Death threats, a dead bird and a reported ฿500,000 bounty engulf a Koh Samui zoo dispute. Owner Jindarat files a police complaint as checkpoints guard key sites and officials move to deport both her French husband Kevin and Israeli businessman Jacob.
A bitter Koh Samui zoo dispute has led to a police complaint, death threats, animal cruelty claims and deportation proceedings. Owner Jindarat says Israeli tourists killed a bird, injured animals and later threatened to burn her family’s home and zoo. The conflict intensified after her French husband, Kevin, displayed a Palestinian flag and an influencer reportedly offered a ฿500,000 bounty for him. Now, security officials want Kevin and Israeli businessman Jacob deported as police checkpoints guard key locations and investigators examine threats and competing accusations.
The owner of Samui Exotic Park has filed a police complaint over threats against her family, home and zoo. Meanwhile, officials are seeking to deport her French husband, Kevin, and Israeli businessman Jacob. The move follows mounting disruption from their dispute on Koh Samui. The confrontation involves Israeli tourists, animal welfare complaints, a Palestinian flag and a reported ฿500,000 bounty.
Jindarat, 35, filed the complaint at the Central Investigation Bureau’s Bangkok complaint centre on Monday. Her husband accompanied her during the filing. Siam Asa volunteer group chairman Sukh Saknangrongdet also attended. According to Jindarat, Israeli tourists had harassed her and repeatedly violated the zoo’s regulations.
Initially, the dispute centred on admission charges and visitor conduct inside the animal park. Jindarat said some tourists entered without paying the required fees. They reportedly promised to pay only if satisfied after completing their visit. Nevertheless, they remained inside for approximately one hour before requesting a refund.
Zoo visitors accused of refund demands, animal injuries and killing a bird during repeated incidents
The refund demand followed an incident involving a child and chicken droppings. Jindarat said the child removed their shoes despite clear warning signs. Subsequently, the child stepped in the droppings. The group then sought a refund, further intensifying the confrontation with zoo staff.
Moreover, Jindarat accused several visitors of endangering animals through repeated rule-breaking. She said they ignored staff instructions while feeding them. Some reportedly took food and milk bottles from other customers. They then used those supplies to feed animals without following staff directions.
In another incident, visitors reportedly opened animal cages without permission. They then brought incompatible animals into direct contact. As a result, some animals suffered injuries, Jindarat claimed. She did not disclose their species or the extent of their wounds.
Jindarat also described a fatal incident inside a bird enclosure. She said one visitor entered despite disliking birds. During the visit, a bird landed on the person’s shoulder. The visitor then struck it, causing the animal to collapse and die, she claimed.
Following these confrontations, Jindarat displayed a Palestinian flag at Samui Exotic Park. She also refused further entry to the group. However, she denied targeting Israelis generally or seeking conflict with any nationality. Instead, she said the measures protected her animals, workers and business.
Zoo owner reports threats to burn her home and animal park as a suspicious vehicle circles nearby
Threatening messages reportedly followed the admission ban and flag display. Some threatened to harm Jindarat’s family and burn down her home. More recently, another message reportedly threatened to burn Samui Exotic Park. Consequently, she brought the accusations before Central Investigation Bureau officers in Bangkok.
Beyond the online messages, Jindarat reported suspicious activity near her home. She said a vehicle repeatedly parked near the property and circled the surrounding area. Those incidents followed the threats against her family and property. Therefore, she feared the confrontation could move beyond social media exchanges.
In response, Jindarat asked investigators to examine the messages and reported vehicle movements. She also requested an investigation into everyone connected with the confrontation. Additionally, she asked whether Koh Samui residents or businesses had supported the tourists. Her complaint covers both the threats and the earlier incidents inside the zoo.
Thai and foreign residents later contacted Jindarat and offered their support. Some claimed they had witnessed similar incidents involving the group. However, they were afraid to discuss those experiences publicly, she said. Jindarat did not identify those potential witnesses while filing her complaint.
Crime Suppression Division joins inquiry as lawyer says visa revocation requires a full investigation
Sukh became involved after receiving a request for assistance from the zoo operator. He then coordinated with several government agencies concerning the accusations. Notably, he contacted the Crime Suppression Division and requested investigative support. He also accompanied Jindarat and Kevin during Monday’s complaint filing.
Jindarat said everyone living in Thailand must comply with Thai laws and regulations. Moreover, she said nationality should make no difference to those requirements. She presented the flag display as a business protection measure. She denied that it represented hostility towards Israelis or any wider national group.
Separately, Jindarat addressed reports that immigration officials could revoke visas connected with the dispute. She said she had received no confirmation that any cancellation would occur. Her lawyer advised that such action required an investigation into the facts. Investigators would also need to examine the claimed offences before any decision.
Accordingly, visa revocation could not occur automatically or immediately, Jindarat said. The process would require consideration by police, immigration officers and a provincial committee. Her statement came as Surat Thani officials prepared cases against Kevin and Jacob. Both men could face visa cancellation and deportation.
Kevin records business visit as Surat Thani officials pursue immigration action against both men
Jindarat also acknowledged that Kevin visited a business operated by the opposing side. His visit followed messages she described as threatening and provocative. Nevertheless, she denied claims that Kevin threatened Israelis living on Koh Samui. She specifically rejected accusations that he would prevent Israelis residing on the island.
Crucially, Kevin reportedly recorded his entire journey and the resulting encounter. The footage begins with his departure by car and covers his arrival. It also records his conversation at the business, departure and return journey. Jindarat offered to provide the complete recording to investigators.
Furthermore, she said the footage could be released publicly to establish what happened. Her side would accept responsibility for any conduct shown by the evidence, she added. In turn, she called for the dispute to be assessed through recordings, messages and other evidence. The confrontation has produced sharply conflicting accounts from those involved.
In parallel, Surat Thani security officials are pursuing possible immigration action against both foreign businessmen. Jacob is an Israeli national who operates a restaurant on Koh Samui. Kevin is a French national who operates Samui Exotic Park. He has lived on the island with his Thai wife for approximately nine years.
Palestinian flag dispute spreads online before influencer reportedly offers Kevin a ฿500,000 bounty
Colonel Thitiphong Inwasa outlined the security case on August 22. He is deputy director of the Internal Security Operations Command in Surat Thani. Earlier, Israeli tourists visited Samui Exotic Park and became involved in an argument with Kevin. Kevin later displayed a Palestinian flag and a sign welcoming Palestinians.
Jacob subsequently contacted Kevin through an online messaging service. He asked the French businessman to remove the flag. However, Kevin refused, and their exchange developed into an argument. Their messages were then circulated across social media.
The online circulation transformed a personal dispute into a wider public confrontation. Eventually, the exchanges resulted in a police complaint. Officials then attempted to mediate between both sides. As part of this effort, they sought the removal of the Palestinian flag.
Those intervention efforts failed, and neither side reached an agreement. Meanwhile, the flag remained at the centre of the dispute. Social media posts continued attracting attention beyond Koh Samui. The confrontation also began affecting security operations on the island.
The situation intensified further after an Israeli influencer based in France became involved. The influencer reportedly offered a ฿500,000 bounty for Kevin. Officials did not identify the person or disclose any conditions attached to the offer. Nonetheless, the reported bounty introduced a direct risk of violence.
Police checkpoints guard zoo and homes as officials fear religious and racial tensions could widen
Police then increased their presence around the people and properties involved. In particular, officers established checkpoints outside Samui Exotic Park. They also deployed personnel near the residences of Kevin and Jacob. The checkpoints have remained in operation since August 15.
The Koh Samui Provincial Court has already ruled against Jacob in a related case. The court fined him ฿5,000 and imposed a prison sentence. However, it suspended that sentence for two years. The case became another element in the widening security and immigration review.
Thitiphong said the dispute had created damaging perceptions on Koh Samui. One suggested that Israelis were threatening island residents. Conversely, another suggested local people no longer welcomed Israeli tourists. He said the confrontation had originally started as a personal conflict.
Since then, anti-Israel sentiment had been used as leverage, Thitiphong said. Consequently, officials feared the argument could widen into religious tensions. They also raised concerns about possible racial conflict. The dispute had already moved far beyond its original argument at the zoo.
Thitiphong said Thailand welcomed tourists from every nationality. However, foreign nationals could not import personal conflicts that affected local security. He specifically cited Koh Samui’s safety and tourism industry. Therefore, officials began collecting information about Kevin and Jacob.
Provincial committee weighs deportations after both men reportedly failed to cooperate with mediation
Security teams will submit their findings to a Surat Thani provincial committee. The committee will consider requests to revoke both visas. It will also consider the proposed deportation of both men. Thitiphong said both sides failed to cooperate fully with mediation efforts.
Furthermore, he accused both men of contributing to the dispute’s continued escalation. Officials feared their confrontation could expand into religious and racial tensions. On that basis, they began preparing the immigration cases. No final decision on either visa has been announced.
On another front, Surat Thani Immigration examined both men’s immigration and business histories. Jacob has lived on Koh Samui for five years under a business visa. He operates a restaurant on the island. Kevin has lived there for approximately nine years and operates Samui Exotic Park.
Kevin’s Thai wife is originally from Rayong province. Together, the couple are connected with the animal park at the centre of the dispute. Jindarat identified herself as the zoo’s owner when filing her Bangkok complaint. Kevin was identified by security officials as the business operator.
Immigration reviews Kevin’s motorcycle case as police examine threats, zoo incidents and vehicle movements
Immigration officers also reviewed Kevin’s previous prosecution for dangerous motorcycle riding. Last year, he was prosecuted for riding a motorcycle on one wheel. On September 29, Koh Samui Provincial Court fined him ฿5,000. That traffic case remains separate from the current dispute.
At the same time, investigators face accusations covering several distinct stages of the confrontation. These include incidents inside the zoo and threatening online messages. They also include suspicious vehicle movements and Kevin’s visit to the other party’s business. Each side has offered a different account of the confrontation.
Police may also examine the reported death of a bird at the zoo. In addition, Jindarat reported injuries to other animals after cages were opened. She accused visitors of ignoring instructions and taking food from paying customers. Those accusations form the basis of her explanation for refusing the group entry.
Police assess online messages and video evidence as deportation decisions remain before committee
The investigation could also examine messages exchanged between Kevin and Jacob. Those conversations have already circulated widely through social media. Likewise, Kevin’s recordings could establish what occurred during his later business visit. Jindarat said the video captured the journey, conversation and return.
For now, checkpoints remain outside the zoo and near both men’s residences. Officers continue maintaining the security operation as a precaution against violence.
Koh Samui Animal Park bans Israeli family including two young girls on the basis of their nationality
Community tensions rise between locals and Israelis in southern Thailand particularly on Koh Phangan
Meanwhile, the provincial committee must consider the proposed visa cancellations and deportations. Central Investigation Bureau officers must also assess Jindarat’s threats complaint.
The conflict remains unresolved despite earlier mediation attempts. Moreover, both foreign businessmen face possible removal from Thailand over the disruption. The zoo owner is pressing investigators to identify those behind the threats. The dispute now spans criminal complaints, immigration proceedings, animal welfare claims and security measures across Koh Samui.
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Further reading:
Community tensions rise between locals and Israelis in southern Thailand particularly on Koh Phangan
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Blitzkrieg on foreign firms and enterprises on Koh Phangan continues with French owned resort busted
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Crackdown aimed at upending foreign business trade moves from Koh Phangan to Phuket. Four arrested
Crackdown to wipe out foreign business abuses and ownership on Koh Phangan & Koh Samui intensifies
