Police search 17 Russian nominee companies Accepting false documents General April 4, 20240 Phuket, Central Investigation Police searched 17 Russian nominee companies. Accepting false documents Expected involvement in money laundering process Meanwhile, Phuket police arrested a Russian who ran a car rental company and restaurant. Using Thai people as nominees Damage nearly 80 million baht Central Investigation Police raided 8 companies suspected of being involved in foreign crimes in Phuket Province after a criminal impersonated a Provincial Electricity Authority official. Tricking victims into installing an application to control their phone. Then suck the money from the victim's account. More than 500,000 baht was transferred to the criminal's account. Investigation revealed that the money was transferred to the account of a Russian man. which withdraws cash from the account through banks in Phuket province at consecutive times When examining the financial path of a Russian man There is a circumstance of receiving and transferring cryptocurrency coins from digital wallets without verification of identity. (non-custodial wallet) Then a large number of coins will be sold. By transferring money to your bank account in Thailand. and immediately withdraw the money received into cash During the period 7 July - 19 November 2023, there were abnormal withdrawals of cash through bank counters and 3 ATMs totaling approximately 186 million baht. It is believed to be a form of money laundering. The evidence the Russian man used to open the account was a work permit. Confirmed that he is an employee of a company in Phuket. But when I checked the company, it didn't exist. Therefore, it is believed that it was registered specifically to create false documents for foreigners. The said company has two Thai women and one Russian woman as directors and shareholders. The said group of people are also listed as shareholders and directors of 38 other companies believed to be involved in committing crimes related to Report false documents to the authorities and being a nominee for foreigners As for the results of the sear ch of the 17 companies, two Thai women were found who admitted to having set up a company for hire to register companies, to process work permit applications, and to request visas for foreigners. and apply for various licenses to foreigners By setting up a company that is not in operation to create false documents. to apply for various permissions For foreigners, on the 2nd floor of the building, there is office-like equipment for setting up work photography scenes. for use in applying for various licenses The officials then sent the accused along with seized items such as computers used for creating false documents and storing information on foreign customers. Stamps of more than 50 companies and various documents submitted for legal action. Russian arrested for using Thai people as nominees to open a company Meanwhile, Phuket police were still able to arrest 4 suspects according to arrest warrants, 1 Thai person and 3 Russians, after having information about foreigners who came to stay in Thailand illegal ly to engage in occupations or businesses in violation of the law. From the investigation, it was found that the OCTOPUS restaurant, Ban Don-Choeng Thale Road, Choeng Thale Subdistrict, Thalang District, acted in violation of the law. by a group of foreign persons conducting business in Thailand Using Thai people as nominees Help register to set up a company Beneficial to foreign capital groups By opening both a car rental company and a restaurant, there is a turnover of more than 80 million baht in the account. From the deployment of forces to search 5 target areas today, both in Mueang District and Thalang District, many documents regarding the company's activities were found. The company seal has similar business characteristics, including computers and 12 motorcycles, which officials are in the process of expanding their investigation. Source: Thai News Agency