Thailand to Deport French Zoo Owner Over Israeli Ban — SkimNews
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- Thailand's PM Anutin Charnvirakul signed a deportation order against Kevin Dimino on Sept 7, citing threatening, harassing and physically abusive behavior contrary to public order, good morals and public welfare.
- Dimino, who co-owns Samui Exotic Park on Koh Samui with his Thai wife, was also fined 5,000 baht (S$192) by a local court for violating a law on the use of roads and vehicles.
- Israel's Yaacov Ohayon was ordered deported on Sept 4 after receiving a suspended 15-day jail sentence and a 5,000-baht fine for causing fear or panic through threats, according to the government.
- Dimino told AFP he hung a Palestinian flag at the zoo in response to bad behavior from some Israeli visitors, which triggered online threats; after a camera-caught altercation with an Israeli family went viral, he responded with overt anti-Semitic statements.
- Thailand published new regulations last week specifying when foreigners can be expelled, amid increased public scrutiny of tourist behavior in the tourism-dependent economy.
- Anutin, who also serves as interior minister, said: 'We want tourists, but when they come, they have to respect our laws, Thai people and our customs and tradition'; both deportation orders can be appealed within seven days.
Why it matters: Thailand's tourism-dependent economy is now actively using new expulsion rules to police foreign visitor conduct, deporting both sides of an escalating Koh Samui dispute — a French zoo owner and an Israeli national — within three days of each other, signaling that high-profile tourist misbehavior will carry immigration consequences.
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