Five arrests in Octopus restaurant ’nominee’ raid
POLICE HAVE RAIDED THE RUSSIANowned Octopus restaurant in Cherng Talay and arrested five suspects, including three Russian nationals, for illegally operating a business through a nominee shareholder.
Region 8 Police Deputy Commander Pol Maj Gen Saranyu Chamnanrat and Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Pol Col Akanit Danpitaksat led a raid at the popular venue, on the Baan Don - Cherng Talay Rd, on Apr 4.
In total, five locations were raided, including private residences. The raids were conducted by officers from six government and law-enforcement agencies.
The raids, performed under search warrants, followed a tip-off that foreigners regularly gathered at the Octopus restaurant in order to operate a business that was formed illegally through the use of a nominee, Region 8 Police Commander Pol Lt Gen Suraphong Thanomchit explained at a press conference on Apr 4.
The Octopus restaurant was owned and operated by the company VVG Alliance Co Ltd, which had an operating capital of B80 million, he said.
The company directors were Thai national Punyanuch Thongkob and Russian national Vladislav Zinakov.
The company shareholders were: Ms Punyanuch Thongkob, 20,400 shares (51%); Mr Vladislav Zinakov, 9,800 shares (24.5%); and 3 Mr Valerii Volkodev, 9,800 shares (24.5%).
Mr Pavel Shapovalov was found to perform administrative duties and take care of finances and had a power of attorney to make decisions on behalf of Zinakov, Pol Lt Gen Suraphong explained.
All five were arrested for breaches of the Foreign Business Act and the Alien Work Act, he confirmed.
The inspection also found that foreigners were involved in buying, selling and exchanging various digital currencies in breach of the Digital Asset Business Operations Act 2018, he added.
Zinakov was found to be the real owner of the business, Pol Lt Gen Suraphong said.
Punyanuch,although an authorised company director and majority shareholder, was a nominee of the foreign capital group and did not have any authority in the company at all, he said.
Financial evidence showed that funds from the Octopus tour and travel operations were transferred to Zinakov’s account, he noted.
Documents were seized as evidence in making the arrests, Pol Lt Gen Suraphong confirmed.
“These must be reviewed in order to expand the investigation as it is believed that the case is connected to a number of other people,” he said.
Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub