Russian Couple Arrested For Running Illegal Bungalows On Koh Phangan

KOH PHANGAN — Police on Koh Phangan, Surat Thani province arrested a Russian couple and a Myanmar woman after authorities found they were running an unlicensed bungalow operation and possibly using a nominee structure to conceal foreign business activities, officials said Tuesday.

Police acted after local residents complained that foreigners were allegedly operating a rental vehicle business without permits. Officers visited a house in Sri Thanu village on December 1 and found Oleg, a 51-year-old Russian national, sitting beneath the home while his wife, Ekaterina, 38, was using a laptop showing a booking calendar for guest reservations, according to Koh Phangan police.

Oleg told officers the couple did not run a rental vehicle business but operated Moon Way Bungalow, handling bookings and responding to guests via WhatsApp from their residence.

Authorities took them to the property, where officers said they found no hotel or accommodation license posted at the reception area. The couple admitted they were renting out seven rooms for 500 baht (about $15) per night and believed a company registration certificate was sufficient to operate.

Police also found a 21-year-old Myanmar woman, identified as La, working as a receptionist and housekeeper. She told officers she was hired by the couple and paid 15,000 baht ($460) a month.

Oleg was charged with operating a bungalow business without a license, working in Thailand without permission as a manager, and illegally employing a foreign worker. Ekaterina faces similar charges, while La was charged with working without authorization.

Pol. Col. Apichat Chansamret, chief of Koh Phangan police, said investigators are examining whether the company behind the business was set up as a nominee structure, noting several million baht in transactions over the past year and recent transfers believed to obscure money flows.

All three suspects were handed over to Koh Phangan police investigators for further legal action.

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