Airport Workers Stole And Sold Thousands Of Baggage Trolleys

[fred2007]

Actually 25k Baht is not a bad price for an airport trolley, they are a bit more substantial than your supermarket trolleys (well they have to survive the Weho escalator test).

And, chances are, they'll only get scrap value for them as there's not exacly a thriving market in Thailand in airport trolleys (bit of a giveaway trying to fence them).

But four thousand trolleys in four months works out at roughly 35 per day. Not exactly an undercover operation so there must be more in on it.

25k for a trolley is not a bad price? Are you kidding me I make trailers and try to sell them for 39k and everbody thinks that is expensive

[sriracha john]

AoT set to ditch trolley supply firm

Airports of Thailand will blacklist and fine the company contracted to supply luggage trolleys at Suvarnabhumi airport if the contract is terminated.

The decision on the contract with Thai Airports Ground Services (TAGS) will be made at an AoT meeting on April 9. AoT Chairman Piyaphan Champasut indicated yesterday the agency would wind up its business ties with Tags.

"If the contract termination is unavoidable, the agency will do that although AoT has a 28.5% stake in TAGS," Mr Piyaphan said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1425...ley-supply-firm

[spongeman]

Perhaps they are to be used in the next blockade of the airport , to keep the cops out?

[sriracha john]

AoT threatens to cancel TAGS' contracts with partners

Airports of Thailand has threatened to end other contracts of Thai Airport Ground Services and terminate its stake in the company, AoT Board Chairman Piyaphan Champasut says.

One day after the decision to axe the trolley deal with TAGS, Mr Piyaphan said yesterday the board was studying whether other TAGS contracts with partners could be cancelled too.

He pointed to the luggage handling service which the firm had inked with Thai Airways International as a target, saying it could be illegal because THAI had no right to allow other firms to deal with it. The right was exclusively between the national flag carrier and AoT, he added. AoT might take action against THAI over the case too, he said.

Continued:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-04-25

[sriracha john]

Airport row could lead to long court battle

TAGS says it was ready to supply all trolleys

Airports of Thailand is facing a potentially long court battle with the company supplying passenger trolleys at Suvarnabhumi airport after it decided to cancel its contract, an AoT board source says.

The source said he was surprised the board decided last week to sever its contract with Thailand Airport Ground Services, citing TAGS' failure to provide 9,034 trolleys to the airport.

He thought this course of action was the most problematic of the three options recommended by a committee set up by the airport agency to end the trolley shortage.

Continued:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-04-27

[sriracha john]

AoT defends right to sack TAGS

Airports of Thailand Plc has good reason to terminate its contract with its baggage trolley supplier and was not doing so under political pressure, AoT Chairman Piyaphan Champasut says.

Mr Piyaphan yesterday said Thai Airport Ground Services Co had been unable to fulfill its contractual obligations to supply enough trolleys for use at Suvarnabhumi airport. He said the decision had nothing to do with the trolley thefts at the airport which involved an AoT worker. This was a crime involving an individual who had now been fired.

It was TAGS' duty to see to it that the required number of trolleys in service did not fall below the number demanded in the contract, he said. Their number fell below the required total for several months.

Continued:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-04-29

[NanLaew]

If TAGS were willing to sign a contract that demands that they be responsible for replacing 'missing' trolleys without having any say in how 'security' is handled at the airport, then they don't deserve to be in business. But maybe what they were paid for 'new' carts wasn't their primary revenue stream anyway?

It all looks like the organised gravy-train for certain people at AoT, TAGS and [insert any other government agency here] became unstuck when some entrepreneurial light-fingered types, not realising that it was already someone else's cash-cow, decided that stealing the carts for scrap was easy thus opening this can of worms. I mean the audacity of these common thieves (probably from the Northeast) elbowing in on the already quite lucrative 'white-collar', city-based baggage cart 'loss' industry and depriving certain agency and government employees their annual, non-declarable but not insignificant bonus check?

You can see that it's turning into a 'who ate MY porridge?' scenario already with certain participants inferring that certain other TAGS deals (with THAI) may not be strictly legal and above board. I guess it's the recession and we can expect more and more government agency people (and their partners) who are on the 'bung' covertly whining about how their daily 'bung' has lost value in the past 6-8 months. "Someone has to pay! I have an imported Benz to pay for!"

Would never have happened in Thaksin's day IMHO.

Nice work SRJ in keeping this one current. I just didn't realise that it had such a long history.

[brahmburgers]

AoT defends right to sack TAGS

.....the trolley thefts at the airport which involved an AoT worker. This was a crime involving an individual who had now been fired.

-- Bangkok Post 2009-04-29

the thieving worker had been found, but only fired?!

I hope there's more to it. In other words, let's hope he and his fellow thieves were convicted in court and sentenced harshly, as would any thieves who stole things of similar value. Did the same kid gloves treatment befall construction workers at the airport sneaking in and raping young women? (happened repeatedly, right after airport opened).

I never cease to be amazed at the disparities of justice in Thailand. People can get severely penalized for petty crimes (dropping a cig butt on a sidewalk), yet let off easy for serious crimes such as murder (farang murdered by Thai wife).

Plus there's the endless 'assigned to inactive post' stories we hear about gov't employees who break the law - yet Thai authorities are loathe to deal effectively with law-breakers among their ranks.

[NanLaew]

^ c'mon brahmburgers. you know it's ALL about the 'bung' here in LOS; always has been, always will be and absolutely buggerall to do with farang persecution. They will <deleted> themselves faster and easier than <deleted> a foreigner, it's just there's lots less of us so our sad stories stick out like dogs <deleted>. If anyone goes to court here, then it becomes public and those carrying out 'white-collar' crime like this don't need that hassle; namely the added expense of paying off even MORE people.

I am not sure if it was somewhere on TV (probably not) that I read some academic state that as long as any country has an indolent and corrupt police force that is generally despised and disrespected, then there's not much hope of any decent and acceptable standards when it comes to crime & punishment. The MIB here serve the system of sycophantic feudal patronage quite well.

[wayfarer108]

Would never have happened in Thaksin's day IMHO.

Never heard about the CTX scanner scandal, then?

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/05/19...s_17414699.html

Trolley-snatching a bit trivial by comparison.

[BigSnake]

SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT

AoT workers 'stole and sold trolleys'

Two Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) inspectors have been suspended and accused of stealing thousands of baggage trolleys from Suvarnabhumi airport in the past four months. The two suspects are allegedly members of a gang that stole the trolleys and then sold them. AoT Corporate Communication Director Monrudee Ketphan said the two workers have been suspended and the company is taking disciplinary and legal action against them. Prateep Wichittho, Suvarnabhumi Airport's Deputy Director of Operations, said security was tight at the Bangkok airport, but the suspects were AoT staff members who claimed they were taking the trolleys away for repairs. According to an AoT source, there were 9,000 trolleys available for use by travellers when Suvarnabhumi airport opened two years ago, but only 5,000 remain in use today. The remainder are either under repair or have been stolen. For the airport's opening in September 2006, AoT purchased the trolleys at 25,000 baht apiece. AoT Chairman Vudhibhandu Vichairatana said there are not enough trolleys to serve passengers at Suvarnabhumi airport. Besides, their have been complaints the trolleys are too heavy and also that people in the terminal have been hurt by them. Mr Vudhibhandu ordered the AoT management to have the remaining trolleys improved. Acquisition of new trolleys is possible but AoT should not pay for them. Operators should be encouraged to deploy new trolleys paid for by advertisements on

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/250908_News/25Sep2008_news09.php

Inspectors, none the less they should preventing such things, 10 to 15 years in jail should sent a very strong message to all would be theives of government goods

[sriracha john]

TAGS takes trolley fight to Abhisit

Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum has welcomed Thai Airport Ground Services Co's (TAGS) plan to petition Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva over the termination of its contract to supply trolleys at Suvarnabhumi airport.

The minister said yesterday TAGS had the right to protest the Airports of Thailand Plc's decision to scrap the contract if it found itself to be unfairly treated. He said the company might also submit a petition to the Transport Ministry and promised to consider the complaint.

Mr Sohpon's remarks came after a report that SJ Asset Management of Malaysia, a major shareholder of TAGS, planned to ask the Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand to raise the matter with Mr Abhisit.

-- Bangkok Post 2009-05-19

[KhunAlbert]

A Malaysian Ambassador needs to get the Thai Prime Minister involved with baggage trolly difficulties?

The mind bogles.

[sriracha john]

Thai Airport Ground Services Has the Right to Petition over Dispute

The Transport Minister said the Thai Airports Ground Services or TAGS has the right to file a petition to demand compensation from the AOT.

Transportation Minister Sopon Sarum has revealed that Thai Airports Ground Services or TAGS has the right to file grievances with both the Administrative Court and the Civil Court, to demand compensation from the AOT.

He said it is also the right of the Airports of Thailand to terminate its contract with TAGS, to protect the firm’s interests.

Sopon noted that the minister is responsible for upholding justice for everyone.

As for TAGS, it claimed that the cancellation of the contract with the Airports of Thailand to provide trolleys for Suvarnabhumi Airport has affected the company’s investment image among foreigners, because there are foreign shareholders.

Sopon commented that the Airports of Thailand has clarified the issue, and the cancellation will not affect TAGS’ image, but will create foreign confidence instead.

-- Tan Network 2009-05-19

[KhunAlbert]

I was told, luggage carts at many airports are provided free in exchange for the advertising space.

Why do Bangkok's Airport carts cost more than a new Honda Motorbike and where are they now.

Sounds to me like Tony Soprano is running the place.

[Koo82]

Perhaps they are to be used in the next blockade of the airport , to keep the cops out?

[sriracha john]

AoT chases new luggage trolley deal

Lighter and stronger trolleys, equipped with a tracking system, will be deployed at Suvarnabhumi airport by the Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) if all goes according to plan. AoT Chairman Piyaphan Champasut said the terms for a bidding contest to select a new contractor would be finalised next week. It would take another four months at the most to find one, he said.

The new contractor would succeed Thai Airport Ground Services (TAGS) as the company in charge of deploying luggage carts at Suvarnabhumi airport. AoT scrapped its contract with TAGS last month over its failure to supply 9,034 trolleys within a specified period.

Mr Piyaphan said the AoT would invite only preferred contenders experienced in providing trolley services to airports serving at least 30 million passengers a year. Suvarnabhumi airport serves 45 million passengers a year. The AoT wants to have a new contractor as soon as possible for the sake of passenger convenience, Mr Piyaphan said.

Continued:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-06-08

[Lancelot]

SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT

AoT workers 'stole and sold trolleys'

AoT Corporate Communication Director Monrudee Ketphan said the two workers have been suspended and the company is taking disciplinary and legal action against them.

Were they transfered to an inactive post?

[sriracha john]

Airports of Thailand to Choose New Trolley Supplier in 4 Months

The Airports of Thailand has prepared an extra method to select a new trolley supplier after terminating its contract with Thai Airports Ground Services to provide trolleys for the Suvarnabhumi Airport. The new supplier is expected to be chosen in the next four months.

Airports of Thailand Chairman Piyaphan Jumpasut said the procedures for considering a new trolley supplier at the Suvarnabhumi Airport is currently at the stage of drafting the terms of reference. The draft is expected to be completed next week and the conclusion then will be announced in the next four months.

The AoT will announce the terms of reference to attract private companies to bid as trolley suppliers.

AoT will select a new trolley supplier to provide 9,034 baggage carts with GPRS devices and other creative tools to prevent theft.

All private companies who are interested in bidding are required to have experience in the field of airport services at an airport that serves at least 30 million air travelers per year.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Land Transport Department Chairat Sanguansue, said the department has teamed up with the Airports of Thailand to provide specific areas for taxi drivers and tour guides to work in the airport.

On June 14th, officials from related agencies, including the Land Transport Department, the Airports of Thailand, the tourism police and the central police department, will begin to strictly check whether or not the taxi drivers and tour guides have obeyed the new rules.

The highest punishment for taxi drivers who break the rules is cancellation of their car license. Tour guides will be banned from working in the airport and their photos will be posted in the public areas warning tourists of not using their services.

-- Tan Network 2009-06-08

[spongeman]

God this is a very entertaining thread. Certainly makes me smile.

Did the guy who was "borrowing" the trolleys take them one by one or push 20 of them out supermarket style ?