Nikolai Popovich, 26, was arrested around 10.45pm on Thrusday (Mar 28) while handing over a red Honda CBR 650 to a Thai client who turned out to be a police Staff Sergeant in disguise.
The officer contacted Mr Popovich via WhatsApp and agreed to rent the big bike for seven days at B3,000 per day. The official then negotiated the price from B21,000 down to B20,000. The parties agreed to meet in the Nai Yang Beach area, close to Phuket International Airport.
Mr Popovich was apprehended while handing over the big bike near The Title Residence Naiyang, a condominium popular with Russian nationals.
The report noted that the man was registered as residing in a different area. The suspect’s address was at Habitown Koh Kaew, an upscale housing community near the British International School Phuket and not far from the Russian Consulate General.
Mr Popovich was charged with illegal employment, facing a fine of B5,000-50,000 and subsequent deportation. The Sakhu Police Station report did not specify which visa the Russian man used to reside and work illegally in Phuket.
It also remains unclear if Mr. Popovich conducted his illegal rental business under a brand or in connection with a Thai-registered company. The name of Mr Popovich’s WhatsApp account was not disclosed either.
Last week, the Royal Thai Police initiated a campaign targeting car and motorbike rental businesses in Phuket operated by foreigners and suspected of using nominee shareholders.
Marking the campaign’s launch, Region 8 Police Commander Pol Lt Gen Surapong Thanomjit raided a car and motorbike business Srisoonthorn on Mar 19. More than 100 vehicles were seized in the raid, joined by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum, senior officers, and a Special Operations and Tactics Unit.
Lt Gen Surapong stated that five such car and motorbike rental businesses were under investigation, involving over 1,000 vehicles. These businesses were suspected of using nominee shareholders to circumvent the law regarding foreign ownership. The nationalities of the involved parties were not disclosed.
Foreign offenders entered Phuket as tourists then set up companies with legal assistance, transferring shares to gain majority ownership improperly, the report stated. Speaking at a pre-raid meeting, Lt Gen Surapong assured that police were actively combating illegal activities by foreigners in Phuket.
Prime Minister Settha Thavisin expressed concern over the tourism sector in Phuket, particularly the criminal behavior among tourists. This concern was relayed by Pol Lt Gen Achayon Kraithong, spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, who visited the island on Mar 19.
“It was found that a large number of foreigners were committing crimes, including entering business ventures with Thai nominees,” said Lt Gen Achayon.
“We must mobilise to clean this up, and to receive complaints about such activities. We must suppress those involved in illegal acts,” he added.
“However, legal action and law enforcement will be taken against offenders. It will make Phuket a safe tourist city, so those who travel to Phuket are confident and choose to travel back again next time. This affects the tourism industry of Phuket Province to become stable,” Lt Gen Achayon concluded.
Royal Thai Police have dramatically increased efforts to combat illegal foreign businesses in Phuket, resulting in the arrest and subsequent deportation of 50 foreign nationals for illegal employment on the island from October 1, 2023, through March 19, 2024.
With 50 arrests in just five and a half months, Phuket Police have notably surpassed the previous fiscal year’s results, during which only 11 foreign nationals were arrested for illegal work over 12 months from November 1, 2022, through October 31, 2023.
The 50 most recent arrests were disclosed at the aforementioned March 19 press conference by Gen Maj Sinlert Sukhum. The 11 previous arrests were unveiled at a similar press conference in October last year by then Phuket Immigration Chief Col Thanet Sukchai.