PAI, Thailand — A Brazilian musician has been deported from Thailand following his arrest for performing without a work permit in Pai, Mae Hong Son province. The incident, which also involved other foreign musicians, has sparked debate over immigration enforcement in the country.
The arrest took place on February 13, 2025, at Jazz House, a local venue in Pai, where Matheus, a Brazilian bassist, was performing alongside other musicians. Thai authorities charged them with working illegally, leading to their detention and fines. According to Yael, Matheus’ Israeli girlfriend, the group was held in difficult conditions for two nights before being transferred to an immigration detention center.
The case involved four individuals: Jazz House’s Irish owner, Brian, who was granted bail for operating without proper registration, and three musicians—Matheus, along with Israeli nationals Yishay and Shay. Matheus and Yishay were fined 5,000 baht each, while Shay received an 8,000 baht fine for exceeding his permit’s scope. Despite paying their fines, the musicians were not released but were instead processed for deportation.
Matheus, who had been in Thailand for three months, was due to begin a tour in Japan on February 17 but was unable to travel due to the deportation proceedings. The case has drawn attention to Pai’s increasing scrutiny of foreign workers, with local residents calling for stricter enforcement of work permit laws. While Thai authorities maintain that regulations must be upheld, some have questioned whether the response was excessive given the nature of the offense.
Officials present at the arrest and subsequent hearings have not publicly commented on the matter.
