Unlicensed Koh Phangan Childcare Center Raided, Israeli and Romanian Nationals Arrested

Thai authorities conducted a raid on an unlicensed childcare center named 'Little Panda' on Koh Phangan on July 4th, following intelligence that it was being operated illegally by foreign nationals. This operation forms part of an ongoing initiative in Surat Thani province to curb illicit business activities by foreigners and ensure compliance with local regulations. During the inspection, immigration officers, district officials, and Koh Phangan police discovered 42 foreign children engaged in various classroom and outdoor activities at the facility. Both Thai and foreign staff members were present, supervising and teaching the children. A 39-year-old Thai national, Singkhamorn Wongsasawan, identified himself as a childcare employee and assisted officers throughout the inspection. The center reportedly catered to children aged two to six years, charging 45,000 baht for a four-month term. The premises were equipped with classrooms, educational materials, furniture, children's meals, and an outdoor play area. In addition to the 42 children, three Thai and three foreign nationals were supervising, while ten Myanmar nationals were employed as childcare assistants, gardeners, and cleaners. During the raid, Ziv Radomsky, a 55-year-old Israeli national, identified himself as the owner of the business. He had entered Thailand via Suvarnabhumi Airport on June 7th on a Non-Immigrant Visa O, valid until September 4th. However, he was unable to produce a valid work permit or a license to operate a childcare center. Investigators allege that Radomsky managed the childcare center through Sunshine Shop Co., Ltd., where he and three other company directors handled various aspects including company documents, bank accounts, tuition fees, parent communication, and financial operations. Furthermore, officers reviewed the documents of 13 foreign staff members present. Among them, Cristina Radomsky, a 33-year-old Romanian national, was found to have overstayed her visa, which had expired on April 22, 2023, leading to her arrest for illegal residency. Another 29-year-old Myanmar national was also arrested for an expired visa. The remaining Myanmar staff members possessed valid work permits. Ziv Radomsky and Cristina Radomsky have been taken into custody for further investigation and legal proceedings.