Deputy Interior Minister leads special task force into Huai Khwang, inspecting hotels and businesses to crack down on nominees and illegal foreign workers — 3 hotels unable to produce licences, investigation into "bribe" payments ordered to proceed immediately.
On 9 August, Phonphir Suwannachawi, Deputy Minister of Interior and head of the Interior Ministry's Special Task Force for Social Order Management (Chor Kor Or), directed the Department of Provincial Administration to conduct an integrated operation together with the Immigration Bureau, the Department of Special Investigation, the Department of Business Development, and the Department of Employment, deploying to inspect hotels and business establishments in Huai Khwang district and surrounding areas of Bangkok. The operation targeted illegal business activities, the use of nominee arrangements, and the employment of illegal foreign workers.
For this operation, Naruecha Khosasivilai, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, assigned Ronnarong Thipsiri, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, along with Police Sub-Lieutenant Singkham Khamyot, Director of the Investigation and Legal Affairs Division, and Rueangrak Rueangyang-mi, Director of the Volunteer Defence Corps Operations Division, to lead the department's operational unit in a coordinated joint inspection of all targets together with relevant agencies.
Results of the operation: 3 hotels were inspected — none were able to produce a hotel business licence.
First location: Haiman Hotel, situated on Pracha Uthit 6 alley, Huai Khwang district, Bangkok. The hotel has 34 rooms with room rates of approximately 1,120–1,450 baht per night, and is operated by Haiman International Co., Ltd., whose shareholders comprise 51% Thai nationals and 49% Chinese nationals. Staff presenting themselves as employees and interpreters were found on the premises, while the actual hotel operator is a Chinese national residing in China.
Upon inspection, the operator was unable to present a hotel business licence to officials. Officials therefore collected documentary evidence for further prosecution. In addition, 5 foreign workers were found to have committed offences by working outside the scope of their permitted work, and by failing to notify the registrar of their employer and workplace within the legally prescribed timeframe. Officials from the Department of Employment proceeded to arrest and prosecute them in accordance with the law.
Second location: Zazz Urban Bangkok, located on Rama IX Road, Huai Khwang sub-district and district, Bangkok. The hotel has 48 rooms with rates of approximately 1,000–3,000 baht. It is operated by GNC Group Co., Ltd., whose company directors as listed in the certificate of incorporation are Ms Piyamas Udomprasetkun and Mr Lin Zichao Shawn. Inspection found the hotel's reception staff present, but the operator was unable to produce a hotel business licence. Officials collected documentary evidence and are preparing to pursue further prosecution in accordance with the law.
Third location: Aesthetic Hotel, located in the Atria–Wandee Village area, No. 169 Suthisarnwinitchai Road, Samsen Nai sub-district, Phaya Thai district, Bangkok. The hotel offers approximately 52 rooms across 7 floors on a daily-rate basis, and is operated by Zhenyi Group Co., Ltd., with Ms Aphiwan Maenketmai presenting herself as the company director. Inspection likewise found the hotel unable to produce a hotel business licence. Officials collected evidence for further prosecution.
In addition, a continued inspection of business establishments in the area found 16 foreign workers in violation of the law.
Officials also inspected entertainment venues, hotels, restaurants, and hair salons in Huai Khwang district, Bangkok. The inspection found 4 employers or business establishments and 16 foreign workers in violation of the Emergency Decree on Management of Foreign Workers' Employment 2017. Officials proceeded to exercise their authority under relevant laws.
Meanwhile, during the course of the inspection, allegations were made that payments had been made to certain agencies or government officials — commonly referred to as "suay" (bribes). On this matter, Deputy Minister of Interior Phonphir Suwannachawi has directed the Department of Provincial Administration to immediately investigate the facts and pursue the matter further.
The Department of Provincial Administration emphasises that it will investigate every case — if government officials are found involved in wrongdoing, prosecution will be pursued without exception.
The Department of Provincial Administration will investigate the facts surrounding all allegations of payments made to government officials or state agencies, covering every case and every target. Should any government official be found to have been involved in wrongdoing, the department will pursue the matter further and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, without exception.
This operation represents an integrated effort among government agencies to bring order and oversight to business establishments, ensuring they operate in full compliance with the law, creating fairness for operators conducting business honestly, and building safety and confidence for the public.
