An investigation reveals that R&D Samui, specialising in holiday home rentals on Koh Samui island, was founded by two Israeli entrepreneurs before being transferred to associates of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his ex-wife, who took control through their family holding company.
The company อาร์แอนด์ดี สมุย จำกัด (R&D Samui Co., Ltd.) offered tourist accommodation services on the tourist island of Koh Samui, in Surat Thani province. Registered in February 2004 with a capital of 2 million baht, it was initially owned and managed by two Israeli citizens: Dean Eliyahu Gilboa and Ran Vardi.
The registered addresses corresponded to the IT Complex Samui, in the Maret sub-district (Lamai). Over the years, the company underwent multiple changes of address and directors. In November 2012, two new directors joined the share capital: American Stephen (Christopher) Leveque and Thai national Nissana Anantachai, the latter already present in several companies in the Charnvirakul network.
On 1 November 2016, Sasithorn Charnvirakul, then wife of Anutin Charnvirakul (leader of the Bhumjaithai party at the time), joined the board of directors alongside Nissana Anantachai. Sasithorn Charnvirakul is also a director or shareholder of numerous companies in the family group, including CT Venture, Anutin Charnvirakul’s investment holding company.
R&D Samui was therefore part of the assets linked to the Charnvirakul network before gradually ceasing its activities. These successive transfers raise questions in the context of asset declarations by Thai political figures.
Several official documents from the Department of Business Development published by a Thai investigative website confirm these changes in management and shareholding over a period of more than ten years.