The French owner of Samui Exotic Park in Surat Thani has been ordered deported from Thailand, with his wife preparing to appeal the Interior Ministry's decision on Friday, 11 September.

Kevin Dimino was formally informed of the order by Surat Thani Immigration on 8 September, a day after the ministry issued the deportation decision. He has been held at Koh Samui Police Station while awaiting removal to his country of origin.

The case follows a dispute involving Israeli tourists at the animal park on Koh Samui.

Ministry order and detention

The Interior Ministry's 7 September order said Mr Dimino had engaged in threatening, harassment and physical assault, and had caused annoyance to others. It also alleged conduct that created racial and religious division, caused problems among tourists, and risked harm to people or property through reckless behaviour.

Mr Dimino attended Surat Thani Immigration with his wife and lawyer on 8 September. Pol Col Narawat Phutthawiro, superintendent of Surat Thani Immigration, notified him of the deportation order, read it to him officially and took him to make an official police record.

He was then placed in custody at Koh Samui Police Station pending the process of being sent back to France.

The order comes after an earlier deportation case involving the same dispute. On 24 August, Jindarat, 35, and Mr Dimino, described as the owner of Samui Exotic Park, filed a complaint against a group of Israeli tourists, saying they had been seriously threatened and feared for their lives.

On 4 September, the Interior Ministry ordered the deportation of Yaacov Ohayon, an Israeli national identified as Mr Dimino's opposing party in the Samui Exotic Park case.

Appeal planned at Interior Ministry

Mr Dimino's wife is now preparing to file an appeal with the Interior Ministry. Tae Achiva, from the Thai Mai Thon team, wrote on Facebook that he would take Mr Dimino to submit the appeal at 10.30am on Friday, 11 September.

In the post, he questioned whether the outcome was appropriate, saying Mr Dimino had been protecting his business and family.

Picture courtesy of Komchadluek

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Join the discussion?

10 September 2026

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Do we know yet if the Israeli Yaacov Ohayon was actually deported or did he appeal too?

He should have been smarter to not pick a fight in Thailand with others and harass, specially being here on a Visa.

if he was smarter, could have still kept the sign in the zoo, and if he gets harassed should have just sued the Israeli instead of causing a huge mess.

Apparently, he did other things that surely deserve to be deported, this is from Bangkok Post: "Mr Dimino was ordered deported on Sept 7 over several alleged incidents, including harassing and verbally abusing the owner and teachers of a language school, assaulting a Turkish national and threatening him with a knife."

Edited September 10Sep 10 by brfsa2

Let's see, charges against Kevin Domino

(Co-owner of Zoo)

1. Assault on a Tourist & Incitement

2. Inciting Racial & Religious Divisions:

3. Assault and Threat with a Weapon

4. Disruption on a Domestic Flight "Being forcibly removed from a domestic passenger aircraft by police after cabin crew reported he threatened fellow passengers."

5. Harassment of Educational Staff

6. Public Disturbance

7. Some Traffic Violations.

Nope, that's to much crazy and stupid for Thailand.

Lifetime ban.

1 minute ago, J Branche said:

Let's see, charges against Kevin Domino

(Co-owner of Zoo)

1. Assault on a Tourist & Incitement

2. Inciting Racial & Religious Divisions:

3. Assault and Threat with a Weapon

4. Disruption on a Domestic Flight "Being forcibly removed from a domestic passenger aircraft by police after cabin crew reported he threatened fellow passengers."

5. Harassment of Educational Staff

6. Public Disturbance

7. Some Traffic Violations.

Nope, that's to much crazy and stupid for Thailand.

Lifetime ban.

it’s very likely that the real list of his assaults, harassment, conflicts, and other negative incidents is much longer.

not every incident gets reported to the police, so the official record may only show a fraction of what actually happened ...

4 minutes ago, J Branche said:

Let's see, charges against Kevin Domino

(Co-owner of Zoo)

1. Assault on a Tourist & Incitement

2. Inciting Racial & Religious Divisions:

3. Assault and Threat with a Weapon

4. Disruption on a Domestic Flight "Being forcibly removed from a domestic passenger aircraft by police after cabin crew reported he threatened fellow passengers."

5. Harassment of Educational Staff

6. Public Disturbance

7. Some Traffic Violations.

Nope, that's to much crazy and stupid for Thailand.

Lifetime ban.

That he has been doing all these things and still be around in Thailand Free blows my mind. Thailand have been way too lax with foreigner a-holes likes these.

He really deserves to get deported and banned for lifetime.

1 hour ago, brfsa2 said:

if he was smarter, could have still kept the sign in the zoo,

Having the inciting sign was a mistake here in Thailand, it being seen was for sure and someone reacting eventually would have happened. A shame to put what sounds like a reasonable lifestyle at risk. Beware, I think this is likely to happen more frequently.

Edited September 10Sep 10 by jacko45k

1 hour ago, motdaeng said:

it’s very likely that the real list of his assaults, harassment, conflicts, and other negative incidents is much longer.

not every incident gets reported to the police, so the official record may only show a fraction of what actually happened ...

Nonsense, it is not "very likely" that he "has a list of other assaults harassments and conflicts", that is just your uncorrobrated speculation and imagination. Because certain nonexistent situations are being claimed to exist does not make them "very likely".

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The French owner of Samui Exotic Park in Surat Thani has been ordered deported from Thailand, with his wife preparing to appeal the Interior Ministry's decision on Friday, 11 September.

Appeal on what grounds?

I had some sympathy for him in the beginning. But no longer - not after his violent and crazy history was reported. Too bad for his Thai family. I guess they can visit him in France.

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Deport and Black List this Well known trouble maker on Samui ! Back to the “Banlieus” Ghetto’s of Paris !

4 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Nonsense, it is not "very likely" that he "has a list of other assaults harassments and conflicts", that is just your uncorrobrated speculation and imagination. Because certain nonexistent situations are being claimed to exist does not make them "very likely".

I hear what you're saying, but if you had to put money on 'likely' or 'unlikely', where would you put your money?

Mine would be on 'likely'. It would be some chutzpah for this clearly violent character to complain about people presuming he's acted out at other times as well.

Even if it's pure speculation I avoid people like that. I don't want to be around them the next time they have to deal with something that displeases them.

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Having the inciting sign was a mistake here in Thailand, it being seen was for sure and someone reacting eventually would have happened. A shame to put what sounds like a reasonable lifestyle at risk. Beware, I think this is likely to happen more frequently.

Agreed.

But it is exactly the kind of thing a person with a violent rap sheet like his would do. It's a pure, permanent provocation inviting a confrontation sooner or later. The Israeli bit instead of taking his money elsewhere.

A perfect case of two people finding each other.

4 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Appeal on what grounds?

apparently "protecting his business and family."

10 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

In the post, he questioned whether the outcome was appropriate, saying Mr Dimino had been protecting his business and family.

That's what the police and law courts are for.. should have recorded it and reported it to the authorities and stayed quiet.

she should save her money this has been signed off by Anutin himself ain't nobody gonna reverse it Personally I don't care what happens to him, one way or the other

15 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

she should save her money this has been signed off by Anutin himself ain't nobody gonna reverse it Personally I don't care what happens to him, one way or the other

Send her with him. 🫰

10 hours ago, motdaeng said:

it’s very likely that the real list of his assaults, harassment, conflicts, and other negative incidents is much longer.

not every incident gets reported to the police, so the official record may only show a fraction of what actually happened ...

There's a whole lot of crazy stuff and violent incidents that go unreported and unprosecuted - especially in places like Samui and Patong. The French-Arab mafia is well connected there and get away with a lot of things that would normally get people banned or behind bars. If a guy has a list of accusations against him then it's almost sure there's a much longer list of other things he got away with unreported.

12 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Nonsense, it is not "very likely" that he "has a list of other assaults harassments and conflicts", that is just your uncorrobrated speculation and imagination. Because certain nonexistent situations are being claimed to exist does not make them "very likely".

Human nature. I think the point is that this type of behavior usually represents a pattern and personality type. It doesn't emerge in a vacuum. Assaulting and threatening are not typically one time occurrences. Statistically it is therefore likely that he has done these things before. Ask any law enforcement person and they will concur. I mean, does this sleeve tatted guy guy look like he would have a history of such things (ignore the cute kitty)?

Edited September 10Sep 10 by Jonathan Swift

The man did not respect the terms and conditions of his visa. He was responsible for multiple wrongful acts. He imported his own personal political and ethnic prejudice to Thailand. However, the main reason I am glad he will be sent away is his "business" of operating an "exotic animal zoo". I don't accept for one minute that he was motivated by animal welfare or compassion for animals. Thailand is better off without these obscene places.

The laundry list of this guy's offenses, all put together, just say "bad guy". I hope the authorities hold up and ship him out.

End the story and send him back to france we dont need that kind of people in thailand

Wonder how well this compassionate man treated the

captive animals ?

On 9/10/2026 at 1:38 PM, Bangkok Barry said:

Appeal on what grounds?

Appeal so the defence lawyers suck more money from the defendants. Easy peasy!