Immigration officers at the airport reported that British national Alexander Laurence Church, 37, was arrested at the international arrivals hall at 1:10pm on Monday (July 1).
Church was attempting to enter the country on a new passport, as the arrest warrant, issued by Phuket Provincial Court, had identified him using his previous passport. The arrest warrant identified the passport number of Church’s previous passport, the officers reported.
Church was taken into custody by officers from the Patong Police, and he was taken to Patong Police Station for “further legal action”.
Phuket Immigration officers have also reported the arrest of four foreigners for staying in the country illegally, after their permit to stay had expired (commonly called ‘overstay’).
Immigration reported the arrests yesterday (July 2), naming the suspects as:
- ‘Mr Mohamed’, Egyptian national, overstay of 1,898 days;
- ‘Mr Zubair’, Pakistan national, overstay of 1,734 days;
- ‘Mr Haitham’, Egyptian national, overstay of 234 days;
- ‘Mr Dmitrii’ Russian national, overstay of 413 days.
All four were charged with illegally staying in the country, Phuket Immigration confirmed.
The “owner” (usually meaning “operator”) of one guest accommodation venue was charged with failing to inform Immigration of foreigners staying at the location as required by Section 38 of the Immigration Act, Phuket Immigration also confirmed.
The name of the accommodation venue was not reported.
No further details of the arrests were provided.