Russian roulette: Cops put brakes on illegal workers at Phuket car shop

In a recent development in Phuket, Thailand, officers from the Provincial Police Region 8 have intensified their crackdown on illegal foreign workers. Two Russian men were charged for working at a car rental shop in the Cherng Talay sub-district of the Talang district in Phuket province. Additionally, the Russian business owner also faced charges for hiring foreigners without work permits.

Locals in Phuket had raised concerns about the activities of a Swiss man, Urs Fehr, who allegedly physically assaulted a Thai doctor near the Yamu Cape. This incident prompted calls for authorities to investigate not only Fehr’s elephant sanctuary but also all foreigners in the province and their businesses.

Provincial Police Region 8 launched an investigation and discovered a suspicious car rental business named Boomerang Car & Bike Rental, owned by 28-year-old Russian man Stepan Yanubenko. The investigation revealed that the shop employed two Russian workers, 34-year-old Dmitrii Shadrin and 43-year-old Roman Aleksandrovich, without work permits.

Police Action

Police conducted a covert operation to monitor the shop and observed the two Russian men working at the counter, providing rental services to mostly foreign customers. Subsequently, officers approached the men and requested to see their work permits and passports. However, the men failed to provide the required documents, leading to their detention.

Legal Proceedings

Shadrin and Aleksandrovich, along with their employer Yanubenko, were taken to the Cherng Talay Police Station for legal proceedings. They were charged under Section 51 of the Alien Working Act for working without permission. The penalties for this offense may include imprisonment for up to five years, a fine ranging from 2,000 to 100,000 baht, or both.

Yanubenko, as the employer, faced a fine of 5,000 to 50,000 baht for hiring foreigners without work permits according to Section 4 of the Emergency Decree on Foreigners’ Working Management.

Related Incidents

In a separate incident, Patong Police Station officers investigated illegal sex services provided by foreign women and arrested two Russian women at a hotel in the Katu district of Phuket on March 4. Each woman faced imprisonment of up to one month, a fine of up to 1,000 baht, or both for seeking benefits from prostitution.

The crackdown on illegal foreign workers in Phuket demonstrates the Thai authorities’ commitment to enforcing immigration laws and protecting local job opportunities. These recent actions serve as a reminder to foreigners in Thailand to ensure they have the necessary permits and comply with local regulations to avoid legal consequences.