Thai authorities have dismantled an illegal childcare centre on Koh Phangan island, run by an Israeli national without the necessary authorisation.
On 4 July, a follow-up meeting was held at the provincial police command in Surat Thani, chaired by Pol. Lt. Gen. Samran Nualma, deputy commander of the Royal Thai Police. Several senior officials attended, including Pol. Lt. Gen. Suraphong Thanomchit and Pol. Lt. Gen. Nopphasin Phoolsawat.
Alerted by local residents, the authorities raided the centre « Little Panda », located in the district of Koh Phangan. Investigators found 42 foreign children being cared for by Thai and foreign staff, including ten Burmese nationals employed without authorisation.
The owner, Mr. Ziv Radomsky, 55, an Israeli national, appeared on site. He was unable to produce either a work permit or authorisation to operate a childcare facility. Having arrived in Thailand on 7 June with a NON-O visa, he runs the establishment through the company Sunshine Shop Co., Ltd.
A Romanian employee, Ms. Meda Andreea Capilna, 25, was also detained. Although holding a work permit as marketing manager, she was in fact working as a teacher and educational coordinator without declaring the change of employer.
The centre has been operating since 2024 without any official authorisation.
The two suspects were charged with illegal operation of a childcare facility, working without a permit, and failure to declare the employment of foreign workers. They were handed over to investigators at the Koh Phangan police station.
The meeting also addressed the issue of “nominee” structures (front companies) used by foreigners to circumvent investment legislation. Pol. Lt. Gen. Samran Nualma ordered in-depth investigations into these practices.