A famous Burmese restaurant in Pattaya denies mafia ties, believing the accusations arose because they helped a person who was extorted for 450,000 baht by a woman claiming to facilitate legal matters, which caused resentment and led to false mafia allegations.
The SEE TRUE news team reported on the 'SEE TRUE STORY' program on Thairath TV's YouTube channel that a Nepalese-Burmese woman filed a complaint via the 'See True' Facebook page, alleging intimidation and threats by a Nepalese-Burmese influential figure living in Pratunam, resembling mafia behavior. She connected this to a famous Burmese restaurant in Pattaya, Chonburi, accusing it of involvement because restaurant staff allegedly participated in harassing her.
Later, the owner of 'Golden Myanmar Restaurants' contacted the SEE TRUE team to clarify the facts behind the incident that upset an individual and led to accusations linking the restaurant to the mafia.
The SEE TRUE team visited 'Golden Myanmar Restaurants' located in the Land Department Alley, Pattaya city, Chonburi province, where Mr. Ye Win Aung, a Burmese restaurant partner, his wife who co-owns a tourism business, and a Thai restaurant partner awaited to provide information.
Mr. Ye Win Aung explained that the incident originated from a dispute among Burmese individuals resulting in two deaths in September 2025. Having conducted business in Thailand for 17 years, speaking Thai, and previously serving as an interpreter for police and courts, he was contacted by Pattaya police to help track some fugitives. Subsequently, the police charged eight Burmese involved in the fatal fight, who were detained during the legal process.
The parents of seven detainees approached him to help bail out their children. He suggested also compensating the parents of the two deceased, which the detainees' parents agreed to. He then facilitated bail for those seven, leaving only one detainee not requesting his assistance.
Mr. Ye Win Aung continued that a woman named Ms. Turka, wife of the remaining detainee, asked for his help to bail her husband out. She said that after the incident and her husband’s detention, a Nepalese-Burmese woman—the same complainant to SEE TRUE and Thairath TV alleging mafia harassment—contacted her family in Myanmar offering legal help for 450,000 baht to cover victim compensation, lawyer fees, bail, and travel. Ms. Turka and her relatives transferred the full amount to this woman in cash.
However, the woman did not use the money to compensate the victims' parents or arrange the bail as promised. Ms. Turka demanded the money back but only received 150,000 baht. She then sought Mr. Ye Win Aung's help to both bail her husband and recover the remaining money.
Ms. Turka, the money owner, recounted that after demanding her money back, the woman came to Pattaya and arranged to return the cash at a beach, but upon arrival refused to refund it and scolded her. Feeling scared, Ms. Turka called Mr. Ye Win Aung to assist in negotiations. They later scheduled to meet in Bangkok near the woman's residence the next day for the refund, and Ms. Turka asked Mr. Ye Win Aung and others to accompany her for safety.
Mr. Ye Win Aung said he accompanied Ms. Turka to the woman's apartment to collect the money as planned. Mr. So Lwin Lwin, an employee of the tour company in which he is a partner, also went along, as did Mr. Sun Je, the man accused of being mafia, who was already in Bangkok and aware of the situation.
Upon arrival, the woman refused to return the money and caused a loud disturbance. Mr. Ye Win Aung called Khlong Tan police station to send officers to assist. The police arrived, observed the noisy situation, and asked all parties to negotiate at the police station. However, the talks failed because the woman claimed she only had 50,000 baht, so no money was returned that day. Later, someone assisting the woman arranged talks at the DSI, but after discussions, DSI recommended resolving the matter at the police station.
Back in Pattaya, Mr. Ye Win Aung took Ms. Turka to file a complaint at Pattaya City Police Station. Afterwards, the woman attempted to transfer some money to the Thai-Nepali Association's Pattaya branch account, where Mr. Ye Win Aung volunteers, intending to refund Ms. Turka. However, upon consulting the investigating police, they advised not to withdraw the money until an agreement is reached.
Regarding Mr. So Lwin Lwin, who appeared in footage accompanying Ms. Turka to retrieve money from the woman in Bangkok, he confirmed he went as her companion. He did not display any threatening behavior; rather, the woman was loud and disruptive until police intervened to arrange negotiations in Bangkok. He also addressed a past immigration police arrest in Chonburi for inappropriate work when picking up tourists, noting he paid fines and currently works legally with proper permits at the tourism company co-owned by Mr. Ye Win Aung.
A Thai restaurant partner stated that 'Golden Myanmar Restaurants' has operated since 2018, with 51% Thai ownership as required by law; the rest is owned by Mr. Ye Win Aung and an Indian businessman. No nominees are involved. Allegations of fake passports and pink cards at the restaurant are false and stem from people displeased with Mr. Ye Win Aung. The restaurant serves Burmese, Thai, and Indian cuisine, and all Burmese staff have valid work permits.
Additionally, Mr. Ye Win Aung owns a tourism company named The Best Holiday Tour and Travel (Thailand) located in front of the restaurant, co-owned with his Thai wife. The company focuses on tours for Burmese clients. Mr. Ye Win Aung and his wife assert they operate solely in tourism with no illegal activity as alleged. They believe the accusations arose because he helped Ms. Turka reclaim money from the woman involved and that some Burmese unhappy with him are behind the false claims linking him to illegal business and mafia activities, which they firmly deny.
