DEPUTY Interior Minister Worasit Liangprasit accompanied by Justice Minister Pol. Lt. Gen. Rutthaphon Naowarat led their team in raiding a law firm, a hotel and a company in Pattaya City suspected of using Thai nationals as nominees in violation of Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999) today (Aug. 21), Amarin TV said.
Worasit said this operation is in accordance with the government’s policy to suppress illegal businesses. The Pattaya raid follows up on previous actions against the use of nominees in Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, Surat Thani province, as well as Phuket.
Based on the evidence gathered by investigators, it was found that these three businesses had evaded or violated Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999). Therefore, officials obtained search warrants from the Criminal Court to inspect them.
– First location: An international law firm located in Pattaya was suspected of registering companies by using the names of Thai employees as shareholders in place of the true foreign owners. Officials seized relevant evidence for further investigation.
– Second location: A hotel was suspected of hiring an international law firm to handle its registration. It was found that the names of the law firm’s employees were included as founders. Further investigation revealed changes to the shareholder list linked to another company with a few individuals who previously worked for an aluminum sales company in Samut Sakhon province listed as shareholders. This evidence demonstrates a complex nominee network connected to multiple legal entities.
– Third location: A company in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, with Israeli investors as directors was searched. An investigation into the shareholder structure revealed the use of Thai nationals as nominees since 2010. Significant connections between this company and another legal entity through its directors and shareholders were also found. These companies have combined assets exceeding several hundred million baht.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page: Deputy Interior Worasit Liangprasit and Justice Minister Pol. Lt. Gen. Rutthaphon Naowarat searching targeted nominee companies in Pattaya. Photos – Amarin TV”
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