A SWISS man has been arrested for allegedly starting a construction project on Phuket without permission.

The man, aged 60, was arrested on Tuesday at the Holiday Inn in Patong after an order went out to all island police stations for his apprehension.

The man was held overnight in Chern Thalay police station and released on Wednesday morning after bail of 200,000 baht was posted.

A senior police officer told Phuketwan that the project that led to the arrest involved condominiums at Lay-Pang beach, behind Laguna Phuket.

Police said the man's name was Wang Kuderklan and the company name was GST International.