Russian National Arrested for Overstaying and 1 Million Baht Bribery Attempt in Surat Thani

[webfact]

Surat Thani-On July 10th, the Koh Pha Ngan Tourist Police apprehended a suspect identified only as Mr. Denis, a 42-year-old Russian national, at a house in the Baan Tai sub-district of Koh Pha Ngan district. Mr. Denis had overstayed his visa by a staggering 175 days. During the arrest, five motorbikes were seized from him.

The police investigation began after receiving complaints about a foreigner advertising motorbike rental services on Telegram under the name “Bike Phangan Samui RENT SALE.”

 

In a sting operation, the police rented a motorbike from Mr. Denis for 2,800 baht per week.

 

By Goongnang Suksawat

 

Full story: THE PHUKET EXPRESS 2024-07-11

 

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[JoePai]

Anyone for 5 cheap bikes ?

[ChipButty]

Seems to me the immigration are targeting the Russians in KPN, 

[stoner]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Mr. Denis had overstayed his visa by a staggering 175 days.

 

175 staggering days. 

[ChipButty]

16 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

175 staggering days. 

Im staggered also

[ezzra]

So what now? 1 million in bribe not good enough now? i have heard about cost of living going up but this is 

breaking all the bribing rules.. secondly, anyone dumb enough to overstay that long and work illegally

like in your face guys, deserves what he gets...

[watchcat]

32 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Seems to me the immigration are targeting the Russians in KPN, 

 

I'm guessing that Phuket is getting rid of the riffraff.

36 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

 

 

[Gottfrid]

30 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

175 staggering days. 

Yeah, that´s like the highest ever amount! I was totally floored only by reading it. Imagine, sitting there and as owner of the problem. 😉 

[webfact]

Russian man arrested for illegal business, bribe attempt

by Petch Petpailin

 

Photo via Matichon

A Russian man attempted to secure his freedom by offering a 1 million baht bribe to Thai police after being arrested for illegally operating a motorcycle rental service in Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani.

 

Pha Ngan Tourist Police received a tip-off about a foreigner working illegally in Thailand. Following further investigation, the man was identified as a 42 year old Russian named Denis, who operated a motorcycle rental shop called Bike Phangan Samui RENT SALE.

Denis was found advertising his illegal business in a Telegram group. Most of his customers were Russian nationals living or travelling on the island.

 

Tourist Police posed as customers and contacted Denis via Telegram to inquire about the service rates. Denis revealed to the undercover officers that he offered motorcycles for rent at 2,800 baht for a week and 2,100 baht for two weeks, with a 3,500 baht deposit required from each customer.

After confirming Denis’s criminal activity, officers visited his house and arrested him yesterday, July 10. Five motorcycles used in the business were confiscated. Officers also discovered that Denis had overstayed his visa by almost six months, or 175 days.

Denis admitted that he had never renewed his visa since arriving in Thailand and had been renting out motorcycles to make a living.

 

During the arrest, Denis attempted to bribe the police for his freedom, saying he would ask his friend to bring 1 million baht to the officers within 20 minutes if they agreed to let him go.

 

Denis said he would pretend nothing had happened and that the police could take their families out for a delicious meal.

 

Police refused the bribe and took him to the Tourist Police Office for further legal proceedings. Denis reportedly remained cheerful even while in police custody. The man even gave a double thumbs-up while officers took his picture.

 

Police revealed to Channel 3 that Denis was a leading mafia gang member in his home country.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-07-11

 

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[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, stoner said:

 

175 staggering days. 

'Coz he was always on the Vodka ...........

[smedly]

and when he went to court he was fined 4000baht lol

 

this story is BS

[Korat Kiwi]

Surprised he didn't up his game and offer 2 million. 

[CallumWK]

5 minutes ago, smedly said:

and when he went to court he was fined 4000baht lol

 

this story is BS

 

I don't see anything mentioned about the 4000 baht fine.

 

Maybe it is your comment that is BS?

[brianthainess]

Denis the Menace 

[n00dle]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Seems to me the immigration are targeting the Russians in KPN, 

 

they are targeting anyone working illegally, its just that the Russians are the majority of the offenders. 

[brianthainess]

9 minutes ago, smedly said:

and when he went to court he was fined 4000baht lol

 

this story is BS

Link please ......................................................................................... Zzzzz

[Ohyesuare]

2 hours ago, JoePai said:

Anyone for 5 cheap bikes ?

 

I'm sure they'll disappear and end up in Joe Motorcycle's garage.

[n00dle]

Quote

Police revealed to Channel 3 that Denis was a leading mafia gang member in his home country.

 

 

what a hoot this is.  Criminal mastermind running a  motorcycle rental business with 5 bikes

[fondue zoo]

If only he had made it 2 million.

[Hamus Yaigh]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

overstayed his visa by a staggering 175 days

What's staggering about that? They have been overstaying in Crimea for over ten years.

[smedly]

58 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Link please ......................................................................................... Zzzzz

link

[smedly]

1 hour ago, CallumWK said:

 

I don't see anything mentioned about the 4000 baht fine.

 

Maybe it is your comment that is BS?

nasty  

[brianthainess]

No pointing he just gives a Thumbs up.   👍🏻👍🏻 .....

[NativeBob]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Tourist Police posed as customers and contacted Denis via Telegram to inquire about the service rates.

so Thai policemen pretended to be Russians? Requested info on Telegram in Russian from Russian ad? 

1 million bribe? 

once dude was arrested for 210 E-pills and got away with 20K Thb. 

This is very "staggering" story. 

Russian mafioso renting 5 scooters? 

[richard_smith237]

 

The real surprise here is that a 1 MB bribe was not accepted...    

 

Firstly its a daft amount to offer, but must really show how desperate the Russian was...  But, I find it hard to believe that the BiB did not accept this - quite astonishing.

 

[simon43]

That's an expensive rental rate.  I typically pay 2,000 baht per month!

[phetphet]

3 hours ago, JoePai said:

 

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Police revealed to Channel 3 that Denis was a leading mafia gang member in his home country.

If true, what a come down. Leading Russian mobster to renting out motorbikes to hippie backpackers. Still, better than being sent to war.  

 

Have to admire his front on offering the cops 1 million baht though. I don't think I could do it.

[Tropicalevo]

15 minutes ago, NativeBob said:

so Thai policemen pretended to be Russians? Requested info on Telegram in Russian from Russian ad? 

That is probably why the police called in the tourist police. They have volunteers of other nationalities for translations.

Here on Samui, they have a number of nationalities including a Russian speaker.

I am sure that they are also there on KPN. If not, it is a 20 minute boat trip away.

[steven100]

Cancel his Visa ....  deport him .......  confiscate his Vodka 

Deport him to the Front Line and his bikes as they were accomplices in his illegal activity.

 

Are these bike allowed in the Front Line in Crimea or only tanks allowed    ?  

 

Is he from Vasyl'evsky Ostrov  or  Vladivostok  ?

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

20 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

The real surprise here is that a 1 MB bribe was not accepted...    

 

Firstly its a daft amount to offer, but must really show how desperate the Russian was...  But, I find it hard to believe that the BiB did not accept this - quite astonishing.

 

Initially, I also thought that. Then - look at the numbers involved.

The police were involved in the initial investigation, but no Russian speakers.

They then probably call in the tourist police for the language skills.

Finally, immigration are involved for the visa details.

That is quite a few hungry people.