Doing The Rounds Via Email

[Thailand]

Received from friends in HK.

"Dear All,

My Dept secretary informed on this. Her cousin was detained in Bangkok for

stealing a box of cigarettes in a duty-free shop in Bangkok International

Airport.

He had paid for chocolates and a carton of cigarettes. The cashier put a

packet of smokes into his bag and he thought it was a free pack. He was

arrested for shop-lifting and the Thai Police extortion price was RM30,000

for his release. He spent two nights in jail and paid RM50 for an air-cond

cell, 200-300 baht for each visitor, and RM11,000 for his final release. The

Police shared the money in front of his eyes. On top of that, he was charged

in court and fined RM2,000 by the magistrate and handcuffed and escorted to

his plane. His passport was stamped "Thief". While there, his relatives

requested help from the Malaysian Embassy and was told that

they are helpless, as M'sians are victimised similarly daily and letters and

phone-calls to the Thai Authorities are ignored.

He shared a cell with a Singaporean the 1st night who paid RM60,000 for his

release. The 2nd night was an Indian national who paid USD70,000.

Mind you this is not in a shag downtown Bangkok but in a duty free shop in

Bangkok's Int'l Airport.

BE WARNED."

Maybe somebody just pissed off with someone/ something here - or---------?

[Jai Dee]

I'm currently in KL on business.

There's nothing in the press about this and the office staff have never heard of it happening.

Not to say it isn't true, but an incident like this is highly likely to hit the news services in Malaysia.

[Thailand]

I'm currently in KL on business.

There's nothing in the press about this and the office staff have never heard of it happening.

Not to say it isn't true, but an incident like this is highly likely to hit the news services in Malaysia.

My thoughts exactly- I will ask my friends what their source was.

[Jai Dee]

My thoughts exactly- I will ask my friends what their source was.

Good move.

[Jimjim]

I have heard on this forum of similar shenanigans from King Power. Thought I read a story exactly like this but with a bottle of whiskey. Can't remember exact details. Don't know if they're true because it's all on the internet...

Edit: I think I remember two being about same situations, but one was an old lady Thai national put in jail, another was a Westerner.

Edited March 27, 2009 by Jimjim

[Boater]

I have heard on this forum of similar shenanigans from King Power. Thought I read a story exactly like this but with a bottle of whiskey. Can't remember exact details. Don't know if they're true because it's all on the internet...

Edit: I think I remember two being about same situations, but one was an old lady Thai national put in jail, another was a Westerner.

i also heard the exact same story before ?

[Boater]

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thu...icle/index_html

seems true

[tlongdon]

I have heard on this forum of similar shenanigans from King Power. Thought I read a story exactly like this but with a bottle of whiskey. Can't remember exact details. Don't know if they're true because it's all on the internet...

Edit: I think I remember two being about same situations, but one was an old lady Thai national put in jail, another was a Westerner.

Reminds me of the other day, when I finally saw a scam in action.

The "you dropped a cigarette butt" thing by the police outside Benjasiri Park (next to Emporium).

Luckily, the police seemed to have picked on a farang who could handle himself by the sound of it, so I kept clear.

But just made me think about the airport scam.... don't "quite" believe it, but wouldn't put it past anyone.

[nonthaburial]

I can honestly say that I have never seen single packs of cigarettes on sale at King Power in the airpoprt. Cartons yes but single packets ????

[yumidesign]

I can honestly say that I have never seen single packs of cigarettes on sale at King Power in the airpoprt. Cartons yes but single packets ????

The Straights Times report says that it was a small packet of cigars.

Somethings not right about all this, no sources from OP and the S. Times does not relate to the OP either, the guilty ones thought that they had paid for it......

I would not buy anything from K Power at any time as all the stuff is overpriced and the shop assistans are pushy and rude by on reading this would never go near the place

[TerryLH]

"I would not buy anything from K Power at any time as all the stuff is overpriced and the shop assistans are pushy and rude by on reading this would never go near the place"

I recently bought a liter bottle of Kahlua at duty free. Outbound to HK.

The price was about 300 baht lower than the 750ml bottle at Lotus (and other stores).

Some of the other bottled beverages appeared to have good prices, as well.

The clerk/cashier was polite and helpful.

[Livinginexile]

I have heard on this forum of similar shenanigans from King Power. Thought I read a story exactly like this but with a bottle of whiskey. Can't remember exact details. Don't know if they're true because it's all on the internet...

Edit: I think I remember two being about same situations, but one was an old lady Thai national put in jail, another was a Westerner.

Reminds me of the other day, when I finally saw a scam in action.

The "you dropped a cigarette butt" thing by the police outside Benjasiri Park (next to Emporium).

Luckily, the police seemed to have picked on a farang who could handle himself by the sound of it, so I kept clear.

But just made me think about the airport scam.... don't "quite" believe it, but wouldn't put it past anyone.

Actually those guys are not police!

They are "council" officers there to control the stalls etc.

They dress like cops but they are not.

I was collared by one once, told to pay 2000 bht fine. Told them I had 100 bht in my pocket and then they insisted on comming back to my hotel!

I would like to call their bluff one day, I'm sure they have no power to arrest tourists for smoking.

[TonySoprano]

honestly, who in the world would try to steal from an airport shop? sounds like some weird elaborate scam

[Farma]

<snip>

I would like to call their bluff one day, I'm sure they have no power to arrest tourists for smoking.

My wife has 3 official warrant cards. One gives her the power to issue infringement notices to people smoking in non smoking areas. To my knowledge these cards do not give her power to arrest.

These cards look the same as official public servant ID cards. The credit card sized laminated cardboard cards have a white background with head and shoulders photo of her in uniform and a big red stamp over the information on the card.

[hhgz]

"Her cousin was detained in Bangkok for stealing a box of cigarettes in a duty-free shop..."

Well, when you steal something, you have to be responsible for your actions. I have no sympathy for a thief.

[Sabum]

"Her cousin was detained in Bangkok for stealing a box of cigarettes in a duty-free shop..."

Well, when you steal something, you have to be responsible for your actions. I have no sympathy for a thief.

Uh.. the whole point of the story was that he was INNOCENT, got reading problems do ya? If he was guilty then there wouldn't be much of a story would there?

OH JESAS! Just read the news blog, for crying out loud he was a retired high ranking government official, ya LIKE HE SHOPLIFTS A SMALL ITEM AFTER BUYING A BUNCH OF STUFF, &lt;deleted&gt; this is insane. Then the cops stole 100k off him and still convicted him with "guilty without intent" since he accidentally took the cigars that were on HIS PURCHASED ITEMS. Then they stamped him THIEF?! God this country......

Edited March 28, 2009 by Sabum

[Oberkommando]

There were Thai men claiming to be police stopping people in the arrivals hall and rifling through their bags recently.

Looking for smuggled tobacco apparently.

According to Police the airport is controlled by three mafia gangs and the Police themselves are powerless to do much about them so it surprises me things like what happened in the OP don't get reported more often.

[noise]

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thu...icle/index_html

seems true

But significantlly different than the OP's version. And, as is usual for newspapers, includes some innuendos and rumors to spice it up more.