Justice Ministry Raids Pattaya Fake Nominee Network
Thai authorities raided a Pattaya-based network accused of using Thai nominees to illegally hold land and operate businesses on behalf of foreigners in violation of the Foreign Business Act. The Justice Ministry investigation targeted a law
On August 21, Deputy Interior Minister Worasit Liang-Prasitthi and Justice Minister General Rutthapol Naowarat led a coordinated operation involving the Department of Provincial Administration, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and the Royal Thai Police. The team executed court-ordered warrants to investigate a suspected network using Thai nominees to hold land and conduct business on behalf of foreigners in Pattaya and Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri Province, under the Foreign Business Act of 1999.
The operation follows government policy to crack down on illegal business activities. Worasit stated that preliminary evidence showed the company Cozy Beach View Limited engaged in activities violating the Foreign Business Act. Investigators obtained warrants to search three key locations. The first was an international law office, KT International Law and Business, suspected of registering the company using Thai employees as nominee shareholders for foreign owners. The second was Shilat Avenue Pattaya hotel, where similar nominee arrangements were discovered, with shareholding changes linked to Lotus Paradise Development Limited and individuals with backgrounds in aluminum sales in Samut Sakhon Province. The third location was Cozy Beach View Limited's office in Nong Pruea, Bang Lamung District. These findings reveal a complex nominee network connected to multiple legal entities. The raids follow earlier operations in Koh Phangan, Koh Samui in Surat Thani Province, and Phuket.
