An Israeli businessman convicted of threatening the owners of a zoo on Koh Samui has become the first foreign national to face removal from Thailand under the country’s newly introduced deportation procedures.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, acting in his capacity as interior minister, signed the deportation order against Yaacov “Jacob” Ohayon on Friday. Ohayon is a property developer who also operates a sandwich business on the popular tourist island.
The case arose from a highly publicised dispute involving Samui Exotic Park, owned by Thai national Jindarat Sattayapun and her French husband. The confrontation reportedly began after the couple displayed a “Free Palestine” sign at the park, attracting widespread attention in both Thailand and Israel.
According to the Interior Ministry, Ohayon subsequently published threatening messages online and organised a campaign encouraging people to leave one-star reviews targeting the business.
He was arrested last month after Jindarat filed a complaint alleging that he had posted a threat against her life on Facebook. Police later established a security checkpoint outside Samui Exotic Park before taking him into custody.
The Koh Samui Provincial Court found Ohayon guilty of making threats under Section 392 of the Criminal Code. He was initially sentenced to one month in prison and fined 10,000 baht.
After pleading guilty, the sentence was reduced to 15 days in prison, suspended for two years, while the fine was lowered to 5,000 baht.
The deportation order stated that Ohayon’s conduct caused the complainant fear and distress and constituted a breach of Thai law. Authorities also determined that his actions were contrary to public order, good morals or public wellbeing, bringing the case within Section 5 of the Deportation Act.
Ohayon may appeal the decision to the prime minister within seven days of receiving formal notification of the order.
The case is the first to proceed under regulations recently approved by the Cabinet establishing formal deportation procedures for two groups of foreign nationals: those whose conduct is considered harmful to public order, morality or public wellbeing, and those convicted of designated criminal offences.
Although existing Thai laws already authorised the removal of foreign nationals, the country previously lacked a permanent procedural framework specifically setting out how deportation cases should be handled.
