Warning for Thai nominees

The Director General of the Thai government’s Business Development department has issued a warning to Thai nationals not to act as nominees to assist foreigners in setting up business in Thailand.

Specifically mentioning real estate, Pongphan Jianviriyaphan said those people found guilty may face a maximum of three years in prison and a fine of between THB 100,000 and THB 1 million baht.

Speaking to the media she said that officials from her department conducted investigations of businesses suspected of being alien-controlled via the use of Thai nominees in Phuket and Koh Samui last year.

She told the media that two cases of alien business with Thai nationals acting as their nominees were found, and that these cases were under intensive investigation.

Pongphan added that the Department of Special Investigation, the Immigration Bureau and the Department of Tourism had joined the Business Development department to investigate alleged illegal businesses operating in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai as its top targets.