D S I Officials Arrive To Check ' Russian' Firms In Phuket

[webfact]

DSI officials arrive to check 'Russian' firms in Phuket

A team from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) in Bangkok arrived in Phuket to gather information about Russian-operated businesses suspected of operating illegally in Bang Tao.

newsjsPHUKET – Febuary 13,2013; The DSI team was led by Pol Lt Col Somboon Sarasit, the commander of the Bureau of Special Crime Section 3, who was joined by Ma-an Samran, President of Cherngtalay OrBorTor, and Kasem Samran, a representative from the Bang Tao Taxi Association.

The DSI officials spent time visiting the area where the “anti-Russian” protest happened on January 28. During the protest, which was conducted by Thai businessmen who also admitted they didn’t like the competition, many Russian-run businesses were accused of operating illegally.

Today, the plan was to visit the businesses accused of operating illegally and to speak to the staff inside, but when officials arrived all the businesses were closed.

“We chose to start in this area because this is the place that has a lot of issues with Russian businesses,” Col Somboon said.

Officials spent time listening to Mr Ma-an and hearing Mr Kasem’s concerns. They will now contact the Phuket Provincial Employment Office (PPEC) and the Business Development Office (BDO) to collect information about the Russian businesses suspected of operating illegally in Bang Tao.

They will collect information relating to work permits for Russian staff, business licences and Thai shareholders, and return to Bangkok where they will analyse the information. If the businesses are found to be operating illegally, the DSI has the power to close them and/or prosecute the owners.

“Foreign businesses must be approved by the BDO. If they are not, they will be fined up to B1 million, and the owners could face three years in prison,” Col Somboon said.

Full story: http://www.pattayada...irms-in-phuket/

-- Pattaya Daily News 2013-02-14

[JetsetBkk]

If the businesses are found to be operating illegally, the DSI has the power to close them and/or prosecute the owners.

And if the firms that are now closed are found to have been operating legally, they will be told they can re-open?

Yeah! In a pig's ear.

[Zolt]

At least these "russians" have understood the main principles of doing business in Thailand:

- Get tipped off about impending police action.

- Vacate the area for the duration of the "crackdown" (usually a few hours is enough)

- Make sure you're up do date on tea money payments.

- Business as usual.

- xxx

- Profit

[Lite Beer]

DSI Chief launches investigation into Russian-owned businesses in Phuket

Phuket Gazette -

PHUKET: Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) launched their own inquiry yesterday into Cherng Talay locals’ complaints that foreigners were stealing their jobs.

The visit comes in the immediate wake of the Phuket Employment Office’s crackdown on illegal foreign businesses currently underway (story here).

Lt Col Somboon Sarasit, head of the DSI’s Bureau of Special Crime Unit 3, said that he was in Phuket to investigate Russian-owned businesses with nominee shareholders.

“We will inspect the area and collect information from local vendors who are struggling because of these companies,” he said.

“After that, we will check with the Department of Business Development to see if these companies are being issued work permits or not,” he added.

“Owners of companies that have not been issued work permits for their foreign staff face a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment or a fine of 100,000 to a million baht,” he said.

“If Thai nominee shareholders are involved, they will also be charged,” he added.

Col Somboon, who was accompanied by Cherng Talay OrBorTor President Ma-ann Samran, said that he would start by inspecting Alex Holiday Tour Co, Ltd, the company that voluntary shut its Bang Tao office after taxi drivers protested against it and tore down its sign on January 28 (story here).

“We have called Dan Wanbaworn, who is the Thai nominee shareholder and a member of management team to talk to us tomorrow [February 14],” he said.

The DSI plans to inspect businesses in the Cherng Talay area first, and then move on to Patong, Kata and Karon.

Col Somboon invited locals with information about foreign-owned businesses operating illegally to report them to the Department of Special Investigation at 02-8319 888.

Baan Bangtao Taxi Club Vice President Kasem Samran explained the problem local taxi drivers are facing.

“There are about 400 taxi drivers in the Cherng Talay area and all of them live in Cherng Talay. They use their own cars to do their business – it is a local business in our community.

“We have heard from some tourists that Russian business operators told them not to use services run by local people and it has caused us a great deal of trouble,” Mr Kasem said.

“About 2 years ago, we made enough money to support our families, but after our jobs were stolen, we have been unable to make enough money,” he added.

“I do not understand how Phuket Provincial Employment officers could issue work permits to some foreign business owners when some types of businesses are reserved only for Thais,” he said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/DSI-Chief-launches-investigation-into-Russian-owned-businesses-in-Phuket-20239.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-02-14

[muratremix]

“I do not understand how Phuket Provincial Employment officers could issue work permits to some foreign business owners when some types of businesses are reserved only for Thais,” he said.

Corruption I say.

[cup-O-coffee]

This is nothing. Any time a formal complaint is made, an investigation is compulsory.

The investigation process: Enter the premises. Speak with the owner. Crack a few jokes. Smile continuously and abbreviate every word with a "Kahp". Discover "the money that was lost" and graciously place it into the safekeeping of the investigators. More smiles and a "Kahp" after every word uttered, and even a "Kahp-Lan-Kahp" to boot for good measure. The investigator leaves after advising the owner of the swiftest measures to rectify any inaccuracies in the process. A follow-up visit will be mentioned (but is never carried out because a meeting usually comes up and the investigator is too busy). The investigator leaves after numerous wais and more kahps. The owner soaps the <deleted> of his or her nose, brushes and gargles to get the salty taste out of their mouth, and goes about their business as usual.

Edited February 15, 2013 by cup-O-coffee

[Chua]

“We have heard from some tourists that Russian business operators told them not to use services run by local people and it has caused us a great deal of trouble,” Mr Kasem said.

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-02-14

It's not just Russian's warning the tourists, it is the Thai government themselves!

See this attached screenshot from the new "Tourist Buddy" app released by the Thai government; click the image to enlarge, then read the first line.

The world knows about the Thai taxi scams even more than they know about the prostitution. Its so rampant, even the government knows all about it, thus this warning in their own app for tourists.

Edited February 15, 2013 by Chua

[belg]

police joined by the local maffia boss to cut out the competition

[JetsetBkk]

<snip>

Col Somboon, who was accompanied by Cherng Talay OrBorTor President Ma-ann Samran, said that he would start by inspecting Alex Holiday Tour Co, Ltd, the company that voluntary shut its Bang Tao office after taxi drivers protested against it and tore down its sign on January 28 (story here).

“We have called Dan Wanbaworn, who is the Thai nominee shareholder and a member of management team to talk to us tomorrow [February 14],” he said.

<snip>

Excellent. I would like to know the true situation with this company. I hope it was operating legally. That would be a huge loss of face for Ma-an Samran, President of Cherngtalay OrBorTor, and Kasem Samran, from the Bang Tao Taxi Association.

[remobb]

How about checking some Thai business owners who open a business without license and use illegal immigrants. Who's buses and vans don't meet up to regulations and who's drivers do not have driving licenses? Racialism again.

[HerbalEd]

This is nothing. Any time a formal complaint is made, an investigation is compulsory.

The investigation process: Enter the premises. Speak with the owner. Crack a few jokes. Smile continuously and abbreviate every word with a "Kahp". Discover "the money that was lost" and graciously place it into the safekeeping of the investigators. More smiles and a "Kahp" after every word uttered, and even a "Kahp-Lan-Kahp" to boot for good measure. The investigator leaves after advising the owner of the swiftest measures to rectify any inaccuracies in the process. A follow-up visit will be mentioned (but is never carried out because a meeting usually comes up and the investigator is too busy). The investigator leaves after numerous wais and more kahps. The owner soaps the &lt;deleted&gt; of his or her nose, brushes and gargles to get the salty taste out of their mouth, and goes about their business as usual.

How many times have you actually seen this happen? Not that you're wrong ... but have you actually been there when this sort of thing happens ... or are you speculating?