Chiang Mai –
Two overstaying South Korean illegal tour guides were arrested in Chiang Mai.
The Royal Thai Immigration Bureau told TPN media on Thursday (June 27th) that they arrested suspects identified only as MR. HAN, 50, and MR. KIM, 41, both are South Korean nationals. They were arrested on a local road in Chiang Mai City.
They were taken to the Chang Pueak Police Station to face charges of overstays.
The arrest followed after immigration officers were notified by concerned citizens that South Korean men were working as illegal tour guides in Chiang Mai City. T
The two suspects admitted to police that their personal tour guide services charged 10,000 Baht to 15,000 Baht depending on the number of days and number of tourists. They advertised via social media and had operated the tour guide service for two months.
They both also face additional charges of working without legal permission. TPN media notes that tour guides are a protected occupation in Thailand and that work permits and visas are unavailable to foreigners for this job.
The Thai Immigration Officers also reported the case to South Korean Immigration officers who checked the two suspects history in their own system.
South Korean Immigration found that the two men are allegedly involved in a luxury car Ponzi scam with more than 60 victims and damage costs at more than 109 million Baht in South Korea. The men will be deported following legal charges and sentences being served in Thailand to face the charges in their home country.
The number of days the two men had overstayed in Thailand wasn’t announced to the Thai media.
