Phuket authorities launch investigation into Chabad Patong

Authorities in Phuket have launched a deep investigation into Chabad Patong, with a goal to produce results within seven days. The probe, ordered by the Ministry of Interior, will examine land acquisition, building permits, commercial licenses, and shareholder backgrounds. Officials are specifically looking into whether shareholders of a local Jewish cemetery—three Thai nationals of Israeli descent—have overlapping connections with Chabad Patong.

This crackdown is part of a broader effort to combat illegal nominee companies. In Phuket, where over 11,000 legal entities have foreign shareholders, officials have identified 6,682 high-risk cases. To date, 196 individuals have been sent for prosecution, with nine cases already reaching court judgments. The intensified scrutiny has led to a 60% decrease in new foreign-owned company registrations and a 30% increase in company cancellations.