevant agencies.

 

-- 2025-02-15

 

 

[ikke1959]

Pai.. not the place to be for foreigners.. now musicians, a few months back the rafting because people weren't wearing a proper outfit and now what will be next? Avoiding the place is better

[JoePai]

Are they really getting paid or just jamming for fun ?

[kingstonkid]

3 hours ago, JoePai said:

Are they really getting paid or just jamming for fun ?

The problem is that they really do not care. It is a business, and Farang are doing something to help the business.

 

An example I was part of was a gf owned a restaurant in Pats.  I went to take my plates to get washed, and she blew a gasket because the people in the next shop were probably going to call the police and complain that I was working there.

[Blueman1]

39 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

The problem is that they really do not care. It is a business, and Farang are doing something to help the business.

 

An example I was part of was a gf owned a restaurant in Pats.  I went to take my plates to get washed, and she blew a gasket because the people in the next shop were probably going to call the police and complain that I was working there.

Happened to a Friend of mine in Pats Years Ago He Served a Glass of Orange Juice to a Customer at his WIFES Bar......Only the Customer was a Lady Immigration Officer !! & It Was " Walk This Way my Man " Straight to Immigration Detention for 7 Days....He Never got Deported as his WIFE Paid a BIG Fine to get him released !!

[Taboo2]

Is Pai turning into an official "Sh&****e?

[thenewgoo]

Not this again! They were doing this in Chiang Mai a few years back - 20,000 baht fine each. Everything back to normal now.

[TheFishman1]

For musicians playing at restaurant oy vey  TIT

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

All four were charged with working without valid permits and failing to report their employment details within the mandatory 15-day period. The venue owner is also facing charges for employing unauthorised foreign workers.

Good...

[ujayujay]

8 hours ago, JoePai said:

Are they really getting paid or just jamming for fun ?

That doesn't matter. In order to perform, you need a work permit, otherwise public music-making is only permitted for Thais!

[BonnieandClyde]

4 hours ago, ujayujay said:

That doesn't matter. In order to perform, you need a work permit, otherwise public music-making is only permitted for Thais!

That's true.

Some years back there was a group of farangs in Chiang Mai who would meet up as an informal group to sing and strum guitars in restaurants that welcomed them.

They faced increasing harassment from self-righteous prigs - many on the CM forums - who seemed to take pleasure in tormenting them with threats of grassing them to Immigration.

 

[norsurin]

9 hours ago, ujayujay said:

That doesn't matter. In order to perform, you need a work permit, otherwise public music-making is only permitted for Thais!

Not 100% true I been singing in kick off bar in sukumvit soi 4 many times.I use to sing thai songs there Never had any problems about that.Anyway im just a customer there taking some drinks and not get paid.

But i know a guy from Denmark who played in a karaoke and the IMM showed up and even he didn't get paid anything he was kicked out of Thailand for 6 months.Another friend from Norway was painting his house in surin..the IMM showed up and told him to stop or not they would charge him for working without a permit.

Strange county i must say.

[NoshowJones]

10 hours ago, norsurin said:

Not 100% true I been singing in kick off bar in sukumvit soi 4 many times.I use to sing thai songs there Never had any problems about that.Anyway im just a customer there taking some drinks and not get paid.

But i know a guy from Denmark who played in a karaoke and the IMM showed up and even he didn't get paid anything he was kicked out of Thailand for 6 months.Another friend from Norway was painting his house in surin..the IMM showed up and told him to stop or not they would charge him for working without a permit.

Strange county i must say.

 

[NoshowJones]

Maybe a bit off topic but while on holiday in Nashville Tennessee I was in the audience where a band was playing, at the interval I got talking to one of the musicians and told him I was a professional musician back in Scotland. 

He invited me to take over the bass guitar and sing a few songs. If the Americans had the same stupid mentality of Thailand I would have been breaking the law for not having a work permit.

[CMHomeboy78]

16 hours ago, BonnieandClyde said:

That's true.

Some years back there was a group of farangs in Chiang Mai who would meet up as an informal group to sing and strum guitars in restaurants that welcomed them.

They faced increasing harassment from self-righteous prigs - many on the CM forums - who seemed to take pleasure in tormenting them with threats of grassing them to Immigration.

 

Yes, I remember that tempest-in-a-teapot.

The informal leader was a prominent poster here on ThaiVisa - as it was called then.

There was the predictable exchange of bad-tempered posts on a thread that lasted several weeks and died a slow death.

If I recall correctly, the principals involved went on to form a fencing club here in CM.

Nothing surprises you after a while. TIT.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, NoshowJones said:

Maybe a bit off topic but while on holiday in Nashville Tennessee I was in the audience where a band was playing, at the interval I got talking to one of the musicians and told him I was a professional musician back in Scotland. 

He invited me to take over the bass guitar and sing a few songs. If the Americans had the same stupid mentality of Thailand I would have been breaking the law for not having a work permit.

Would point out immigration in CM only 'took out' expats living here year round and getting paid for performing. No problem for 2 week tourists.

[Purdey]

Ralph McTell used to sing and play guitar on the streets of France and it was considered ok 50 years ago. Then you had to get a permit. You get foreign people playing on the metro and at stations even today. 

Perhaps Thailand fears foreign musicians are so much better than Thais that they will take over the music industry.

[NoshowJones]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Ralph McTell used to sing and play guitar on the streets of France and it was considered ok 50 years ago. Then you had to get a permit. You get foreign people playing on the metro and at stations even today. 

Perhaps Thailand fears foreign musicians are so much better than Thais that they will take over the music industry.

I have took the stage with and listened to a few Thai bands in Pattaya over the years, and unlike back in Scotland, I never came across any poor Thai musicians. I was actually impressed with how good the bands were and probably still are in Pattaya.

[biggles45]

Many would remember the world-wide negative publicity when Thai immigration threatened the Volunteers who came to help after the Tsunami. 

[ChipButty]

10 minutes ago, biggles45 said:

Many would remember the world-wide negative publicity when Thai immigration threatened the Volunteers who came to help after the Tsunami. 

I remember that well here in Phuket, I knew a couple of guys got caught up in that nonsense, 

[WorriedNoodle]

An Irishman, Brazilian and Israeli walk into a bar..... (finish joke here).

[BritManToo]

On 2/15/2025 at 12:34 PM, Blueman1 said:

Happened to a Friend of mine in Pats Years Ago He Served a Glass of Orange Juice to a Customer at his WIFES Bar......Only the Customer was a Lady Immigration Officer !! & It Was " Walk This Way my Man " Straight to Immigration Detention for 7 Days....He Never got Deported as his WIFE Paid a BIG Fine to get him released !!

They don't deport foreigners on marriage visa/extensions for minor criminal offences. 

[lahgon29]

14 hours ago, norsurin said:

Not 100% true I been singing in kick off bar in sukumvit soi 4 many times.I use to sing thai songs there Never had any problems about that.Anyway im just a customer there taking some drinks and not get paid.

But i know a guy from Denmark who played in a karaoke and the IMM showed up and even he didn't get paid anything he was kicked out of Thailand for 6 months.Another friend from Norway was painting his house in surin..the IMM showed up and told him to stop or not they would charge him for working without a permit.

Strange county i must say.

Not sure if you're 100% there. I painted my house in Udon, years ago, and asked imm here about it. I was told it was not a problem as long as my name was on the chanote.. It is. I still work on the house.. Never had a problem. 

Hope they didn't lie to me. 😉