BANGKOK, Thailand – A French national residing on Koh Samui has been ordered to leave Thailand following accusations that his actions stirred religious division and conflict among foreign tourists on the resort island. Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed the deportation order on Monday, 7 September, requiring Kevin Dimino to depart the kingdom within seven days of being notified of the decision.

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The order, issued under the 1956 Deportation Act and the recent Prime Minister’s Office Regulation on Deportation 2026, cited allegations that Dimino had engaged in threatening and intimidating behaviour, physical assault and conduct causing trouble and annoyance to others. Authorities further accused him of creating serious divisions among people based on race and religion, as well as causing conflict among tourists on the island. The order described his behaviour as reckless and potentially dangerous to people or property, with disregard for the safety and well-being of others.

The deportation decision also cited a ruling by Koh Samui Provincial Court, which found Dimino guilty under the 1979 Land Traffic Act. The court initially imposed a fine of 10,000 baht, but reduced it to 5,000 baht after Dimino pleaded guilty, with his confession deemed beneficial to the proceedings. The court also ordered the confiscation of seized items.

Dimino is the operator of Samui Exotic Park on the island. The deportation order follows a wider dispute on Koh Samui involving foreign tourists and the zoo operator. The dispute reportedly began when an Israeli family was denied entry to the park, with video footage showing a confrontation between the family and a man representing the zoo.

The park later posted Instagram Stories showing an Israeli flag marked with a red no-entry symbol beside a shooting target and a Free Palestine flag, appearing to support the refusal of Israeli visitors. The zoo operator subsequently filed a police complaint alleging that a group of Israeli tourists had repeatedly violated the zoo’s rules and later harassed her and threatened to harm her family and burn down her home and zoo.

Dimino is the second foreigner ordered to leave Thailand under the new deportation framework introduced last month. Under the new regulations, which took effect on 28 August, the Interior Minister is granted authority to order the deportation of foreign nationals whose conduct is considered contrary to public order, good morals or public welfare. Prime Minister Anutin has stated that Thailand welcomes tourists from across the world but expects them to respect Thai laws, customs and culture, adding that those who behave inappropriately may be asked to leave the country.

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Dimino has the right to appeal directly to the prime minister within seven days of being notified of the order, though observers note that with the prime minister also serving as interior minister, such an appeal is unlikely to succeed.

-Thailand News (TN)