KOH SAMUI — Immigration police on Koh Samui have filed criminal complaints against a British woman accused of running a bar illegally through Thai nominee shareholders, after investigators uncovered 17.3 million baht ($536,600) transferred into her personal accounts.
Surat Thani Immigration, working with Bo Phut police, said Tuesday they had moved to prosecute the 60-year-old woman, identified as Maxine, who allegedly continued operating a beer bar in Chaweng after authorities earlier revoked the visa of her son, Ashton, and expelled him from Thailand.
Pol. Col. Naruwat Phuttawiro, chief of Surat Thani Immigration, said the operation follows national directives to crack down on foreign nationals using Thai nominees to front businesses barred to overseas owners. Officials say such practices undermine the economy and displace local workers.
Investigators inspected Sin by Night Co., Ltd., a bar and restaurant in Chaweng, on November 24. Although Thai nationals were listed as majority shareholders — two women holding 25.5% each — officials said the business was in practice controlled and financed by Maxine.
A financial review found that from 2023 through March 2025, more than 11.7 million baht ($362,900) in business revenue was transferred from the company’s accounts into Maxine’s personal Bangkok Bank account. Another 5.6 million baht ($173,700) in cash deposits was reportedly routed from the company’s Kasikorn Bank account to her personal account between November 2024 and March 2025.
The two Thai shareholders later told police they were only bar employees receiving monthly salaries and had not invested money in the business. They said Maxine asked to use their names so she could legally run the bar.
On Thursday, Naruwat and his investigative team filed complaints with Bo Phut police against Maxine, the two Thai women, and Sin by Night Co. The suspects face charges under the Foreign Business Act for using nominees to operate a business restricted to Thai nationals, namely the sale of food and beverages.
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