Police in Chalong, Phuket, have arrested two Canadian nationals and two Thai women over allegations they used Thai nominee shareholders to operate an international school business illegally.

The four were detained on 6 August 2026 under warrants issued by Phuket Provincial Court, Chalong Police said. The case is part of a wider crackdown ordered by the government, Royal Thai Police and Provincial Police Region 8 on foreign-backed businesses allegedly using Thai nominees.

The suspects are Daniel, 46, and Melissa, 44, both Canadian nationals whose surnames were withheld, along with Khwanchon, 57, and Praewa, 37, both Thai nationals.

Alleged nominee shareholding arrangement

Police allege that the Canadian pair worked with Thai nationals who held shares in a legal entity on their behalf, allowing the business to avoid legal restrictions on foreign business ownership.

Investigators said the group allegedly represented the business as being solely owned by Thai interests, or used Thai shareholders as nominees, to enable foreigners to operate a private school within the formal education system.

The alleged arrangement is said to have breached legal requirements governing the proportion of Thai shareholding or capital in such schools.

Daniel and Melissa were charged with allegedly accepting assistance or support from Thai nationals or non-foreign legal entities to operate a foreign business in a manner designed to circumvent the law. They also face allegations of jointly establishing and operating a private school contrary to Thai ownership or capital requirements.

They were arrested outside a residence in Moo 6, Chalong, in Phuket's Muang district.

Thai suspects also charged

Khwanchon and Praewa were charged with allegedly helping, supporting or jointly conducting a foreign business while presenting it as their own, or holding shares for foreigners so they could bypass legal restrictions.

They also face allegations connected to jointly establishing and operating a private school without meeting the required Thai ownership or capital proportions.

Police said further inquiries found that Khwanchon was listed as a shareholder in an accounting company in Chalong. Officers allege the firm was used as a channel for accounting work and transactions involving three other related companies.

All four suspects were handed to investigators at Chalong Police Station for further legal proceedings.

Chalong Police said it would continue to investigate nominee arrangements and illegal businesses linked to foreign capital. It asked members of the public with information to contact the station, call 191, or telephone 076-381247, available 24 hours a day.

Pictures courtesy of Matichon

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7 August 2026

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7 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

It asked members of the public with information to contact the station

So as per the above nominee arrangements and other entities "in a manner designed to circumvent the law" it sometimes only takes a complaint from someone maybe with a grudge to start things rolling.