Koh samui: Authorities are urgently searching for Kevin, a French national, who has evaded a deportation order issued by Thailand. Kevin, the owner of a zoo on Koh Samui, is currently hiding to avoid deportation. The zoo remains eerily quiet with no tourists, no staff activity, and no sign of his Thai wife.
According to Thai News Agency, the deportation order was signed by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul due to Kevin DiMino's alleged behavior, which includes threatening, harassing, and physically assaulting others, causing nuisance, creating racial and religious divisions, and engaging in reckless conduct. These actions reportedly endangered individuals or property, violating Thai law. Immigration officers in Surat Thani province are actively tracking him to serve the deportation notice, with indications that Kevin is aware of the order and is in hiding.
The legal process allows both parties to appeal the deportation order to the Prime Minister within seven days of notification. This situation has led to a transnational conflict on Koh Samui, resulting in both parties being ordered deported from Thailand.
Yakov Ohayon, an Israeli national previously deported and currently held at Koh Samui Police Station awaiting deportation, expressed his stance through a close associate. He denied any intent to threaten anyone, stating, "I respect Thailand and its local legal system, and all tourists should respect that as well. I never thought I would be deported for expressing disapproval of the Palestinian flag on Koh Samui. I simply expressed my opinion about displaying the flag on the island to Kevin."
An immigration check revealed Yakov Ohayon has been operating a restaurant on Koh Samui with a business visa for 5 years. Meanwhile, Kevin DiMino, married to a Thai woman, has been running a pet cafe on the island for approximately 9 years.
Local resident Sant Thongsuk, who has been following the events closely, considers the incident more of a personal matter than an ethnic issue. Koh Samui is a diverse tourist destination, attracting people from various countries, making occasional disputes inevitable. He emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between facts and misinformation when consuming news.