PATTAYA — Thai tourist police arrested a Chinese man who overstayed his visa by nearly three years and was allegedly working illegally as a tour guide in the popular resort city of Pattaya on Thursday.
Authorities launched an investigation after a Facebook page, Tourism News Circle, reported that a man was using what appeared to be a fake tour guide license to lead Chinese tourists. Officers traced the suspect to a hotel on Phra Tamnak Hill before arresting him on November 13 in Najomtien, Sattahip district, while he was accompanying a tour group.
Police identified the suspect as Jinlei, 30, a Chinese national who entered Thailand on July 17, 2022, and was permitted to stay until January 5, 2023. He had overstayed for 1,043 days and was found to be illegally assisting tour groups and coordinating with licensed guides.
Jinlei was charged with working without a permit, working outside the scope of his visa, and overstaying his temporary stay in Thailand. He was handed over to Najomtien police for further legal proceedings.
Tourist police urged the public to report illegal foreign workers or suspicious activities that could threaten Thailand’s tourism or economy via the 1155 hotline or the Thailand Tourist Police Facebook page.
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