Immigration Police have arrested "Mr. Spray," a foreign man causing trouble on Koh Phangan by spraying paint on public signs and electric poles, damaging government property after he was found to have traveled to Bangkok.
The case involves widely shared online images showing a foreign man spraying English messages on public areas and key signs throughout Koh Phangan. The graffiti contained symbolic phrases such as FREE GAZA, LIBRE, and GAZA, sprayed on electric poles, kilometer markers, roads, trash bins, and traffic signs—all government property. The affected agencies filed complaints to prosecute the perpetrator, who became a subject of public outcry in Thailand for damaging tourist attractions.
Later, on 4 Feb 2026, Pol. Maj. Gen. Cherngron Rimphadee, Immigration Police spokesman, and Pol. Col. Surasak Surinkaeo, spokesman for the Immigration Police Investigation Division, jointly announced that Pol. Maj. Gen. Phanop Worathanatchakul, Commander of the Immigration Police Investigation Division, led his team to arrest Mr. Tom Heine, 57, a German national suspected of the acts, at a hotel near Sao Chingcha area in Bangkok.
The arrest was ordered by Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanumas Boonyalaks, Commander of Immigration Police, who instructed Pol. Col. Naruwat Phutthawiro, Superintendent of Surat Thani Immigration Police, and investigators from Koh Phangan Police Station to urgently investigate and track the suspect. They used biometric identification systems to identify the perpetrator and issued an arrest warrant.
It was discovered that Mr. Tom Heine had left Koh Phangan and traveled to Bangkok. Authorities coordinated with the Immigration Police Investigation Division to pursue and arrest him after locating his hiding place. He was charged with "damaging, destroying, devaluing, or rendering useless property used for public benefit unlawfully, and illegally writing, spraying paint, or marking walls, electric poles, or public structures." He was taken to Koh Phangan Police Station for legal proceedings.
In cases where foreign tourists traveling to Thailand cause disturbances or negatively affect the lives of local people in tourist areas, Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma and Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanumas Boonyalaks have issued operational guidelines. Immigration offices in tourist areas such as Koh Phangan, Samui, and Phuket are to coordinate with local authorities and community representatives to receive complaints about foreign tourists' behavior.
The information will be reviewed in meetings to recommend actions to Immigration Police, including considering visa revocation under the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) to suspend the right to stay in the country. Regarding Mr. Tom's case, a meeting to consider this will be held on Friday, 6 Feb 2026.