Nominee suspects admit holding shares in 185 companies, no investment

Matichon•Society•17d ago

Reader Briefing

Authorities have apprehended two individuals acting as nominees who admitted to holding shares in 187 companies without any real investment, following an investigation into illegal foreign business operations.

•Officials arrested two suspects involved in alleged nominee company operations in Koh Phangan, Surat Thani.
•The suspects confessed to holding shares in 187 companies without any actual investment.
•The investigation stems from Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's visit to address illegal foreign businesses.
•Authorities seized substantial evidence including company registration documents, computers, and company seals.

Overview

•On May 13, 2024, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited Koh Phangan, Surat Thani in order to follow up on issues of foreigners conducting illegal businesses.
•The visit on May 13, 2024, led to a coordinated operation by the Royal Thai Police to search targeted locations.
•On May 14, 2024, officials executed search warrants (No. 42-51/2026) on 10 suspected nominee companies in Koh Phangan.
•Authorities arrested two suspects, one Thai woman and one Thai man, who confessed to holding shares.
•The arrested suspects confessed to holding shares in a total of 187 companies without actual investment, resulting in their apprehension.
•Officials also seized 815 company registration documents, 7 computers, and 245 company seals, in order to gather evidence.
•Authorities are investigating the ownership of 36 land plots (51 rai 2 ngan) valued at over 150 million THB across 24 companies, due to suspicion of nominee shareholding.
•Further investigation into financial trails and foreign shareholders is planned in order to prosecute under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 1999 (1999).

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Key Quotes

Suspects

"Admitted involvement in holding company shares, but with no actual investment."

มีส่วนเกี่ยวข้องกับการถือหุ้นส่วนบริษัท แต่ไม่มีการลงทุนจริง

Key Entities

Person

Anutin Charnvirakul(นายอนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior who initiated the investigation into illegal foreign businesses in Koh Phangan.

Pol. Gen. Samran Nuam-ard(พล.ต.อ.สำราญ นวลมา)

Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police who led the operation to search suspected nominee companies.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Noppasit Poonsawat(พล.ต.ท.นพศิลป์ พูลสวัสดิ์)

Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police involved in the operation.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Suwat Suksee(พล.ต.ต.สุวัฒน์ สุขศรี)

Commander of Surat Thani Provincial Police who commented on the possibility of companies acting as nominees for foreign capital.

Organization

Royal Thai Police(สำนักงานตำรวจแห่งชาติ)ℹ️

The national police force that deployed officers for the operation to search and arrest suspects.

Surat Thani Provincial Police(ภูธรจังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี)

Provincial police unit that participated in the operation in Surat Thani.

Krabi Provincial Police(ภูธรจังหวัดกระบี่)

Provincial police unit that participated in the operation.

Division 3, Regional Police Bureau 8(กองกำกับการ 3 ตำรวจภูธรภาค 8)

A regional police unit that participated in the operation.

Special Operations Division, Investigation and Intelligence Bureau, Regional Police Bureau 8(กองกำกับการปฏิบัติการพิเศษ กองบังคับการสืบสวนสอบสวน ตำรวจภูธรภาค 8)

A specialized police unit that participated in the operation.

Koh Phangan Police Station(สภ.เกาะพะงัน)

The local police station responsible for Koh Phangan where the operation took place.

Surat Thani Immigration Office(ตรวจคนเข้าเมืองจังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี)

The immigration office in Surat Thani that was involved in the operation.

Place

Koh Phangan District(อ.เกาะพะงัน)ℹ️

The district in Surat Thani province where foreign businesses were allegedly operating illegally.

Surat Thani Province(จ.สุราษฎร์ธานี)ℹ️

The province in Thailand where Koh Phangan is located and where illegal foreign businesses are being investigated.

Law

Regulation of Businesses of Aliens Act B.E. 1999 (1999)(พ.ร.บ.การประกอบธุรกิจของคนต่างด้าว พ.ศ. 1999)

The law under which authorities plan to prosecute entities involved in illegal foreign business operations.