Phuket official warns naturalised citizens may be used as nominees
Authorities are investigating whether Thai citizens who were born abroad were used to conceal foreign ownership in businesses and property acquisitions.
A Phuket official has warned that foreigners who obtained Thai citizenship may have used their legal status to establish nominee companies, conceal foreign ownership and acquire land or commercial buildings.
Polapee said the practice could represent a developing national security threat affecting economic resources and sovereignty. He made the comments after inspecting Chabad House in Patong.
Preliminary investigations found that some people linked to businesses under scrutiny held Thai national identity cards despite having been born abroad and obtaining Thai citizenship in recent years, Polapee said.
He identified three directors and shareholders linked to The Kosher Place (Thailand) Co Ltd, which operates the Patong premises, as Thai ID-card holders who were not native-born Thais. Two obtained Thai citizenship on 21 November 2017, when Gen Anupong Paochinda was Interior Minister, he said.
Officials said the company was registered with B30 million in capital, headquartered in Sukhumvit and operating 10 branches. Authorities are checking whether the Thai shareholders are genuine investors or were used to conceal foreign capital, Polapee said.
