‘Israeli’ national arrested in Thailand for operating illegal childcare centre

Thai authorities conducted a raid on Saturday at the Little Panda childcare centre on the tourist island of Koh Phangan in Surat Thani province.

The operation targeted suspected illegal business activities by foreign nationals, resulting in the arrest of a 55-year-old ‘Israeli’ national identified as Ziv Radomsky, who presented himself as the owner.

Officers discovered 42 foreign children, primarily aged two to six, engaged in classroom and outdoor activities at the facility.

The centre reportedly charged 45,000 baht (~1350 US dollars) for a four-month term and had been operating since 2024 without the required licence for a childcare centre.

Authorities say Radomsky managed the centre through Sunshine Shop Co., Ltd., overseeing finances, parent communications, and operations alongside other directors.

A 25-year-old Romanian national, Meda Andreea Capilna, was also arrested. She held a work permit as a marketing manager but was allegedly working as a childcare supervisor and coordinating activities, in violation of permit conditions.

She had been employed at the centre since around November 2024.

The raid forms part of a broader crackdown on unlicensed foreign-operated businesses in the region, prompted by complaints regarding compliance with Thai laws on labour, immigration, and child protection.

Additional Thai and Myanmar staff were present, with most foreign workers holding valid documentation.

Radomsky and Capilna face charges including jointly operating a childcare centre without a licence, working without proper permits, and failing to notify authorities of foreign employment as required by law.

Both were transferred to Koh Phangan Police Station for further proceedings.