House Committee to Summon Officials Over Data Leaks and 4,000 Suspected Nominee Firms in Thailand
The House Committee on Anti-Corruption is set to investigate data leaks and nationwide nominee business structures, highlighting thousands of high-risk entities.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The House Committee will summon the Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration and Department of Land Transport on Aug 13.
- The Department of Land Department identified 4,041 high-risk nominee entities nationwide out of 203,000 checked.
- The AMLO reported over 10 billion baht in seized assets linked to nominee cases and pushes for legal amendments.
Mr. Asapol revealed the outcomes of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption meeting, which involved officials from the Department of Business Development, Department of Lands, AMLO, Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECSD), and Phuket Provincial Commerce Office to systematically address nominee business operations and land ownership issues in Thailand.
The Department of Business Development has issued four orders and two announcements to filter corporate registrations potentially involving Thai proxies for foreign nationals, alongside reviewing the Foreign Business Act. In Phuket, 1,752 foreign-shareheld companies were identified and reported to the provincial governor, resulting in a 50% drop in illegal foreign business operations and a 20% business closure rate.
For nationwide screening, the Department of Lands cross-examined 203,000 entities from the Department of Business Development, flagging 4,041 high-risk groups across all 77 provinces. Provincial committees have been established nationwide. Unpromoted foreign entities found holding land can be ordered to dispose of it under Section 94 of the Land Code. In Phuket specifically, out of 6,621 entities, 361 were flagged, leading to 109 legal complaints, 34 prosecuted cases, and 2 court filings.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) stated that over 10 billion baht in assets related to nominee offences have been seized. However, since nominee violations are not yet designated as predicate offences under the 1999 Anti-Money Laundering Act, AMLO is pursuing legal amendments while requiring accountants and legal professionals to report transactions. Meanwhile, the ECSD has handled 68 cases primarily under the Foreign Business Act.
"The committee considers nominee exploitation a critical issue requiring inter-agency coordination and data integration, alongside legislative improvements to close enforcement gaps."
Mr. Asapol
Combating nominee setups and hidden corporate structures remains a core challenge for Thai regulators, as foreign investors often exploit legal loopholes through local proxies to acquire land and prohibited businesses. Integrating databases across commercial, land, and anti-money laundering departments serves as a vital step in cutting off illicit financial flows and unauthorized asset ownership.
Additionally, on August 13, the committee will summon the Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, the Director of the Bureau of Registration Administration, the Director-General of the Department of Land Transport, the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau Commissioner, the Director of Bangkok Noi District, and the Governor of the Expressway Authority of Thailand to address public concerns regarding personal data collection duties.
Source: Matichon Politics
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