Tearful apology from remorseful trio

By KORNKAMON AKSORNDECH 
THE NATION

 

 

THREE THAI men arrested for preying on tourists around Rattanakosin Island in Bangkok have made tearful confessions, apologised to the public for tarnishing Thailand's reputation and sworn they will never do it again.

 

The move stemmed from some tourists posting their grievances and warnings online. 

 

These were mainly solo travellers or those only visiting for a short time and therefore with insufficient time to file formal complaints.

 

Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn, deputy commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, said the arrest of tuk-tuk drivers Panupong Krajpok-eium, 56, and Suthep Wongkularp, 45, plus tour guide Thanapol Kitticharoensuk, 54, stemmed from online complaints about a few ill-intentioned people preying on foreign visitors in the Maharat and Thai Wang Road areas. 

 

Surachate said the three men were accused of falsely telling people that the temple or attraction they wanted to visit was closed … but they were welcome to buy products and services, often with high price tags and sub-standard quality. These included jewellery, tailor-made suits and tickets on Chao Phraya River cruises. 

 

Panupong was arrested at Ratchaworadit Pier, Suthep outside Wat Pho and Thanapol at Nagaraphirom Park.

 

They confessed to luring tourists in order to earn commission equal to 15-20 per cent of the items purchased and were initially hit with a charge of causing a public disturbance.

 

Surachate said police would take the matter further and, with the Revenue Department, would investigate the suit-tailoring shops, jewellery stores and related service providers over claims they were selling sub-standard goods and services to tourists. 

 

He added that since the arrest, several shops had already closed for fear of the police scrutiny.

 

Surachate warned business operators not to sell sub-standard goods and services to tourists and stressed that police would work with all related agencies to ensure that all shops around the Royal Palace, Tha Tian Pier, Maharat Pier were conducting their business scrupuluously. 

 

The Department of Land Transport, meanwhile, would check on the drivers of taxis and tuk-tuks and would ask them to wait for passengers elsewhere, instead of directly outside the Royal Palace area. 

 

Bribe-taking police officers would also be punished, he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30348047

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-6-18

three down, 10,287 to go...

" Bribe-taking police officers would also be punished, he said."

 

23 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

made tearful confessions, apologised to the public for tarnishing Thailand's reputation

Apologizing to victims for ripping them off doesn't matter, of course.

35 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Surachate said the three men were accused of falsely telling people that the temple or attraction they wanted to visit was closed …

One of the more traditional and ancient customs of Bangkok.

43 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

have made tearful confessions, apologised to the public for tarnishing Thailand's reputation and sworn they will never do it again.

I bet they are laughing their cocks off behind those face masks, thinking, "hurry up and get the 500 baht fine, and the wai out of the way", then we can get at it again !

Lock 'em up

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

sworn they will never do it again

 

"My word is my bond" - famous Somchai quote.

 

 

 

39 minutes ago, Darcula said:

 

"My word is my bond" - famous Somchai quote.

 

 

 

Is that James Bond 007?

Yes, the 007 refers to 7am, the time the temple closes. Oh dear, You've just missed it. However, my brother does have a jewellery shop that opens at 7am...

 

Tuk Tuks are an occasional necessity or a bit if fun.  Most drivers charge more than a metered taxi and then insult your intelligence by telling you they are cheaper.   Love the masks. 

Edited June 19, 20188 yr by yellowboat

11 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

" Bribe-taking police officers would also be punished, he said."

 

Lower rank bribe-taking police officers awaits drastic punishment as long as we don't run out of inactive posts.

The practice of taking customers to overpriced shops for commissions is as old as ... the tuk tuks themselves. It has been going on here in Chiang Mai too, for as long as I can remember. Customer asks to be taken to place A and instead is taken to place B, where the driver gets (typically in Chiang Mai) 30% commission on any purchases, and or free gifts like meals or fuel. Nothing is done about it as it is considered legal. It is the shops themselves that are to blame of course.

 

The twist in this case is the claim of 'sub-standard' goods at the shops in the article. It is that which may lead to prosecution, but don't hold your breath.

There are hundreds of these guys ripping off tourists ....

and what is this appoligizing worth? Nothing at all! So fine them harsh and thats it. They will be back on the street the sooonest!

What sort of idiot buys a suit when visiting a closed temple  ?

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

THREE THAI men arrested for preying on tourists around Rattanakosin Island in Bangkok have made tearful confessions

See those crocodile tears, then those same crocodiles will be snapping at fresh tourists tomorrow.

 

12 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

What sort of idiot buys a suit when visiting a closed temple  ?

The ones who think 'gullible' has been taken out of the dictionary.

 

My eyesight must be going. I can't figure out who the criminals are in the picture!

In this case, I cannot tell if they are in fact lying ...... simply because I CANNOT see their lips moving!

6 hours ago, ukrules said:

Lock 'em up

Cut off their heads.... 

Do not believe one words they say, they are contrite to the Authorities, but bugger the tourists. A good example of Thai attitude to tourists, scam them, screw them and hope they never come back or complain. 

17 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

three down, 10,287 to go...

I think you missed off another zero !

 

Filthy scum. Stealing and lying is hard wired in their DNA 

"...... sworn they will never do it again"

 

until next time of course ................... probably as soon as this weekend

Tearful for 'tarnishing Thailand's reputation' not 'tearful for ripping off tourists and getting caught'- sa-weet!

Sworn they will never do it again until after the 'story' breaks about the Taxi Driver finding 270,000 Baht and handing it back to a Cambodian who had left it in his cab.   In Thai minds this 'story' cancels out all wrong doing by the scum, so back to what you do best Lads....rip the ass out of Tourists !

On 6/18/2018 at 7:31 AM, snoop1130 said:

 products and services, often with high price tags and sub-standard quality.

Is there any other kind?

This scum and all the others  who  have 'befriended' tourists and then lied to their faces  about  The Grand Palace and Wat Po being closed , have done no end of damage to Thai tourism over the decades..

Imagine how many visitors , many of whom   had that ONE day  in Bangkok to see these jewels of Thai history ,  were disappointed and turned away by LIES.

I can only imagine the anger and annoyance felt by those who later found out they had been duped  and swore off ever returning to the Kingdom.

Yup I believe these three guys, like I believe Prawit and his watch story.

  24 hours and total memory loss is more like how these three thugs will

be.

Geezer