Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing nominee corporate structures utilized for foreign landholding. I've talked about this a lot on this channel; it doesn't make me overly popular. I know there are those out there that will "yes" you to death and tell you anything is possible under a corporate structure and people are happy to hand them their money, but I would feel ethically remiss if I did that. People need to be aware of what risk they are engaging in in setting up a corporate structure to own land here in Thailand and the big risk is that if it's for a foreigner to own land, it's illegal; that's just what it is. I've seen them within the Land Office here; I've seen their investigators pursue this stuff. They're serious about it. 

That said, I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: Police step up nominee holding cases on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan. "The Royal Thai Police are intensifying investigations into alleged nominee land holdings by foreigners on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan in Surat Thani, a practice that may threaten economic security, especially in key tourist areas. Pol. Lt. Gen. Yingyos Thepjamnong, assistant commissioner, said authorities are working closely with Surat Thani officials, the Land Department, the Department of Business Development and security agencies to scrutinize the cases." 

Yeah look, I've discussed this in other videos. Again it doesn't make me overly popular sometimes, but it would be wrong not to say this on so many levels. Thai Law is clear on this. Foreign nationals are not allowed to own land. They're not allowed to own real estate in the strictest sense of the term. There are other mechanisms, long-term leases Usufruct, (or usufrict depending on how you pronounce that), basically lifetime right of use. There may be other types of structures that allow for the enjoyment of real property that aren't these corporate structures that are basically colour of law vehicles designed to basically give a foreigner effective right of ownership in a way that is not permitted under Thai law. 

And I have discussed in other videos, there have been raids of different law firms and accounting firms over the years that assist people in this because Thai Authorities are clear they are going to enforce the law on this and they will dissolve the companies, and they will seize the land, and people can lose their whole investment in this. It's not a good idea to get involved with it. It seems like it's coming to the foreground on the islands this year going into this high season because it looks like there seems to be at least a substantial foreign element that wants to engage in this activity notwithstanding the fact it's clearly against Thai Law. But as you may note in other articles, both in the Bangkok Post as well as within that article - which I urge those who are watching this video go check that out for further details - it also seems like folks down there are flouting Thai rules regarding restricted occupations and working in Thailand without a Work Permit. All of these are not good ideas, and they can lead to very serious legal consequences here in the Kingdom of Thailand.