Israel’s Thailand Problems Just Got Worse - And The Net Is Widening

Right, so when I last covered Israel’s growing problem in Thailand, officials were investigating Chabad House in Patong, a Jewish religious and community centre in Phuket. There were questions about the building, how parts of it were being used and the business arrangements associated with it. Since then, the scrutiny has reached Bangkok. On 8 October, investigators searched three locations and found records concerning more than 61 companies registered at one address. Now, why should that matter? Because Thailand restricts foreign participation in certain businesses. Some activities are barred to foreigners; others require permission. So establishing who owns and runs a business can determine whether it’s allowed to operate in the first place. Now, having a bunch of companies shacked up at the same address isn't a crime-maybe they really love their accountant. But when the same faces keep popping up as directors or shareholders across the board, investigators start to wonder if these 'owners' are actual investors or just names plucked from the Bangkok phone book. Cue the hunt for who's really pulling the strings and where the money trail leads.