PressAdda
Bangkok, Thailand — A 40-year-old British woman, Maria Shchetinina, has been arrested on Thailand’s Koh Phangan island for allegedly running tantric sex yoga classes without official permission.
According to Thai tourist police, Maria was conducting paid sessions priced at 400 baht (£10) each under the title “Tantra Yoga: Sacred Sexuality.” Police raided a restaurant’s premises on November 5, finding her mid-session and seizing class tickets, promotional leaflets, notebooks, and a billboard with her photo.
Maria, who previously worked as a customer relations manager at a hotel management firm, reportedly told police, “My lawyer said it was okay.”
Tourist Police Inspector Winit Buncharit stated that her actions violated Thailand’s Foreign Workers Management Emergency Decree, which regulates employment activities by foreigners in the country.
Earlier this year, similar incidents were reported — a Polish influencer was arrested in March, and an American woman was deported from Bali in September on comparable charges. Two Azerbaijani men were also detained this week for illegal electrical work.
Authorities say the crackdown is part of efforts to protect Thailand’s tourism image. Maria has been handed over to the Koh Phangan Police Station, and a legal case has been filed against her.
