American man arrested in Phuket for violating foreign business act
Police arrested an American man wanted on multiple warrants at a restaurant in Phuket Old Town on Valentine’s Day, February 14.
Officers from the Phuket Immigration Bureau and Mueang Phuket Police Station sought a court-issued arrest warrant for the 67 year old American man, Ronald Ray, mainly for violating Section 8 of the Foreign Business Act: operating a business in which Thai citizens are unable to compete without a permit.
Under the act, the specified businesses include, for example, rice milling, aquaculture, account management services, architecture, and construction. Each business listed is subject to its conditions and exceptions. Foreigners may operate these businesses only after obtaining the necessary permits from the relevant authorities.
Following the issuance of the arrest warrant, officers from Mueang Phuket Police Station received a tip-off on Friday that Ray was present at Michelangelo’s Bar & Lounge Live Concert Music in Phuket Old Town.
Acting on the information, officers arrested the American man at the restaurant. He admitted to being the man named in the arrest warrant but further details of his questioning were not disclosed in the report. Information regarding his businesses was also withheld.
If found guilty, Ray could face imprisonment of up to three years, a fine ranging from 100,000 to 1 million baht, or both.
His business would also be forced to close. Failure to comply with a closure order could result in an additional fine of 10,000 baht per day.
Officers stated that Ray was also wanted for many other warrants but the details of them were not included in the report.
This arrest follows a string of recent cases involving American nationals in Thailand. Three days ago, a Lao-American man was apprehended at Suvarnabhumi International Airport for stealing an iPhone 16 from a Japanese tourist who left it charging at the airport.
Two weeks ago, another American man was arrested in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima for overstaying his visa in Thailand and illegally distributing child pornography in Georgia.
Around the same time, a Chinese-American man was arrested in Chon Buri for causing a public disturbance. Locals reported to the police that the man set off multiple fireworks to celebrate Chinese New Year, despite receiving warnings from neighbours.
Latest Thailand News
