Thai authorities conducted raids in Pattaya to investigate nominee shareholder schemes
The case concerns enforcement of Thailand’s Foreign Business Act and could lead to action against Thai or foreign individuals found to have used nominee structures.
pühapäev, 23. august 2026 11:00
Officials from the Department of Special Investigation, the Interior Ministry and police raided three locations in Pattaya on Friday, seizing computers and documents in a probe into suspected nominee arrangements concealing foreign ownership of land and businesses.
The Bangkok Post reported, that officers were armed with warrants and conducted the searches to gather evidence concerning suspected violations of the Foreign Business Act 1999.
Deputy Interior Minister Worasit Liangprasit said the operation extended earlier investigations on Koh Phangan and Koh Samui in Surat Thani and in Phuket. Evidence from those probes indicated that Cosy Beach View Co Ltd in Chon Buri may have circumvented the law, leading investigators to seek warrants for three sites.
At KT International Law and Business in Pattaya, officers found evidence indicating Thai employees of the law firm may have been listed as shareholders in Cosy Beach View on behalf of foreign beneficial owners. Documents were seized there for further examination.
A second search at Shilat Avenue Pattaya Hotel found that the hotel had hired the law firm to handle its registration and had listed law firm employees among its founders. A person with a background in an aluminium sales business in Samut Sakhon was also listed as a shareholder.
The third search targeted the Cosy Beach View condominium in Bang Lamung district, where an Israeli national was a company director. Investigators said the company’s shareholding structure indicated Thai nationals had been used as nominees since 2010, and the seized computers, documents and other materials will undergo forensic examination. Justice Minister Rutthapon Naowarat said, “Thailand remained open to legitimate foreign investment but would take legal action against any Thai or foreign individuals found to have used nominee arrangements to circumvent the law.”
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