Nine Myanmar workers have been arrested for illegally contracting to build houses for an Israeli businessman on Koh Phangan.
According to local tourist police, three of the Myanmar people were contracted to build seven houses costing 7 million baht each. Six others were hired to install electrical wiring in the houses, in Ban Nai Wok.
They were taken into custody on Saturday in response to complaints by Thai contractors on the southern tourist island of illegal competition from foreigners. Construction contracting is one of the occupations reserved for Thais.
Police said they were registered as employees of a Thai construction firm, but the management of the firm said it did not have a contract to build the seven houses.
Earlier, Koh Phangan district chief Suriya Boonphan said 2,627 Israelis were permitted to stay on both short and long term visas on Koh Phangan. He said 181 of them were granted long stays to run businesses.
Meanwhile, police are stepping up their investigation into illegal nominee business holdings on Koh Phangan and Koh Samui.