The suspect, identified only as ‘Mr Ajeed’, was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan at about 12:30pm yesterday (July 8) by officers from the DSI Surveillance and Intelligence Centre working with Immigration Bureau officers.
He was wanted under an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court on Apr 21.
The report by the DSI did not clarify which country ‘Mr Ajeed’ was from.
The DSI also did not identify which luxury pool villa project was implicated in the arrest.
According to the DSI, Ajeed faces charges under the Foreign Business Act for allegedly operating a restricted business without permission, using Thai nationals as nominees to evade the law, and knowingly allowing a company to engage in illegal activities in his capacity as a director, partner or authorised representative, the DSI said.
After being informed of the charges and his legal rights, the suspect was transferred to DSI investigators for further legal action, the DSI added.
The case is being investigated as Special Case No. 7/2567 by the DSI’s National Security Division.
Investigators allege that the suspect used Thai nominees to conceal foreign ownership of a business operating luxury pool villas for rent in Phuket. Authorities claim the arrangement was designed to circumvent restrictions under the Foreign Business Act, which limits foreign participation in certain business activities.
The DSI said the alleged scheme affected both national security and the economy.
However, the DSI made no mention of any Thai nationals who assisted and facilitated the formation of the nominee company.
Ajeed is scheduled to be taken to public prosecutors today (July 9) for further legal proceedings, the DSI noted.
The arrest forms part of the DSI’s ongoing crackdown on nominee business structures used by foreigners to illegally control businesses reserved for Thai nationals, the DSI said.
The agency said the operation was carried out under orders from DSI Director-General Pol Lt Col Yutthana Praedam and Deputy Director-General Pol. Lt. Col. Chatupol Bongkochmas, who instructed investigators to locate and arrest suspects wanted under outstanding warrants in special cases.