Kantor citizenship case widens to heirs, businesses - Bangkok Post
An investigation is under way to determine whether the heirs and business interests of Jewish community leader Yosef Chaim Kantor have breached any laws following the revocation of his Thai citizenship, Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee said yesterday.
Speaking at Wing 6 military airport in Don Muang, Mr Polapee said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is also interior minister, signed the Interior Ministry announcement on Thursday revoking Mr Kantor's Thai citizenship, which he acquired through naturalisation in 2013.
The order was based on information from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), which found that Mr Kantor had used his American passport to enter and leave Australia 16 times, most recently on Jan 26 this year.
The DSI reported that his continued use of his former nationality breached the conditions attached to his acquisition of Thai citizenship.
The Department of Provincial Administration was examining the identities of Mr Kantor's heirs and relatives who had also acquired Thai citizenship and were living in Thailand.
"Authorities will determine whether any of them have committed offences and take legal action if wrongdoing is found," Mr Polapee said, adding that officials were also reviewing assets Mr Kantor acquired while holding Thai citizenship. He said the Land Department would examine when each plot of land was purchased. If any property had been acquired unlawfully during that period, authorities could order its sale under Thai law.
"Investigators have identified 19 companies linked to Mr Kantor," he said.
The Land Department has been working with the Department of Business Development under the Commerce Ministry to investigate the companies and prepare its findings.
If the findings show that foreign shareholdings exceed legal limits, the companies could be classified as nominees.
Mr Polapee said the DSI and Land Department were also checking whether the 19 companies held stakes in other businesses.
"If further violations are established, authorities will pursue asset seizures," he said.
