Koh Samui/Surat Thani
Police arrested a 30‑year‑old Ukrainian man at Samui Airport on charges of using Thai nationals as nominees to illegally acquire land on Koh Phangan.
The suspect, identified only as Mr. Anatolii, was detained upon arrival at Samui Airport on June 8th after investigators learned he planned to re‑enter Thailand. Authorities executed an arrest warrant issued by the Koh Samui Provincial Court (dated May 21st, 2026), charging him with filing false documents with the land office to secure property ownership through a Thai nominee company.
Anatolii is listed as a shareholder of a company alleged to have been set up with Thai nominees to hold land on Koh Phangan. He fled Thailand shortly before the court approved the warrant but attempted to return quietly once the case appeared to have subsided.
Authorities have so far issued 45 warrants against foreign suspects linked to nominee schemes, with 26 arrests already made and 19 warrants still outstanding. The cases involve illegal business operations, unlicensed work, and activities that undermine local employment.
Police confirmed Anatolii will face prosecution for falsifying official documents and conspiring to acquire land illegally. His arrest shows Thailand’s intensified efforts to combat transnational crime and protect local interests in tourism‑driven provinces such as Surat Thani.
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