Tour firm allegedly run by foreigner using Thai ID
POLICE yesterday searched the office of Fuan Travel on the 11th floor of KSL Tower in Ratchathewi district for additional evidence in relation to claims the company was set up by a 57-year-old foreign man using a fake Thai ID card.
Initial inquiries found that the man, who was not named but holds an executive position in the firm, allegedly took the identity of a man called Somkiat Khongcharoen, who died nearly 10 years ago, to open the business and provide tour services in Thailand, Tourist Police chief Pol Maj-General Surechet Hakpan.
An arrest warrant was issued for the man for allegedly violating the House Registry Act BE 2554 (2011) and the National Identity Card Act BE 2554 (2011), and he was arrested late last month.
Police also arrested three alleged accomplices – company executive Thawal Jaemchokchai, 59, and tour guides Phuwadol Sukcharoen, 38, and Thanakrit Rinrat, 44, both of whom are suspected to be Chinese nationals who assumed Thai identities, Surachet said.
A foreigner using a Thai person’s identity to run low-cost tour services in Thailand violated the law and damaged the tourism industry, Surachet said, adding that those who assumed Thai identities to work as tour guides also broke the law, as this job is reserved for Thais only. The law guarantees that tour guides be paid at least Bt1,000 per day.
He said the men who assumed the identities of Somkiat and Thawal would face an additional charge of racketeering.
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