Police raid three Phuket school campuses in nominee business investigation

Chalong Police have executed court-approved search warrants at three campuses of a school in southern Phuket as part of an investigation into suspected nominee business activity, a local police chief confirmed.

Pol Col Surasak told The Phuket News that the searches were carried out on June 26 in a joint operation involving Chalong Police, Phuket Immigration, Mueang Phuket District officials, and Rawai and Chalong municipalities.

Officers searched campuses in Soi Yukonthorn, Moo 4, Rawai; Soi Salika, Moo 2, Rawai; and Soi Chao Fa 57 on Chao Fa West Rd in Chalong.

According to Pol Col Surasak, the operation was aimed at checking land ownership documents, business registration, establishment records and the schools' management structure to determine whether Thai nominees had been used to conceal foreign ownership or control.

He said no action has been taken so far because investigators are still examining the school's operations.

Pol Col Surasak said nominee business investigations remain an ongoing priority for Chalong Police, with 30 cases currently under investigation within the station's jurisdiction.

He said the crackdown has not been widely publicised because such cases are encountered frequently in Phuket.

Asked whether other schools were also under investigation, Pol Col Surasak declined to answer, saying document checks were continuing before any legal action could proceed.

He also declined to elaborate on why the Phuket Provincial Education Office was not involved in the operation, saying police are responsible for investigating nominee offences regardless of the type of business before reporting the matter to education authorities.