Phuket police search five Rawai sites in nominee-business probe

Phuket Provincial Police searched five locations in Rawai on 1 November as part of an operation targeting suspected nominee businesses linked to two business groups and six companies, with a preliminary combined business value exceeding B100 million, police said.

The operation, named “Breaking Rawai Nominees”, was conducted by Chalong police under the direction of Pol Maj Gen Surachai Suk-sai, commander of Phuket Provincial Police. Authorities said they were investigating the use of Thai nationals to hold shares on behalf of foreign investors in possible violation of Thailand’s Foreign Business Act and related laws.

Three searches targeted two companies linked to an international school business identified as ISP. Police said they found suspected shareholding structures intended to conceal foreign control of the businesses. An arrest warrant was issued for one Russian national, while legal proceedings were initiated against an Estonian national.

The remaining two searches covered four companies connected to a French national’s real estate brokerage business. Police said four Thai nationals were suspected of holding shares or establishing companies on the foreign national’s behalf without making actual investments or exercising genuine management authority. An arrest warrant was issued for the French national, while evidence against other people involved is still being gathered.

Pol Maj Gen Surachai said the investigation would go beyond shareholder records to identify the investors, people controlling the businesses and ultimate beneficiaries. Phuket police said they would continue working with other agencies and asked people with information about suspected nominee arrangements to report it to police or the relevant authorities.