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🇸🇬 Singapore /Crime & Justice

Thailand to deport French zoo owner who barred Israeli visitors

From The Straits Times · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources New plan
  • Thailand ordered the deportation of French national Kevin Dimino, co-owner of Samui Exotic Park, after accusing him of threatening, harassing and physically abusive behavior.
  • Dimino had barred Israeli visitors and became the subject of further controversy after an altercation with an Israeli family and anti-Semitic statements.
  • The order follows a similar deportation order against Israeli national Yaacov Ohayon, and both decisions can be appealed within seven days.

Thailand has ordered the deportation of a French zoo owner who barred Israeli visitors from his Koh Samui attraction, escalating a dispute that also led authorities to order an Israeli national to leave the country.

Kevin Dimino, co-owner of Samui Exotic Park with his Thai wife, engaged in threatening, harassing and physically abusive behavior, according to an order signed by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The order also said Dimino had been fined 5,000 baht by a local court for violating a law on the use of roads and vehicles.

started the story

· Kevin DiminoDimino blamed Israeli national Yaacov Ohayon when discussing the dispute with AFP.

The government issued a similar order on Sept. 4 against Israeli national Yaacov Ohayon. Authorities said Ohayon received a suspended 15-day jail sentence and a 5,000-baht fine for causing fear or panic through threats. Both deportation orders can be appealed within seven days.

We want tourists, but when they come, they have to respect our laws, Thai people and our customs and tradition.

· Anutin CharnvirakulThailand’s prime minister and interior minister explained the government’s position on tourists’ conduct.

Dimino told AFP in August that he had hung a Palestinian flag at the zoo after what he described as bad behavior by some Israeli visitors. He said the gesture triggered online threats. He later went viral after an altercation with an Israeli family was filmed, and received more threats after responding with overtly anti-Semitic statements. At the weekend, he told AFP that Ohayon had “started the story”.

The orders came after Thailand published new rules on when foreigners can be expelled, amid increased scrutiny of tourists’ behavior. “We want tourists, but when they come, they have to respect our laws, Thai people and our customs and tradition,” Anutin told reporters. “We have the right to ask them to leave the country if they have done anything inappropriate,” he added.

We have the right to ask them to leave the country if they have done anything inappropriate.

· Anutin CharnvirakulAnutin defended the government’s authority to deport foreigners for inappropriate behavior.

Thailand depends heavily on tourism, but visitors’ misconduct has fueled public debate. Asked about his deportation order, Dimino said: “Let the government do its job... it’s nothing to get worked up about.”

Let the government do its job... it’s nothing to get worked up about.

· Kevin DiminoDimino responded to the deportation order.
About this summary

Originally published by The Straits Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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