Russian tour agent in Phuket faces deportation

PHUKET: Phuket Immigration officers arrested a Russian tour saleswoman in Patong yesterday for working illegally and for illegally entering the country.

“We inspected the Kathu area for illegal foreign workers,” explained Phuket Immigration Investigator Chidchanok Sakornyen.

“As we reached the tour counter of the Leon Speedy Travel company on Thaweewong Road [map here], we found Oleg Tikhomirova, 34, discussing tour packages with foreign customers,” he said.

“To confirm that she was working there, our officer pretended to ask her about a tour package. When it was clear that she was a saleswoman, the officer told her who he was and asked to see her passport. She did not have it with her, and said that a friend had it. She also could not produce her work permit,” he added.

“She told us she has been selling tours for a year. We arrested her and handed her over to Kathu Police to prosecute,” he explained.

The penalty for working without a work permit is 2,000 to 100,000 baht, or up to five years in prison, or both.

The penalty for illegally entering the country is a fine of up to 20,000 baht and deportation, Officer Chidchanok said.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong