Patong – Officials conducted an investigation after a video clip of a male foreigner appearing to perform a massage job in Patong went viral on social media on Thursday, February 6th.
Phuket Immigration officials informed the Phuket Express about the video clip, which appears to show a male foreigner washing a male customer’s foot. In Thailand, working in a massage shop is a protected only Thai occupation and even work permits are not available.
On Friday, February 7th, officials inspected a massage shop on Phra Baramee Road. They found Ms. Supawadee, 54, the owner of the shop. She explained to the police that the man in the video is her Dutch husband, Mr. Robert, 63, who is not an employee of the shop and was not actually working, according to her. The incident in the video occurred on Tuesday, February 4th.
Officials verified that Mr. Robert holds a legal retirement visa and has sufficient funds to support himself without working. However, they cautioned him and his wife to ensure that there is no misunderstanding, as it might appear that a foreigner is performing a prohibited job as a masseur.
