Pol Lt Col Khetrat Chansin, Director of the Volunteer Defense Corps (OrSor), made the announcement at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Sattha Tongkham.
Pol Lt Col Khetrat explained that the Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) had assigned a team from the OrSor to come to Phuket to follow up on the case of crackdown on influential people in Phuket
The crackdown is to “emphasise the suppression of foreign mafia, to prevent Thailand from becoming a source of money laundering”, he said.
“In accordance with orders from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior, we are ready to follow the progress of the investigation of the Swiss citizen who caused bodily harm to a Thai female doctor [Urs Fehr],” Pol Lt Col Khetrat said.
The objective of the campaign was “helping and curing the suffering, and maintaining happiness, for the people”, he added.
“A ‘field visit’ found a problem that the people wanted to expedite investigation [into] and resolution [of], namely encroachment on public areas, both beach areas and all areas,” he continued.
The aim of this part of the OrSor’s involvement was “to truly return the area for people to use together”, Pol Lt Col Khetrat said.
Regarding the “emphasis on cracking down on influential people”, the crackdown was to specifically target “especially foreigners who come to travel and do business”.
“That [the crackdown] must be carried out correctly according to all aspects of the law, to prevent Phuket and all areas of Thailand from becoming a source of money laundering. of foreigners who commit illegal acts,” Pol Lt Col Khetrat said.
“People should be confident that the Department of Provincial Administration and the Ministry of Interior are definitely not abandoning the people. We are asking the public to help monitor and report clues, Currently, it is an era of online communication that can be accessed quickly, and we will be able to provide timely care and assistance to the people,” he said.
OrSor personnel will also be assisting with checks on Bangla Rd in Patong, Pol Lt Col Khetrat noted, as part of the policy “to suppress drugs. human trafficking and accelerating social order”.
“We are ready to support and help because Bangla and the Patong areas are considered the heart of the country and are a source of income from tourism in Thailand,” he said.
BROADSIDE
At the meeting at Provincial Hall yesterday, Phuket Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum explained that police expect to file formal charges against Swiss expat Urs Fehr by the end of this week.
Fehr is facing a charge of physical assault for kicking Thandao Chandan, a doctor at Dibuk Hospital, in front of his rented luxury villa at Yamu Beach on Feb 24.
Phuket Immigration Chief Pol Col Kriangkrai Ariyaying said his office was reviewing the formal request by Phuket officials to revoke Fehr’s permit to stay, after the legal process has concluded. “It will be carried out carefully and based on the law,” he said.
Phuket Land Office Chief Atichat Phichiansophon explained that his office was investigating any encroachment onto public land by the developer of the luxury villa estate where the Fehr incident occurred.
“Officials have already inspected the area and have informed the local government organisation to take relevant action,” he said.
Officials were also investigating a public path that villagers in the past were allowed to use to access Yamu Beach. That access was no longer available, the pair explained.
In addition to the ongoing investigation into Fehr’s financial sources of income, officials will continue to target businesses operated by foreigners to ensure no illegalities, including the use of nominee shareholders, Vice Governor Sattha explained.
“The central government will work with the local government to further investigate the matter… including the issue of foreign business operations. It must be verified that the shares are actually held by foreigners and Thai people In the correct proportion, and that there are no Thai nominees.
“This is an important issue because the government does not want foreigners using Thailand as a money laundering area, and Thailand must not have foreign mafia who come to use Thailand as a source of livelihood. It must be monitored,” he said.