Thai woman and 2 Chinese men arrested over nominee hotel in Chiang Mai
A Chinese woman fled arrest while two Chinese partners and a Thai nominee were taken into custody during a raid on an illegally operated hotel in Chiang Mai province on Thursday, January 15.
Officers from the Chiang Mai Provincial Immigration Office raided a hotel on Chang Klan Road in the city centre following an investigation into suspected nominee business practices. Three suspects were arrested at the scene: two Chinese men, identified only as Ma and Mi, and a Thai woman named Jin.
Police said the arrests were made after investigators found that Jin was acting as a nominee rather than a genuine business partner.
Although she was listed as a shareholder in the hotel, authorities discovered that all financial transactions and management decisions were carried out through bank accounts belonging to the Chinese nationals.
Investigators further revealed that the hotel’s investment capital of around 3 million baht originated entirely from the Chinese partners. Profits generated by the business were also transferred directly to their accounts, reinforcing suspicions that the Thai woman was used to bypass restrictions on foreign ownership.
The Commander of Immigration Division 5, Sarawut Khonyai, stressed that foreign investors are welcome to do business in Thailand, provided they strictly comply with Thai laws and regulations. He also warned Thai nationals against acting as nominees for foreign-owned businesses, saying such actions carry serious legal consequences.
Petch Petpailin