PHUKET: The body of a German tourist who went missing after being swept out to sea at Freedom Beach yesterday (Aug 10) was found floating near the beach this afternoon, ending an overnight search operation.

BANGKOK — Authorities searched 15 locations in Hua Hin on August 10 as part of an investigation into property companies suspected of using Thai nationals as nominee shareholders for foreign investors, with alleged losses exceeding 300 million baht.

The Department of Business Development (DBD) said the operation involved police, immigration officers, tourist police, the Department of Special Investigation, the Internal Security Operations Command and other agencies.

According to DBD director-general Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, several target companies were initially registered as Thai entities with Thai nationals listed as directors holding 100% of shares. Within six months, however, they changed their shareholder structures to add foreign directors alongside Thai directors.

The arrangements allegedly kept foreign shareholdings below 50%, while Thai shareholders — suspected of acting as nominees — retained 51%. This allowed the firms to remain legally classified as Thai entities while operating property-holding and rental businesses.

Investigators said the Thai and foreign shareholders had not previously known one another or had any prior connection, which authorities described as highly unusual in normal business dealings.

Police have issued arrest warrants for 45 foreign nationals and summonses for 39 Thai nationals. Thirteen suspects have so far been arrested in connection with 33 cases.

The DBD said the suspected scheme exploited loopholes allowing foreigners to use Thai nominees to evade restrictions under the Foreign Business Act and acquire or operate property businesses unlawfully.

Since August 1, the department has tightened scrutiny of company registrations and amendments to make nominee arrangements more difficult. It said registrations involving Thai and foreign shareholders where foreign ownership remained below 50% had fallen significantly, with only five such cases recorded since the measures took effect.

"Using Thai nationals as concealed nominees and assisting such offences under the Foreign Business Act carries a penalty of up to three years' imprisonment, a fine of 100,000 to 1 million baht, or both," Poonpong said. "The court may also order the business to cease operating or end an unlawful shareholding arrangement."

Phuket – Authorities in Phuket have made the first arrest under a sweeping nationwide operation aimed at curbing illegal firearms, following orders from Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Arsit Sumpuntharat announced that since August 7, provincial officials and police have intensified checkpoints and patrols across the country to prevent […]

On August 11, 2025, Sophon Saramun, President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives, led a delegation to a memorial ceremony honoring Saysomphone Phomvihane, President of the National Assembly of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, at the National Convention Center in Vientiane. The ceremony paid tribute to his legacy and contributions.

Following the ceremony, Sophon proceeded to the Presidential Palace in Vientiane to pay respects to President Thongloun Sisoulith of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. This visit represented an important opportunity to reinforce the close relationship between Thailand and Laos.

President Thongloun welcomed the Thai Parliament Chief, characterizing the two nations as neighbors sharing both prosperity and hardship, bound by trust like close family. He emphasized friendly cross-border exchanges and pledged to jointly address shared issues including cybercrime, security, and regional infrastructure goals such as high-speed rail connectivity. Sophon stated that the meeting with President Thongloun extended beyond ceremonial courtesy, demonstrating tangible benefits for Thai-Lao relations in security, economics, and culture, with particular emphasis on strengthening legislative branch cooperation and demonstrating friendship during important occasions for both nations.

The Senate election fraud controversy has reached a critical political juncture that cannot be ignored. The Democrat Party has conducted four public evidence reviews, escalating from exposure of election-day misconduct and suspicious ballots to financial trails and political networks, preparing to introduce the case into a government no-confidence debate.

In mid-July, the initial phase accused organized systematic fraud—not mere vote-splitting—involving money and incentives to recruit candidates paying 2,500 baht each to mobilize targeted voters. The party demanded action from the Election Commission and DSI against masterminds, not just small-time candidates.

On July 25-26, evidence intensified with ten sets of ballot documents showing abnormal voting patterns, plus details of candidates gathering at hotels for vote-buying drills and coordination. Questions arose whether authorities were genuinely pursuing the case or allowing it to fade.

On August 4, the focus turned directly to the Election Commission under the question "How much can we trust the Election Commission?" Allegations included irregularities in regulations, candidate vetting, and case delays, with witness testimony reporting that fraud evidence had been submitted but dismissed with "everyone does it."

By August 9, the fourth phase shifted from behavior to money trails and networks—revealing over 860,000 baht in alleged payments connected to an Election Commission investigator, extending across six provinces: Lampang, Nong Bua Lamphu, Surat Thani, Nakhon Phanom, Amnat Charoen, and Songkhla. Patronage networks within the Senate structure in certain areas were also flagged.

All this remains subject to judicial review, not final verdict, yet politically the temperature approaches a breaking point. Opposition Leader Prissadang Vachrasindhu declared the fraud case one of the hot issues opposition will raise in the August 25 no-confidence debate against the Anuthon government.

The real question is not just where the case goes, but how severely this investigation will shake the government. Will evidence of money trails and political connections crack the blue wall? Because when Senate issues escalate to a parliamentary washing debate, the stakes become not just about election fraud but the political survival of the entire government.