Picture courtesy of Khaosod

 

Foreign nationals from Ukraine and Azerbaijan were arrested on Koh Phangan for illegally working as electrical contractors without proper permits, Tourist Police announced. The arrests took place on November 8, 2025, at a construction site in Si Thanu village, Koh Phangan subdistrict, Surat Thani province. Police confirmed that the men were operating without authorisation in an occupation reserved for Thai citizens.

 

The suspects, identified as 29-year-old Ukrainian national Mr. Viacheslav and 26-year-old Azerbaijani national Mr. Ramis, were detained by officers from Tourist Police Station 5 in coordination with local police and district officials. The operation was launched under the directive of Tourist Police Commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Puek-am as part of a broader crackdown on foreigners illegally working on the resort island.

 

Authorities had reportedly been monitoring the pair’s activities for several days. The arrests occurred after officers saw them using a white Ford Ranger pickup truck to purchase electrical supplies, including flexible conduit pipes and transport the items to a nearby construction site. When confronted, both men denied the accusations and became aggressive, insisting they were tourists and threatening legal action against the arresting officers.

 

However, a search of their vehicle revealed receipts for building materials, detailed housing project diagrams and electrical blueprints. A local Thai foreman, identified only as Mr. A, also confirmed that the two men had been hired as direct contractors for electrical installation work by the project owner and had been seen visiting the site daily.

 

Police later seized a quantity of electrical materials from the suspects’ storage area, including 14 rolls of yellow conduit pipes, 40 junction boxes, 100 pieces of rigid piping, wiring and power tools. Faced with this evidence, the men eventually confessed to performing electrical and interior decoration work without permits and admitted to completing similar jobs in the area previously.

 

Both suspects were charged with jointly operating a business without permission and working without a work permit. They have been transferred to Koh Phangan Police Station for legal proceedings. Authorities stated that the investigation is ongoing and further inspections will continue to target illegal foreign workers across the island.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Ukrainian and Azerbaijani nationals were arrested for illegal contracting work on Koh Phangan.

• Police found extensive evidence of electrical materials and project plans linking them to ongoing construction work.

• Both men confessed and now face charges for working without permits.

 

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  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Khaosod 2025-11-09

 

 

 

 

On 11/9/2025 at 3:46 AM, Georgealbert said:

The suspects, identified as 29-year-old Ukrainian national Mr. Viacheslav

 

Send him back to Ukraine? Zelensky needs him.

On 11/9/2025 at 3:46 AM, Georgealbert said:

were arrested on Koh Phangan

 

Koh Phangan is a swamp that needs to be drained as soon as possible!

And perhaps these were precisely the people with expertise that this country lacks.

On 11/9/2025 at 3:46 AM, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod

 

Foreign nationals from Ukraine and Azerbaijan were arrested on Koh Phangan for illegally working as electrical contractors without proper permits, Tourist Police announced. The arrests took place on November 8, 2025, at a construction site in Si Thanu village, Koh Phangan subdistrict, Surat Thani province. Police confirmed that the men were operating without authorisation in an occupation reserved for Thai citizens.

 

The suspects, identified as 29-year-old Ukrainian national Mr. Viacheslav and 26-year-old Azerbaijani national Mr. Ramis, were detained by officers from Tourist Police Station 5 in coordination with local police and district officials. The operation was launched under the directive of Tourist Police Commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Puek-am as part of a broader crackdown on foreigners illegally working on the resort island.

 

Authorities had reportedly been monitoring the pair’s activities for several days. The arrests occurred after officers saw them using a white Ford Ranger pickup truck to purchase electrical supplies, including flexible conduit pipes and transport the items to a nearby construction site. When confronted, both men denied the accusations and became aggressive, insisting they were tourists and threatening legal action against the arresting officers.

 

However, a search of their vehicle revealed receipts for building materials, detailed housing project diagrams and electrical blueprints. A local Thai foreman, identified only as Mr. A, also confirmed that the two men had been hired as direct contractors for electrical installation work by the project owner and had been seen visiting the site daily.

 

Police later seized a quantity of electrical materials from the suspects’ storage area, including 14 rolls of yellow conduit pipes, 40 junction boxes, 100 pieces of rigid piping, wiring and power tools. Faced with this evidence, the men eventually confessed to performing electrical and interior decoration work without permits and admitted to completing similar jobs in the area previously.

 

Both suspects were charged with jointly operating a business without permission and working without a work permit. They have been transferred to Koh Phangan Police Station for legal proceedings. Authorities stated that the investigation is ongoing and further inspections will continue to target illegal foreign workers across the island.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Ukrainian and Azerbaijani nationals were arrested for illegal contracting work on Koh Phangan.

• Police found extensive evidence of electrical materials and project plans linking them to ongoing construction work.

• Both men confessed and now face charges for working without permits.

 

Related Stories

 

British-woman-arrested-for-teaching-“sex-yoga”-on-Koh-Phangan

 

Italian-coach-arrested-for-illegal-work-on-Koh-Samui

 

 

  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Khaosod 2025-11-09

 

 

 

 

 

On 11/9/2025 at 3:46 AM, Georgealbert said:

When confronted, both men denied the accusations and became aggressive, insisting they were tourists and threatening legal action against the arresting officers.

🤣 Obviously think they are above everyone else in the world 🙄

Wonder if they will look into the project owner , as I'm betting he's not Thai and probably the project will be set up via nominees .

33 minutes ago, Hakuna Matata said:

 

Koh Phangan is a swamp that needs to be drained as soon as possible!

Seems to be getting hit hard at the moment...

Not the sharpest tools in the box.

Attempting to just be tourists despite having all the evidence to prove otherwise, and being confrontational, isn’t gonna get them any sympathy. 
I understand one for fleeing Ukraine and probably both running out of money, but now they’ve screwed up, and potentially  brought attention to others involved doing the same, they have to suffer the consequences for it. 

 

How dare they try to take over from the pesky Brits?