Immigration Police Arrest Foreigner Overcharging Bangkok Tourists

[webfact]

 

Thai immigration officers cracked down on an immigrant accused of overcharging guests at a modest hotel in Bangkok's Phra Khanong district. 

 

Acting on an anonymous tip, the officers identified an African national, whose identity remains confidential, responsible for misleading foreign travellers. He reportedly charged 500 baht per night for rooms, starkly higher than the hotel's listed price of 300 baht. This inflated rate was exclusively targeted at foreign guests.

 

To catch the suspect, officers booked a room undercover as tourists. Upon arrival, the suspect demanded the inflated 500 baht. Once the payment was made, they revealed their true identities and requested the suspect's identification. 

 

Panic-stricken, the suspect made an attempt to escape but was promptly apprehended. A deep dive into the biometric system revealed his lack of legal records.

 

Authorities discovered he had entered Thailand through Malaysia in 2021 and had been working at the hotel for almost two years. His monthly salary ranged between 3,000 and 4,000 baht, supplemented by free accommodation and any additional money he extorted from guests.

 

The police have pressed charges against the suspect for illegal immigration and working without authorization in Thailand. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to locate the Thai owner of the hotel, who also faces legal ramifications.

 

This incident underlines the importance of vigilance and due diligence in preventing tourist exploitation. While the suspect's actions highlight the risks some may take for financial gain, the arrest serves as a stark reminder that authorities are committed to maintaining fairness and legality within the tourism industry.

 

This case is expected to prompt stricter scrutiny and enforcement against similar activities, ensuring a fair experience for all visitors to Bangkok.

 

Picture courtesy: Siam Hotline News

 

-- 2024-06-06

 

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[ChrisY1]

Another nonsense case....childish police behavior while the real crims continue unabated!

[ikke1959]

That is no allowed foreigner. Only Thais are allowed to do that

[RonJr]

Someone wasn't getting their cut 

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

This incident underlines the importance of vigilance and due diligence in preventing tourist exploitation.

Farcical....

[khunjeff]

Out of all the fraud and overcharging of tourists that goes on thousands of times every single day around the country, this is the crime they decide to go after?

[impulse]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

identified an African national

 

Who had "African" in the pool today?  I had "Swede", darn it...

 

[Peterphuket]

Why on earth are we not allowed to see the handcuffs?

Does it sometimes display a key number?

[kidneyw]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

whose identity remains confidential,

That is weird. Why confidential?

[transam]

8 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

Another nonsense case....childish police behavior while the real crims continue unabated!

Silly comment, these are Immigration Police, their job is to take action against naughty foreigners, of which this bloke is one..............🙄

[transam]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Farcical....

Why, this tourist was fleecing tourists...........

[john donson]

south african ? seems pretty white...

 

how did he work legally ? isn't that a thai only job ?

[Rimmer]

A rather racist post has been removed

[novacova]

10 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

Another nonsense case....childish police behavior while the real crims continue unabated!

Another nonsense post in support of criminal behavior: extortion, illegal immigration status. The cops did their job…or would you prefer anarchy?

[tgw]

arrested for "overcharging tourists" ?

 

that's a new one...

[Confuscious]

15 hours ago, webfact said:

The police have pressed charges against the suspect for illegal immigration and working without authorization in Thailand

 

OMG, and I was always thinking that the police could not press charges if the vistim did not press charges.

[Liverpool Lou]

6 hours ago, khunjeff said:

Out of all the fraud and overcharging of tourists that goes on thousands of times every single day around the country, this is the crime they decide to go after?

"...this is the crime they decide to go after?"

No, it was just one crime that this one team of officers went after, there are plenty of other crimes being investigated by plenty of other RTP officers.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, john donson said:

how did he work legally ? isn't that a thai only job ?

He didn't!...

"The police have pressed charges against the suspect for illegal immigration and working without authorization in Thailand".

[metisdead]

An off topic deflection post and the replies have been removed.

 

A post baiting another member has been removed.

[brianthainess]

On 6/6/2024 at 4:37 AM, webfact said:

charged 500 baht per night for rooms, starkly higher than the hotel's listed price of 300 baht.

I'd hardly call 200b Starkly Higher yes a big % more but really...........

[Denim]

On 6/6/2024 at 4:37 AM, webfact said:

His monthly salary ranged between 3,000 and 4,000 baht,

 

Living the dream.

[ChipButty]

Good advertising for OYO there, 

[steven100]

Oh dear  '       I'm glad that dangerous criminal is off the streets ...  peddling his rooms to innocent victims .....  the sad part is they become addicted and rebook .....    how many lives had he destroyed through his criminal behavior. 

[saintdomingo]

On 6/6/2024 at 6:17 PM, john donson said:

south african ? seems pretty white...

 

how did he work legally ? isn't that a thai only job 

Could be from North Africa or a Coloured South African, the descendants of Indonesian  indentured labourers who were in the Cape Province.

[still kicking]

Just to add I had a business in Thailand and used a lot of paint, normally my Thai wife used to buy the paint for about 700 Baht at one stage my wife fell sick, and I had to buy the paint and had to pay 1700 baht. But ripping of a farang seems to be OK.

[steven100]

another vicious dangerous criminal apprehended .  Is he a killer at the hotel     ?

[transam]

8 hours ago, steven100 said:

Oh dear  '       I'm glad that dangerous criminal is off the streets ...  peddling his rooms to innocent victims .....  the sad part is they become addicted and rebook .....    how many lives had he destroyed through his criminal behavior. 

If it were your family he was ripping off, I suppose you would be OK with the illegal bloke, you of similar outlook............

[transam]

2 minutes ago, steven100 said:

another vicious dangerous criminal apprehended .  Is he a killer at the hotel     ?

You seem to be lacking in right and wrong in a country that is not yours.

If you are a creep in your own country, you don't have to bring it here....

[steven100]

4 minutes ago, transam said:

If it were your family he was ripping off, I suppose you would be OK with the illegal bloke, you of similar outlook............

i'm confused ...  sorry i've had 8 beers.    what do you mean   ?

[transam]

Just now, steven100 said:

i'm confused ...  sorry i've had 8 beers.    what do you mean   ?

Then come back tomorrow............🙄