Thai Authorities Raid Israeli Community Institutions in Bangkok

Thai authorities raided three buildings in Bangkok associated with the Israeli community on Thursday, in a large-scale operation involving six government agencies, including the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) and the Tax Authority. Searches were conducted at the Chabad Lubavitch Foundation, the Association of Thai Jews, and the company "Gan Chabad Co."

During the raids, irregularities were discovered concerning employee hiring and company registration. At the offices of the Chabad Foundation and the Association of Thai Jews, five workers from Myanmar and Laos were found without proper documentation. Additionally, at the offices of "Gan Chabad Co.," which operates restaurants and hotels, documents indicated that no fewer than 61 companies were registered at the same address. Further documents suggested that foreign nationals with Thai citizenship hold shares in numerous companies.

Deputy Minister of Interior Polaphi Swenchwi noted that a small room, measuring 2.5 by 3 meters, was registered as the official office for the Chabad Foundation and simultaneously served as the address for five other companies. "There are many questions regarding the reason they were registered there," Swenchwi stated, adding that no documents indicating the foundation's activities, work processes, or financial reports were found at the location.

This raid is a direct continuation of an investigation that began in recent months in Phuket and Chachoengsao provinces. In July and September, the activities of the Chabad House in Patong and the Jewish cemetery were examined, partly on suspicion of using shell companies for foreign ownership of assets and unlicensed operations.

Authorities clarified that the seized documents will be examined to determine if offenses related to land acquisition and financial transactions were committed, but emphasized that at this stage of the investigation, it has not yet been determined that the organizations violated the law.