SURAT THANI - Police have shut down two illegal childcare centres on the tourist island of Koh Phangan, arresting the owners and employees, among them Israeli, Thai and Myanmar nationals.
The two unnamed centres were in the same area in village 7 of tambon Koh Phangan, according to district chief Paisit Thongjerm.
The first location was a building decorated as a school. During the search, 13 foreign children, aged 2-5 years old, were present.
Police took three people into custody as the service was found to be operating without a permit. They were identified as Tahel Cherone Edri, 34, an Israeli national who claimed to be the business owner; Rotem Mitrany, 45, an Israeli teacher; and Myanmar national Hsu Sanda Pyae Sone, 28, an employee.
At another location, the same arresting unit found 10 children, aged 2-5, attending a class.
A 40-year-old Israeli, Anat Vekstein Kimiagar, and a 28-year old Thai, identified only as Kultida, were working there as teachers. The two admitted to founding and operating the business without a permit.
All of suspects were taken to the Koh Phangan police station for legal action, Mr Paisit said.
