Bangkok –
Thai Immigration Officers have arrested 18 Myanmar nationals who they found were working illegally at a shopping mall in Pathumwan.
The Royal Thai Immigration Bureau told TPN media that earlier this week they inspected a shopping mall on the Phaya Thai Road in Wang Mai. The inspection followed social media complaints about foreigners performing reserved jobs for Thai nationalities only.
When the Myanmar nationals saw police and officers, they attempted to run away but in the end relevant Immigration Officers arrested 18 Myanmar nationals. Some of them were unable to present their passports or work permits and some of their passports were expired, with the foreigners being on overstay.
All eighteen suspects were taken to the Pathumwan Police Station. Fifteen of them are facing charges of illegally working (being sellers at retail shops without a work permit). Two of them are facing additional charges of illegally entering the country and overstaying. The status of the final suspect was not released.
Those charged shall be fined from 5,000 baht up to 50,000 baht meanwhile the employers shall be fined up to 100,000 baht. It was unclear, however, if they would be deported, especially given the current political situation in Myanmar.