Ukrainian woman held for running illegal hostel on Koh Pha-ngan
A UKRAINIAN woman was arrested on Pha-ngan Island in the south for illegally operating a house turned into a hostel holding 150 beds in 12 rooms, Thai News Agency reported today (Feb. 15).
Pha-ngan island police raided the house after being tipped off that it was turned into a small hostel, called “Hostel Vagabond,” and questioned Mrs Olinna Sis (name translated as written in Thai), 46, a Ukraine national and her daughter who are the owners.
Within they found 4 customer account books and that there were 150 beds in 12 rooms with each bed rented out at 250 baht a day.
Police filed charges of operating a hotel business without permit, a foreigner operating hotel business and violating the Building Control Act with legal action to be immediately launched.
Pha-ngan island is famous for its Full Moon Party at Haad Rin beach and as a backpacker destination. It has two sister islands: the larger Koh Samui to the south and the smaller Koh Tao to the north, according to Wikipedia.com.
The name Koh Pha-ngan derives from the word “ngan”, meaning “sand bar” in the southern dialect, for there are many sand bars offshore.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Some of the foreign backpackers at the illegal hostel during the raid. Photo: Khao Sod
First in-text: Mrs Olinna Sis, whose face is pixelated, being questioned by the police. Photo: Thai News Agency
Below: Some of the beds in the illegal hostel on Pha-ngan island. Photos: Thai News Agency
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