Expected to receive a heavy punishment: an Israeli citizen was arrested abroad

The Thai police announced the arrest of an Israeli citizen on the island of Phuket, on suspicion of operating a travel agency illegally using a local citizen who served as a “straw man”. The arrest, which took place yesterday (Wed), was carried out as part of an enforcement operation by the tourism department of the local police investigating the activities of companies in the industry.

According to the findings of the investigation, the travel agency acted in violation of the law after changing the structure of its board of directors shortly after receiving the activity license. As part of the police investigation, it became clear that the company is headed by two directors that include a Thai citizen and an Israeli citizen, contrary to the local law in Thailand which requires that the majority of the board of directors be composed of Thai citizens.

The Phuket Police Tourism Department did not release the identity of the detainee and did not specify what charges are expected to be filed against him. According to the law in Thailand, a violation of this type may lead to the denial of the business license, as well as penalties of up to three years in prison, as well as a fine ranging from 100-500 thousand baht.

The Thai authorities emphasized that this is part of a broad fight against illegal activity in the tourism industry and called on business owners in Phuket and other areas to see such activity as a warning. According to them, enforcement actions will continue to increase transparency and maintain the legality of activity in the industry.