24-6-2024 (BANGKOK) Authorities on the island of Koh Phangan in Thailand’s southern province of Surat Thani apprehended a French national on Sunday for allegedly overstaying his visa. The arrest followed an investigation into a complaint about a foreigner claiming to be a religious leader near a local mosque.
The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Evariste Douabou Koudoukouho, was detained outside a mosque in the Ban Tai area by tourism police officers. According to reports, the authorities were acting on a complaint concerning a foreigner staying near the mosque who had been portraying himself as a religious leader and encouraging people to participate in religious activities held there.
Upon encountering an individual matching the description provided in the complaint, the police requested to inspect Koudoukouho’s passport. The inspection revealed that he had entered Thailand on a 30-day tourist visa, which had expired more than three months prior to his arrest.
Consequently, Koudoukouho was charged with overstaying his visa, a violation of Thailand’s immigration laws. He was subsequently handed over to the police at the Koh Phangan station for further processing and preparations for a court appearance.
