Huai khwang: "Pholpeer" has taken decisive action against a hotel allegedly operated by a Chinese nominee in Huai Khwang. The hotel's owner, who approached officials to "clear the matter," claimed to have previously made payments to government officials. However, the response was resolute: "Wrong is wrong, the law must be respected." Authorities have committed to thoroughly investigating the situation and dismantling any illegal operations.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Interior Minister Phonphir Suwannachawi spearheaded a special operations team from the Department of Provincial Administration to launch the "Huai Khwang Integrated Operation." The initiative aims to scrutinize potential nominee networks and illegal hotels within the Huai Khwang district.
Officials, acting on complaints and tips from local residents, conducted surprise inspections of hotels and businesses in the area. These inspections uncovered several irregularities, including operations without permits, potentially illegal building modifications, and safety concerns. Further investigation into the shareholder structure of some businesses revealed potential "nominee" arrangements, with Chinese nationals holding 49% of the shares, while their Thai spouses held the remaining 51%. However, questioning disclosed that the Thai shareholders were unaware of the details concerning share payments, company registration, or business management.
General Peer highlighted issues discovered during inspections, including inadequate fire escapes, emergency exits, and fire safety systems that could jeopardize guest safety in emergencies. Labor inspections also revealed illegal foreign workers and instances of employment reserved for Thai citizens.
General Phonpheer disclosed that some business owners attempted to contact authorities during the operation to "clear" matters, claiming connections with local government agencies, including immigration officers. Allegations surfaced that payments were made in installments across multiple establishments. Consequently, the Department of Provincial Administration has been tasked with coordinating with relevant agencies to trace the phone calls, identify impersonators, and investigate their involvement. Authorities are also working with the Land Department to scrutinize ownership and property holdings of related investment groups. If nominee land ownership or illegal activities are detected, actions such as revocation of rights and forced sale of the land will be taken. Furthermore, the investigation is widening to track financial activities linked to online gambling and foreign transactions, requiring further examination of registration and taxation.
General Peer emphasized that operations will extend beyond Huai Khwang and Bangkok to other regions. The law applies equally to foreign investments, nominees, brokers, law firms, and government officials. If involvement is proven, all parties will face legal consequences, reinforcing the principle that the law cannot be "cleared" or absolved without consequence.