Pictures courtesy of Daily News

Residents and local business operators on Ko Yao district in Phang Nga province have filed a formal complaint with the district chief, alleging that a foreign national has been unlawfully operating tourism-related businesses and taking jobs from locals. The group says the activities have caused ongoing hardship for the community and led to repeated disputes between residents and the foreign operator. They also allege the individual has intimidated locals by claiming connections with influential officials and showing disregard for Thai law.

The complaint was submitted on 9 January by villagers and entrepreneurs from Moo 4, Ban Tha Khao, on Ko Yao Noi island. The group gathered holding protest signs before travelling to the Ko Yao district office to formally request an investigation and urgent intervention. They say the situation has persisted for years and has increasingly affected livelihoods in the local tourism sector.

According to the petition, the foreign national is a South African man holding a retirement visa (Non-Immigrant O) who has lived in the area since around 2013. He is reported to be married to a Thai woman and to have established several businesses on Ko Yao Noi, including Thai massage services, tourism operations and accommodation. Villagers allege he registered companies and promoted tour services through websites and Facebook, installed advertising signs along public roads, personally received tourists, and operated boats himself, directly competing with local operators.

Residents further accuse the foreigner of engaging in multiple potentially illegal activities. These include buying and selling land and property, constructing houses under residential permits but renting them out on a daily basis, using Thai nominees to register companies and leasing properties from private companies to convert them into unlicensed daily tourist accommodation. These alleged practices, they say, have led to frequent arguments and confrontations with local business owners.

Representatives of the complainants, Ms Rewadi Hapsa and Ms Nuanjan Kinglek, said the group has asked authorities to carefully examine the man’s visa status and whether it permits involvement in tourism and property businesses. They also requested investigations into whether any Thai nationals involved are acting as nominees, whether the two companies mentioned are financially linked and whether annual financial statements and taxes have been properly filed. The complaint further calls for immediate checks on land ownership and building permits related to the businesses.

Daily News reported that district officials have received the petition and are expected to forward the matter to relevant agencies for legal and regulatory review. Authorities have not yet announced findings or enforcement actions, but residents say they will continue to follow the case closely as investigations proceed.

Key Takeaways

• Ko Yao residents filed a complaint on 9 January alleging a foreigner is illegally operating tourism and property businesses.

• The accused is a South African man on a retirement visa who has lived on Ko Yao Noi since around 2013.

• Authorities have been asked to investigate visa legality, nominee arrangements, finances, land ownership and construction permits.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Dailynews 2026-01-11

 

 

and he is doing everything on his own or has he Thai people working for him too to built houses, making tours etc. Besides he can't buy and sell land, as foreigners are now allowed to own land. For me it just seems that the locals are jealous that he is working hard to make his business grow and make profit while the netizens don't do anything...And foreigners being better than locals is not done in this country... Sad, but if he breaking the laws so many times in 12 years, than it is obvious that law enforcements are not working and why now after 12 years complain???

28 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

and he is doing everything on his own or has he Thai people working for him too to built houses, making tours etc. Besides he can't buy and sell land, as foreigners are now allowed to own land. For me it just seems that the locals are jealous that he is working hard to make his business grow and make profit while the netizens don't do anything...And foreigners being better than locals is not done in this country... Sad, but if he breaking the laws so many times in 12 years, than it is obvious that law enforcements are not working and why now after 12 years complain???

If this story is true he will have huge problems.Im sure he will get his visa cancelled and then sayonara.Some foreigners think they can do whatever they want.

4 minutes ago, norsurin said:

If this story is true he will have huge problems.Im sure he will get his visa cancelled and then sayonara.Some foreigners think they can do whatever they want.

It appears that @ikke1959 is one of them.

It is surprising he can buy land but I suspect it's all in his wife's name.

Don't try this on Ko Tao.

3 hours ago, NanLaew said:

It appears that @ikke1959 is one of them.

It appears you have no clue whatsoever... I am not causing any trouble at all.. I am a guest and behave like that, although the host is not always very fair.. Besides that a lot of things are not possible if Thai people are involved as I stated.. buy/sell land, open business, and if so than it is the failing state that allows it for 12 years already...That has nothing to do with me but with the netizens and the RTP

3 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

It appears you have no clue whatsoever... I am not causing any trouble at all.. I am a guest and behave like that, although the host is not always very fair.. Besides that a lot of things are not possible if Thai people are involved as I stated.. buy/sell land, open business, and if so than it is the failing state that allows it for 12 years already...That has nothing to do with me but with the netizens and the RTP

My apologies. In response to @norsurin's comment "Some foreigners think they can do whatever they want", I meant to type -

It appears that @ikke1959 thinks the guy in the OP is one of them.

I did not mean to suggest that you are doing anything illegal.

However, there are only assumptions on the legal status of the guy and his businesses. Lacking any evidence of wrongdoing, I can only offer a criticism if he is actually fronting these business, performing the tasks he's alleged to be doing and basically not maintaining a low profile if he is breaking any laws. The picture of what appears to be him confronting locals is not a good look, even if he is legal and above board.

3 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

My apologies. In response to @norsurin's comment "Some foreigners think they can do whatever they want", I meant to type -

It appears that @ikke1959 thinks the guy in the OP is one of them.

I did not mean to suggest that you are doing anything illegal.

However, there are only assumptions on the legal status of the guy and his businesses. Lacking any evidence of wrongdoing, I can only offer a criticism if he is actually fronting these business, performing the tasks he's alleged to be doing and basically not maintaining a low profile if he is breaking any laws. The picture of what appears to be him confronting locals is not a good look, even if he is legal and above board.

I don't like people who think who can do as they want, where ever they are and no matter who they are.. It is for foreigners who misbehave, but also for higher ranked locals who think they can do as they want because they have a higher status.. and that is here in Thailand but also in any other country of the world..

BTW thanks but it was no need to apologize, in discussions sometimes you must have a thick skin..:)

2 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

BTW thanks but it was no need to apologize, in discussions sometimes you must have a thick skin..:)

Accordingly, you don't need to apologise for accusing me of being clueless, either.

PS, one needs a thick skin as it was 10° up here this morning!

Foreigners in Thailand can only get so big, then the carpet is pulled out from under their feet.