KOH PHANGAN — Tourist Police on the resort island of Koh Phangan have arrested two foreign nationals—one Ukrainian and one Azerbaijani—accused of illegally operating as electrical system contractors without proper permits, according to a police statement released on Saturday.
The arrests are the latest in a series of crackdowns targeting foreigners working illegally in occupations reserved for Thai citizens in the popular tourist destination.
The operation, carried out on November 8, was conducted by Tourist Police Station 5, in collaboration with Koh Phangan local police and district officials, following an order from Tourist Police Commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Puek-am.
Caught in the Act
The two suspects were identified as Mr. Viacheslav (29), a Ukrainian national, and Mr. Ramis (26), an Azerbaijani national (last names withheld). They were detained at a construction site in Si Thanu village, Moo 8, Koh Phangan Sub-district.
Authorities had been monitoring their activities and intercepted them after they were observed driving a white Ford Ranger pickup truck to purchase various electrical supplies, including flexible conduit pipes, and then transporting the equipment to the construction site.
Denial and Threats
Upon being confronted by the officers, the two men initially denied the charges and became aggressive, allegedly shouting that they were merely tourists and threatening to sue all the arresting officers.
However, police did not believe their claims after a search of their vehicle revealed damning evidence, including:
- Cash receipts for building materials and electrical installation equipment.
- A diagram of the housing project.
- Detailed construction blueprints for the homes.
A Thai foreman at a nearby site, identified only as Mr. A, also provided a critical statement, confirming that Mr. Viacheslav and Mr. Ramis were the direct contractors for the electrical installation work, having been hired by the project owner, and that they came to the site daily.
Faced with the overwhelming evidence, which also included a significant cache of materials like 14 rolls of yellow conduit pipes, 40 junction boxes, 100 lengths of rigid piping, wiring, and power tools seized from their storage area, the suspects eventually confessed.
They admitted to illegally contracting for electrical and interior decoration work in the area without the required work permits, acknowledging they had completed several such jobs previously.
The suspects were charged with “jointly operating a business (electrical contracting) without permission” and “working as a foreigner without a work permit.” They have been transferred to the Koh Phangan Police Station for further legal proceedings.
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