Frenchman ordered deported from Thailand over alleged religious division

Thailand has ordered Frenchman Kevin Dimino to leave the country within seven days after accusing him of causing religious and national divisions among foreign tourists on Koh Samui.

The deportation order, dated September 7, was signed by Interior Minister and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. It accuses Dimino of threatening and abusing other people, causing a public disturbance, and engaging in conduct that created division among people of different religions and nationalities.

Dimino had already been fined 5,000 baht by the Koh Samui Provincial Court for violating the Land Traffic Act. The deportation document, posted by the Provincial Administration Department, did not provide details of that court case.

He has seven days from receiving notification to appeal to the prime minister. Anutin holds both the prime ministerial and interior portfolios. The order makes Dimino the second foreigner told to leave Thailand under changes introduced last month. The first was Israeli national Yaacov Ohayon, a real estate developer and sandwich business operator on Koh Samui.

It remained unclear whether Dimino is the same person involved in a recent conflict on the resort island with someone identified as “Mr Ohayon.”