Phuket Wake Park latest victim of illegal Russian raids

PHUKET: Following the arrest of 35 Russians found allegedly working illegally in Patong nightclubs last week (story here), three more Russians have been arrested at the tourist-popular Phuket Wake Park in Kathu.

Cherdsak Wisutthikul, from the Department of Employment in Bangkok, led a team of 20 officers to raid the wakeboard park at about 5:30pm on Thursday.

Following a chaotic scene, allegedly including foreigners leaving the premiss in a rush, the officers arrested and charged Russian national Oleg Lysinov, 47, with illegally hiring foreign workers.

Section 54 of the Alien Workers Act stipulates that any person found illegally hiring foreign workers is liable to a fine of not more than 10,000 baht, and liable to a fine between 10,000 baht and 100,000 baht per illegal worker.

During the raids two Russian nationals, 27-year-old receptionist Julie Solovyeva and 29-year-old cashier Elena Bonkarenko, were arrested alongside marketing officer Dmitry Lee, who is originally from Kurdistan.

All three confessed to working without work permits. They each face a fine of between 2,000 baht and 100,000 baht, up to five years in prison, or both.

All four suspects were taken to Thung Thong Police Station for further investigation.

Mr Cherdsak, who is the director of the “Inspection and Job Seekers Protection Division”, returned to Bangkok after the raid had concluded.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong