Alleged Illegal Hotel Closed Down In Pattaya

A supposed illegally operated hotel in Pattaya, has been closed down by Pattaya police.

The Longma Pattaya Hotel was raided by 50 officers in the middle of July, in an operation led by Pol. Maj. Gen. Surachet Hakpal.

The hotel, which is situated on Jomtien Sai One, is allegedly owned by a Chinese illegal immigrant and is one of forty-three business ventures and properties owned by the same person.

Owner, Anuchit Maorungroj, was not present during the raid and is now wanted by the Thai authorities for questioning.

It is alleged that Mr Maorungroj has false identification papers, which, depicted him as a Thai national.

It is claimed that he operates two companies, which sold "zero dollar" tours to Chinese visitors, a scheme which is outlawed in Thailand.

It is also claimed his companies broke the law further by using foreign tour guides, many of which have been arrested. To compound matters, the police say the hotel is unlicensed, fails to meet building standards and had been illegally extended.

However, the accused's lawyer, claims that he owned the hotel and has done for over a month, and accused police of a huge blunder on their behalf.

He suggested the hotel operated under a holding company, and that he is in fact in possession of all the required documentation to back up his claim.

Source: Pattaya Mail