Phuket Officials Pose As Tourists To Nab Russian Wake Park Owner

[webfact]

Phuket officials pose as tourists to nab Russian wake park owner
Nattha Thepbamrung

PHUKET: -- The Russian owner of the Phuket Wake Park in Kathu, Oleg Lizunov, and his three foreign employees were arrested yesterday afternoon (May 2) when officials from the Phuket Provincial Employment Office, Phuket Police and Bangkok Labour Office visited the site.

Officials posed as tourists, wearing normal clothes, and took photographic evidence of the foreigners working in the wake park.

Mr Lizunov, 47, was charged with hiring foreign staff illegally.

His Russian employees Yulia Solovyeva, 27, and Elena Bonbarnko, 29, as well as another foreign employee Dmitri Li, 27, were arrested for not having work permits.

An officer from the Phuket Provincial Employment Office told The Phuket News, “We checked foreign businesses in Phuket Town and Kathu suspected of operating illegally, and we found this company.

“After we captured video and photographic evidence of the foreigners working at the park, they were arrested and brought to Thung Thong police station.”

The four remain at the police station. If found guilty in the Phuket Provincial Court, they face a maximum potential fine of B100,000 and deportation.

There is also a possibility they will be barred from returning to Thailand.

Attempts to contact Phuket Wake Park this morning were unsuccessful.

Yesterday’s raid was the second one reported this week as officials crack down on foreigners working illegally in Phuket.

On Monday evening (April 29), Kathu police arrested 11 foreigners for working illegally in four nightspots along Bangla Rd in Patong.

The first to be arrested was Alana Jacotima, 32, from Russia, who was caught dancing topless in the Glamour Club. She was found to hold a valid work permit as an actress/dancer, and was fined B500 for taking her top off in public.

The other 10, from Australia, Russia, Britain and Sri Lanka, were all arrested on work permit charges in the remaining three clubs that were raided – Moulin Rouge, Paradise and Seduction.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-officials-pose-as-tourists-to-nab-russian-wake-park-owner-39145.php


-- Phuket News 2013-05-03

[Payboy]

Officials posed as tourists, wearing normal clothes

Dead giveaway, that.

[bangkokrick]

They should be doing the same in Pattaya, loads of Russian tour operators/guides. I doubt that they are all legal.

[NamKangMan]

A great way to encourage foreign investment on the island. :)

The article doesn't mention all the other Thai's that are either directly, or indirectly, employed by these businesses.

[eezergood]

Amazing Thailand!

[stevenl]

A great way to encourage foreign investment on the island.

The article doesn't mention all the other Thai's that are either directly, or indirectly, employed by these businesses.

So? No excuse for working illegally, he could have easily set up a company and get the required permits.

[Locationthailand]

Culling of competition and they will seize the park and continue to earn without the cost of the asset. All premeditated and standard business practice.

[BrianCR]

Amazing Thailand!

What's amazing about arresting illegals all countries do it?

[NamKangMan]

A great way to encourage foreign investment on the island.

The article doesn't mention all the other Thai's that are either directly, or indirectly, employed by these businesses.

So? No excuse for working illegally, he could have easily set up a company and get the required permits.

Let me guess, the illegal workers were working in an occupation reserved for Thai's only. Probably on the front enterance ticket booth, selling enterance tickets and explaining to Russian tourist what the price is, and what they get for that money.

A business like this contributes to the growth of the local economy.

No point building a business and marketing to your fellow countymen tourists, if you are only allowed to employ staff that can't speak their language, Russian, and making an unpleasant experience for the customers.

They are really just not getting the theory behind what TAT is trying to do with these emerging economies.

To be fair to you, stevenl, I one person has to get a work permit, everyone should have to get a work permit, or face the consequences. Trouble is, the language barrier in this case.

Thai's can't speak Russian - Russians can't speak Thai.

The TAT want, in fact now NEED, Rusians on Phuket, but laws will not allow the employment of Russians to communicate with them and sell tickets/tours/products etc - all of which directly, or indirectly, employ other Thai's.

Edited May 3, 2013 by NamKangMan

[NamKangMan]

Culling of competition and they will seize the park and continue to earn without the cost of the asset. All premeditated and standard business practice.

Yes, have to agree, hence, my post, "what a great way to encourage foreign investment."

Why would any Russian build ANY business here if they can't employ staff that can COMMUNICATE with customers. It's a ridiculous situation.

[paulbrun]

With the Russians, it is not foreign 'investment', because they control the flow of money within the business, by employing their own people, and then send the money back out, nicely laundered, without paying any locals, or any local taxes. This is what is causing so much friction with Thai businesses. They seem to be spending money, but in fact it is controlled by their own people, who then re-distribute it amongst themselves. I support any police operation to shut them down.

[HarryMilton]

A great way to encourage foreign investment on the island.

The article doesn't mention all the other Thai's that are either directly, or indirectly, employed by these businesses.

So, as long as an illegal business, directly or indirectly, employs Thais it should be allowed to operate?

[Dr Wanchai]

 

A great way to encourage foreign investment on the island. :)

The article doesn't mention all the other Thai's that are either directly, or indirectly, employed by these businesses.

 

That is no reason to overlook the unlawful employment of foreign workers.

[Langsuan Man]

"Why would any Russian build ANY business here if they can't employ staff that can COMMUNICATE with customers. It's a ridiculous situation"

No one is trying to stop them from operating a business, all that is being asked is that they do it legally by obtaining work permits, why is that so hard for people here to understand

[webfact]

Phuket Wake Park latest victim of illegal Russian raids
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Following the arrest of 35 Russians found allegedly working illegally in Patong nightclubs last week (story here), three more Russians have been arrested at the tourist-popular Phuket Wake Park in Kathu.

Cherdsak Wisutthikul, from the Department of Employment in Bangkok, led a team of 20 officers to raid the wakeboard park at about 5:30pm on Thursday.

Following a chaotic scene, allegedly including foreigners leaving the premiss in a rush, the officers arrested and charged Russian national Oleg Lysinov, 47, with illegally hiring foreign workers.

Section 54 of the Alien Workers Act stipulates that any person found illegally hiring foreign workers is liable to a fine of not more than 10,000 baht, and liable to a fine between 10,000 baht and 100,000 baht per illegal worker.

During the raids two Russian nationals, 27-year-old receptionist Julie Solovyeva and 29-year-old cashier Elena Bonkarenko, were arrested alongside marketing officer Dmitry Lee, who is originally from Kurdistan.

All three confessed to working without work permits. They each face a fine of between 2,000 baht and 100,000 baht, up to five years in prison, or both.

All four suspects were taken to Thung Thong Police Station for further investigation.

Mr Cherdsak, who is the director of the “Inspection and Job Seekers Protection Division”, returned to Bangkok after the raid had concluded.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-Wake-Park-latest-victim-of-illegal-Russian-raids-20941.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-05-04

[glegolo]

So while many of you are crying over the stupidy of the thai´s and the need to have companies sthat can take care

of these russians that cannot speak anyting else than their own motherlanguage, I am at least thinking what many of us should be thinking.

I think that Thailand is spot on with their rules and laws what concern the immigration of foreigners to Thailand, and who wish to settle here. I personally would love the european countries and in particular Sweden should have the exactly same politic. It is clean, clear quite understandible laws that protects the citizens of Thailand....

So what´s new really??? Big problem to shut down all these illegal russian companies???? I think it is great, we all should adhere to the rules, and these tondeath russians should learn to speak english like everyone else BEFORE they leave their own country..

Glegolo

[eezergood]

Amazing Thailand!

What's amazing about arresting illegals all countries do it?

Targetted xenaphobic attitudes, perpetuated by the media & a soft target (arguably)

I have nothing against the cleaining up of detritus, but make it across the board

[stevenl]

A great way to encourage foreign investment on the island.

The article doesn't mention all the other Thai's that are either directly, or indirectly, employed by these businesses.

So? No excuse for working illegally, he could have easily set up a company and get the required permits.

Let me guess, the illegal workers were working in an occupation reserved for Thai's only. Probably on the front enterance ticket booth, selling enterance tickets and explaining to Russian tourist what the price is, and what they get for that money.

A business like this contributes to the growth of the local economy.

No point building a business and marketing to your fellow countymen tourists, if you are only allowed to employ staff that can't speak their language, Russian, and making an unpleasant experience for the customers.

They are really just not getting the theory behind what TAT is trying to do with these emerging economies.

To be fair to you, stevenl, I one person has to get a work permit, everyone should have to get a work permit, or face the consequences. Trouble is, the language barrier in this case.

Thai's can't speak Russian - Russians can't speak Thai.

The TAT want, in fact now NEED, Rusians on Phuket, but laws will not allow the employment of Russians to communicate with them and sell tickets/tours/products etc - all of which directly, or indirectly, employ other Thai's.

Sorry, but your post is BS.

They can all have workpermits. So yes, Russians can work here, but like everybody else they need to be legal. Nothing difficult about that, but it does cost time and money, they're just trying to get away with doing business here without that investment.

[stevenl]

Culling of competition and they will seize the park and continue to earn without the cost of the asset. All premeditated and standard business practice.

Yes, have to agree, hence, my post, "what a great way to encourage foreign investment."

Why would any Russian build ANY business here if they can't employ staff that can COMMUNICATE with customers. It's a ridiculous situation.

They can employ staff that can communicatie with customers, they just have to invest in some Thais staff as well, and of course the required permits and visa for the foreign staff.

[tragickingdom]

Does the Phuket head of immigration or police has a daughter that wants the job? The Russians with their money will soon start spending it in Burma, where they have better service, cleaner sees and nicer officials.

[gmac]

Why is it that they find it so easy to deal with foreign criminals (heinous crime not having a work permit) yet fail to address Thai crime like demanding money with menaces? (Jet ski extortion scams)

Edited May 4, 2013 by gmac

[NamKangMan]

A great way to encourage foreign investment on the island.

The article doesn't mention all the other Thai's that are either directly, or indirectly, employed by these businesses.

So, as long as an illegal business, directly or indirectly, employs Thais it should be allowed to operate?

Prostitution is illegal in Thailand - look how many businesses sex sex here. Your point is........???

Maybe you can explain how all the Burmese construction workers have "work permits." :)

Edited May 4, 2013 by NamKangMan

[NamKangMan]

"Why would any Russian build ANY business here if they can't employ staff that can COMMUNICATE with customers. It's a ridiculous situation"

No one is trying to stop them from operating a business, all that is being asked is that they do it legally by obtaining work permits, why is that so hard for people here to understand

Most likely, the "job" they are doing is reserved for Thai's only. Probably selling tickets. There is no work permit for speaking Russian to customers.

Why is that so hard for people here to understand????

[jocko]

When you think about it all countries have illegal immigrants who get into the country and tend to work in hotels. restaurants. pick fruit. often in family business etc in other words keep there heads down whereas in Thailand they come full on in front of everybody without a care in the world because they have been told all is well and up to now it has been, dont forget the Russian mafia has got away with it elsewhere but it was inevitable that eventually the Thais would complain and something would have to be done of course we all know that money was past under the table to allow this to happen but as usual the team will stick together and you wont hear nothing about that.

Why dont they just go down the legal road and get the permits they need and and enjoy all the frustrations that the other foreign business have to put up with.

Or maybe they will just decamp to somewhere easier (Likely)

[NamKangMan]

Does the Phuket head of immigration or police has a daughter that wants the job? The Russians with their money will soon start spending it in Burma, where they have better service, cleaner sees and nicer officials.

Already happening in Vietnam. Also, there is some history there with the Vietnam War. The Russians are welcomed there.

Edited May 4, 2013 by NamKangMan

[NamKangMan]

Why is it that they find it so easy to deal with foreign criminals (heinous crime not having a work permit) yet fail to address Thai crime like demanding money with menaces? (Jet ski extortion scams)

That's not "demanding money with menaces" - that's "tourism" - Thai style.

[LivinginKata]

A number off topic posts removed. No need for 2 members to 'argue' on the open forum.

[DRONGOH]

The first to be arrested was Alana Jacotima, 32, from Russia, who was

caught dancing topless in the Glamour Club. She was found to hold a

valid work permit as an actress/dancer, and was fined B500 for taking her top off in public.

Excellent!

Better than than watching a 44 gallon drum from somewhere in Isaan plus "lady's" drink!!!

[Cardiff1963]

Amazing Thailand!

Shame European immigration were not so efficient

[Phronesis]

Amazing Thailand!

What's amazing about arresting illegals all countries do it?

Targetted xenaphobic attitudes, perpetuated by the media & a soft target (arguably)

I have nothing against the cleaining up of detritus, but make it across the board

Eezergood, you have to reference me when you use the term "detritus".

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/624884-are-you-part-of-the-farang-detritus-layer/

Edited May 4, 2013 by Phronesis