Thais acting as nominees for foreigners face charges

  Phuket provincial deputy police commander Colonel Samarn Chainarong said yesterday that police had gathered seven big folders about the offences. 

  He said in some cases one Thai served as the nominee for foreigners in up to 20 companies. 

  He said police were awaiting court approval for arrest warrants for suspects. The arrests could be made within this month.

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul yesterday chaired a meeting at the Phuket Provincial Hall to check the progress of the operation to prevent Thais from acting as nominees for foreigners.

She said that at the Cabinet meeting on February 23 Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha instructed the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Interior and her ministry, as well as other concerned agencies, to check businesses being illegally operated by foreigners such as tour operators and guides.

Kobkarn said Phuket needed to build a new tourism base as part of tourism development and to compete with neighbouring countries.

The minister said the Cabinet meeting discussed offences committed by legal firms and accounting companies to help clients avoid tax.

“We have a blacklist of these companies and people involved. We have a target of major players. We are gathering key evidence before taking action,’’ she said.

Kobkarn said the state agencies that could revoke business licences had been instructed to follow the government’s guidelines in cracking down on these illegal activities. 

She said they must monitor the movement of registered companies and those caught committing offence must face revocation of licences. 

The agencies must learn how newly registered companies commit offences. 

She said concerned agencies were instructed to work together to make Phuket a better tourism city to attract more investors.

She said concerned agencies had taken action against illegal alien workers, suspended tourism-operation licences and cracked down on companies avoiding tax.