Israeli Arrested in Thailand on Suspicion of Using Front Men to Buy Land in Koh Phangan

An Israeli man in his 30s was arrested yesterday, Tuesday, at the airport on the Thai island of Koh Samui, on suspicion of involvement in a "front men" scheme that, according to authorities, was intended to circumvent local law restricting foreign ownership of land in the country. He is suspected of using Thai citizens as nominal shareholders in a business operation on the island of Koh Phangan.

According to local police, the suspect was a shareholder in a company established through an accounting firm that allegedly supplied Thai citizens who served as fictitious shareholders. Through that company, land was registered on Koh Phangan, where he allegedly planned to build a private vacation home.

The arrest took place shortly after the suspect landed back in Thailand. As early as May 21, a warrant had been issued against him by the Koh Samui Provincial Court. During the initial investigation, the suspect confirmed that he was the person named in the arrest warrant. He then reportedly left Thailand before a search could be carried out as part of the investigation.

The arrest is part of a large-scale operation being conducted by Thai authorities against similar networks operating in the Koh Phangan area. As part of the operation, 45 arrest warrants were issued in mid-May, and 27 suspects have been arrested so far.

Police said the investigation is ongoing, and it is also examining the involvement of the accounting firm and Thai citizens who are suspected of serving as fictitious shareholders.