Jewish leader’s relatives, 19 firms under scrutiny after citizenship revoked

PUBLISHED : 30 Oct 2026 at 18:52

The Interior Ministry and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) are examining the descendants of Jewish community leader Yosef Chaim Kantor and 19 companies linked to him after his Thai citizenship was revoked.

Deputy Interior Minister Phonphee Suwanchawee said on Friday that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had signed the revocation order, based on a DSI case file showing that Mr Kantor, president of the Chabad network in Thailand, continued to use his American nationality after being naturalised.

Speaking at Wing 6 military airport in Don Mueang, Bangkok, Mr Phonphee said the department was identifying descendants and others who had obtained Thai citizenship through Mr Kantor. Relatives who hold Thai nationality and live in Thailand will be investigated for possible wrongdoing, and action will be taken if offences are found, he said.

Mr Phonphee said the Department of Lands would examine when each plot belonging to Mr Kantor was acquired. If he acquired land while holding Thai nationality in breach of the law, the department would force its sale.

The provincial administration department’s investigation has so far identified 19 companies linked to Mr Kantor. The Department of Lands and the Commerce Ministry’s Department of Business Development will work together to conclude the case quickly, Mr Phonphee said. Any company with foreign shareholdings exceeding the legal limit would be treated as a nominee business.

The DSI and the Department of Lands are also checking whether the 19 companies hold stakes in other firms. If wrongdoing is found, authorities will seize and freeze assets and force their disposal in accordance with the law, the deputy minister added.