A Russian national has been arrested and expected to face deportation if found guilty of a gun attack at a resort in Koh Phangan, Thailand.
The suspect identified as Sergei Milentie was taken into custody on Saturday for breaking Thai laws. The pre-dawn attack targeting the Palita Lodge Bungalow caused panic but no casualties. The 31-year-old Milentie is one of the first to face charges under the new policies adopted by the Immigration Bureau.
Mr. Milentie denied being a member of any mafia groups and said he had nothing to do with the shooting. He is accused of violating the immigration law and the night entertainment business law. Following Milentie’s arrest, three Thai nationals have been detained including Chanin Petchsri, mayor of Tha Khanom municipality in Surat Thani.
The commander of the Tourism Police Division Maj Gen Surachet Hakpan made it clear that foreigners found to have violated the laws will not be allowed to stay. The Immigration Bureau’s new slogan can be seen on it web page launched at the New Year: Good guys in, Bad Guys out.
Earlier on Monday, the immigration police announced the opening of a centralized system to oversee the travel of foreigners, controlling the entry as well as exit points. The newly operated facility is divided into three different sections where officers can monitor CCTV footage at airports, ports and border checkpoints.
Moreover, Thai Immigration 24/7 Center equipped with advance passenger processing system, allowing officers to get personal details of visitors before they land. The command operation center, first of its kind in the country, is located at the Immigration Bureau headquarters.
Thailand emerged in the headlines when deadly bomb blast at Erawan Shrine killed 20 foreigners and injured more than 100 last August. The attack was carried out by a group of people who entered through the illegal border crossings. This prompted a reform of the country’s security and border control systems. IMAGES/ChiangRaiTimes
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