Immigration9/7/2026

Thailand Ordered the Deportation of the French Zoo Manager

Thai authorities issued a deportation order against Kevin Dimino, a French manager of a zoo on the island of Koh Samui, who refused to allow Israelis to enter. He may appeal the decision within seven days.

Key facts

•Decision: Deportation order against Kevin Dimino
•Location: Koh Samui, Thailand
•Deadline for filing an appeal: Seven days
•Amount mentioned: 500,000 baht
•The case number and date of the decision were not specified
•The statute applied was not specified

How the Confrontation Began

Dimino, who has lived in Thailand for more than ten years and runs the zoo with his Thai partner, displayed a Palestinian flag and signs prohibiting Israelis from entering. He later became involved in a confrontation with an Israeli resident of the island. Videos published online showed Dimino attacking him and head-butting him.

Grounds for Deportation

According to the source, Dimino was convicted of making threats, harassment and physical violence, as well as fomenting discord and division on racial and religious grounds. Thai authorities subsequently issued a deportation order against him. The publication did not specify the name of the statute applied or the decision number.

Deportation of the Other Participant

Three days before the order against Dimino was issued, the authorities also ordered the deportation of the Israeli involved in the confrontation. He was convicted of making threats and engaging in conduct that caused another person fear and suffering. Thailand’s Ministry of Interior determined that this conduct constituted harm to public order and public peace.

The Investigation and the Right to Appeal

Dimino claimed that he and his family members had received threats and that his mother’s home in France had been set on fire. Police also investigated an allegation of an offer of 500,000 baht in exchange for information that would help harm the zoo manager. Dimino was given seven days to appeal the order; the source does not report the outcome of any possible appeal.

What this means for you

For Israelis, the case illustrates that authorities in another country may take immigration measures against all parties to a confrontation, regardless of their citizenship. A deportation order may set a short period for filing an appeal, but filing an appeal does not in itself cancel the decision. The source does not report whether either order was carried out.

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Case analysis based on court rulings