Vietnamese woman arrested for 'illegally street vending' in Thailand
A Vietnamese woman was arrested for alleged illegal street vending in Thailand.
Dung, 58, was selling food on a trolley when she was arrested at a hospital in Sakon Nakhon on October 20.
Police launched an investigation following a complaint that a Vietnamese woman was walking around the hospital grounds selling products, despite the occupation being reserved for Thais.
Officers arrived at the hospital at around 10 am local time and found the woman allegedly peddling goods.
They checked her passport before informing her that she had breached Thailand's restrictions on foreign workers.
Dung was arrested on suspicion of violating Section 8 of the Foreigners' Working Management Emergency Decree, which governs foreign employment in the country.
She was taken to Mueang Sakon Nakhon Police Station and handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Chongchana Prasopsuk, an inspector at the Sakon Nakhon Immigration office, said the operation was carried out as part of a wider crackdown on foreigners working illegally in Thailand.
He said: 'Her actions constitute an offence under the Foreigners' Working Management Emergency Decree, as she engaged in work beyond the permitted scope.
‘The suspect was handed over to the inquiry officer at Mueang Sakon Nakhon Police Station for further legal proceedings.'
The Immigration Bureau said it will continue monitoring and enforcing immigration laws, including tracking Thai and foreign nationals wanted under arrest warrants and overseeing people entering and leaving the country.
Under Thailand's Foreign Employment Act, tourists are banned from working in dozens of occupations including tour guiding, labour work, agriculture, and hairdressing. They are also prohibited from working in the country without a valid permit.
Violators may be fined 5,000 to 50,000 THB and may face deportation to their home country. They will also be banned from seeking a Thai work permit for two years.
While Thai employers may be fined between 10,000 and 100,000 baht per illegal employee. Repeat violators face up to one year in jail, a steeper fine of 50,000 to 200,000 baht per illegal worker, and a three-year ban from hiring foreigners.
