British Couple Fights Bangkok Airport Extortionists

[jackspratt]

Who cares if it was 2 million or 2 baht.

The point of the story is FAKE POLICE at Bangkok International.

And the rest of the story is that the FAKE POLICE were arrested by the REAL POLICE at Bangkok International.

The REAL POLICE don't like others getting in on the graft out there it seems to me.

Most unusually, you are probably right.

But this seems to be getting away from both the origins of this thread (shoplifting from KP), and the sub-thread (rogue customs/excise officers and "extortionate" fines imposed thereby).

[Oberkommando]

The fake Police story certainly substantiates many claims where so-called 'officials' at Suvarnabhumi have refused to produce ID when asked.

The BBC are apparently now seriously investigating these stories from Bangkok Airport, they will break the story nationally (UK) and internationally if they deem it has enough merit.

Start here http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/pdf/tobacco.pdf

Then look at this thread http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Customs-Tobb...l&hl=excise

Thanks for the links, although those fines (imposed by Customs, no links to Excise figures) are in Baht and are nowhere near the thousands of US$ people have claimed to have been extorted out of by these excise officials for small amounts of tobacco.

Edited July 9, 2009 by Oberkommando

[Serpico]

The question is, was this handled properly or are the Police playing games and terrorizing people.

A threat of a year in jail?

Is that a proper sentence or a special just for tourists?

What happens to Thai person that takes something?

Were talking an International Airport here.

[Oberkommando]

The question is, was this handled properly or are the Police playing games and terrorizing people.

A threat of a year in jail?

Is that a proper sentence or a special just for tourists?

What happens to Thai person that takes something?

Were talking an International Airport here.

It's typical Thai Police modus operandi.

Threaten, bully and intimidate to obtain a confession or financial pay-off.

Easier than proper investigation, building a case and collecting evidence, and more profitable too.

[Serpico]

Airport visitors locked up over shoplifting at King Power.

ExPat reports of foreigners rotting in prison over Airport Theft.

"I have visited several dozen foreign prisoners at Samut Prakan Central Prison who were all arrested at the airport for minor shoplifting charges ranging from face cream to watches.

They were sentenced to between 6 months and one year in prison which shocked many lawyers that I spoke to.

They said Thai people would have been let off with a fine of a few thousand baht.

I know that for a fact as I paid the fine for one Thai person. "

[LaoPo]

Airport visitors locked up over shoplifting at King Power.

ExPat reports of foreigners rotting in prison over Airport Theft.

"I have visited several dozen foreign prisoners at Samut Prakan Central Prison who were all arrested at the airport for minor shoplifting charges ranging from face cream to watches.

They were sentenced to between 6 months and one year in prison which shocked many lawyers that I spoke to.

They said Thai people would have been let off with a fine of a few thousand baht.

I know that for a fact as I paid the fine for one Thai person. "

Link ?

LaoPo

[d0om4gloom]

8k pound is a massive amount! They should have fought it if they were innocent, why did they pay? did they steal it? giving in to these scams/extotions will make it continue! if you get in trouble you call your embassy and take it from there, REMEMBER INNOCENT UNTILL PROVEN GUILTY. Things need to change in Thailand

I can tell you live in the real world. Not ! Hope it never happens to you or you'll have been 6 months in prison before the embassy even get around to visiting you - after all the story does state the embassy would do no more than refer you to a lawyer. Things need to change ion many countries of the world, at least this couple are doing what they can to protect others from the same fate...and it seems there arte many

[denissr]

My wife and I were planning our 4th. trip to Thailand this fall to visit her brother. That is off now, looks like tourist are fair game. We can go many other places that are safe. As I read the story the Police were part of this scam, robbery, kidnapping.

[enquirer]

My wife and I were planning our 4th. trip to Thailand this fall to visit her brother. That is off now, looks like tourist are fair game. We can go many other places that are safe. As I read the story the Police were part of this scam, robbery, kidnapping.

This a serious over reaction. My daughter-in-law lives in Bangkok and my son is about to send in a Spouse Visa Application to get her back to UK (she spent 10 years in UK with some gaps between her student visas, which disqualified her from ILR).

He and I and my daughters and 4 young grandsons have been to Bangkok to meet her family, to see them married, and we have never experienced scam problems apart from the usual.

By which I mean polite persons approaching to offer help - "Wherever you are going is closed - here is a tuktuk to take you to a shopping centre/tailor/jewel sale" - easily refused. We had a wonderful week full of fun and friendliness.

My worst experience was being taken aside, at Suvarnabhumi immigration, because my passport from the last visit did not have an exit visa. I was surrounded by uniformed men - I did not record their uniforms. For 20 minutes I explained politely that I had followed the queue and had no control over whether the passport control officers stamped my exit visa or not.

Eventually they scribbled something in Thai script onto my passport and let me go back into the baggage hall. No demand for money. For all I know the scribble says "Thief/illegal immigrant" and when I tried to re-enter Thailand last December, the occupation by the yellow shirts of Suvarnabhumi and other airports prevented it, so maybe I will never know.

I am trying to say that if you use your common sense and remain alert, Bangkok is a wonderful place to be. I even have a Jimmy Choo handbag from Patpong...

And my son has just spent a month in Bangkok with his wife, no problems, lots of fun cycling along the river in the cooler evenings.

Do not write off Thailand, please.

[Serpico]

My wife and I were planning our 4th. trip to Thailand this fall to visit her brother. That is off now, looks like tourist are fair game. We can go many other places that are safe. As I read the story the Police were part of this scam, robbery, kidnapping.

Go thru this thread and decide if Thailand deserves your tourist dollars.

www.bangkokscams.com/scams-in-bangk...#jc_allComments

20 year extortion racket run on tourists at one of Thailand's main tourist attractions.

Dozens of people a day are threatened, attacked, intimidated here.

[LaoPo]

My wife and I were planning our 4th. trip to Thailand this fall to visit her brother. That is off now, looks like tourist are fair game. We can go many other places that are safe. As I read the story the Police were part of this scam, robbery, kidnapping.

Go thru this thread and decide if Thailand deserves your tourist dollars.

/www.bangkokscams.com/scams-in-bangk...#jc_allComments

20 year extortion racket run on tourists at one of Thailand's main tourist attractions.

Dozens of people a day are threatened, attacked, intimidated here.

Serpico:

why didn't you provide a link for the content you wrote ?

here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/British-Coup...74#entry2862274

LaoPo

[david96]

Question:

Were the two persons in the CCTV footage the same two that were apprehended for shoplifting? Yes/No.

Where the stolen goods found on either of the two persons or in there bags? Yes/No

They claim to have gone to the British Embassy (without their passports) contacted a

consular official and told them of their problem. Did they tell the consular official about

the GBP 8000?

It is then claimed that they refused the help offered by the Embassy.

They did not seem to have any problem obtaining the money from their UK bank, how

did they contact their bank? By telephone? by Fax? Internet banking perhaps?

Banks require proof of the person they are dealing with before they transfer money.

What if the persons apprehended had no money? All they would have to do is claim

their innocence ( that is if they were innocent of any crime) and say in effect "you

will have to charge us".

The persons who detained them (if they were the police) would have had to release

them.

There is more to this than what is in a newspaper report.

Thousands of people travel through this International Airport every day of the year

Question: How many persons are detained for an offence each year?

It does make you wonder, but of course one should always be on ones guard.

If you are going to try extortion or a scam you must make sure that your target

has money first and can pay.

[CHINWA]

Holy toledo batman. I have never heard of this happening before. Are they only hitting up British ? This could hurt tourism more than the protests do.

I have heard of this happening before, specifically with King Power 'duty free' shops at the airport. Inidan nationals get ripped off by the same shake-down. I never used to go to 'duty free' shops (because I didn't care for any of the vanity crap they carry), but now I'm a lot more wary of even going in their vicinity. This is a full tilt scam.

the couple said they were first detained at an airport office of the tourist police and later taken to cells at a police station

If it's found that the Tourist Police and regular police were in on it, then other heads should roll - not just the immediate sheisters (the Sri Lankan and store workers).

Cops from a different district should deputize a farang couple to set up a sting at the shop in question. Unfortunately, Thai police are no good at setting up stings. They've never done any for the jewelry scams that have been going on in Bkk for decades, and (as far as I know) they've never done any undercover work re; the daily scams of tourists in Bkk who are told major destinations are closed (when they're not) and thereby redirected tourists to shopping tours. I know Bkk police are only motivated by money, but it's in Thailand's interest to snuff out all scams. The biggest source of money for Thailand is tourism. TAT should get on the ball and work with non-corrupt police (oxymoron?) to do some stings and under-cover work on these scams.

and TAT will do something for sure. Unfortunately by that time there will be no more turists around. They will be enjoying in other neighbour countries where is safe to travel!!!

[cpofc]

bugger me, this has more twists and turns than a bush track!

There is definitely something rotten in Denmark!

Don't know if I am allowed to post this or not. Maybe it has been posted already. You have to admit, it gets murkier and murkier. Like a Ludlum novel. I have acutally thrashed to and fro in my own mind about this 'case'. If this is true then it should be blown worldwide. This would be the epitome of the what Thailand is, and has degenrated to over the past 5 years. Its arrogant treatment of farangs as being 'fair game', where Tourist Season has become 'Open Season'. Its two tier pricing, its ever changing immigration rules and the list is endless. And yes, I am one of those on here who would be considered a 'Thai Apologist' by some. But even I am not so stupid as to see what is going on around me. The average Thai is a decent person but they are being poisoned. The shit starts at the top and flows down! it must be stopped!

From Andrew Drummond, Bangkok, July 4 2009

An Irish scientist arrested in Thailand and accused of shoplifting at Bangkok’s international airport yesterday fled with her husband and one year old son.

Irish Mail on Sunday July 5 2009

Dr. Angela ‘ Ashie’ Norris, from Dublin, a scientist working for the international fish farming company Marine Harvest in Letterkenny, boarded a European bound flight after checking out of the city’s five star Metropolitan Hotel.

Last night they were all back at their home in Churchtown, Dublin.

Dr. Norris had been seized by Thai police at the request of King Power for alleged shoplifting after attending an International Symposium as a guest of a Kasetsart University, Bangkok.

Prior to their departure husband Dr. Ronan Loftus, a director of IdentiGen, the Dublin based company which tracks DNA in food, had flown from Dublin with their one year old son Aran. Since then he said he had been in regular contact with the Irish Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur Eugene Hutchinson and Eóin Duggan, the Deputy Head of Mission.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs have been fully informed.”

The Bobbi Brown eyeliner. But its cheaper at Bloomingdales and high street stores

The non executive Chairman of IdentiGen, Dr. Patrick Cunningham is Chief scientific advisor to the Irish government.

Dr. Norris, 41, the mother of three boys, aged 5, 4, and 1, was arrested on Thursday June 24, after allegedly stealing a ‘Bobbi Brown’ eyeliner worth 900 Thai baht (18.87 Euros) from the duty free zone at Suvarnabhumi International airport in Bangkok - a kilometre long area of duty free and designer shops, including branches of Harrods and Boots, run by King Power.

The arrest came in the middle of an international scandal over the Duty Free Zone in which claims were made that people arrested there for alleged shoplifting were being shaken down for vast amounts of money to gain their freedom.

The Irish Embassy along with other Embassies in Thailand is considering updating their travel advisory to Thailand. On Thursday last week the British Embassy was the first Embassy to issue a warning about commercial area at Suvarnabhumi International airport.

“This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Crime section (shops and stalls, particularly in market areas and at Suvarnabhumi Airport).

“You should also be careful to observe demarcation lines between shops and stalls, particularly in market areas and at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Taking items from one shop’s area to another is likely to be treated by shop staff as suspected theft. You may be arrested by the police and asked to pay a substantial fine and/or face imprisonment”

This followed the case of a British couple from Cambridge, Stephen Ingram and Xi Lin, both IT specialists who were forced to pay out the equivalent of 9337 Euros for their freedom after being accused of stealing a Givenchy wallet worth 140 Euros from an airport duty free shop.

Dr. Norris was arrested as she awaited a late night flight back to Dublin via London. She had been in Bangkok at the invitation of Kasetsart University for the ‘10th International Symposium on Genetics and Aquaculture.”

“I had been cooped up in the conference for four days and had no time to do shopping. So at the airport I bought some stuff for my children and then decided to treat myself to some make-up”.

She had approached the cashier with two items she said. She presented her boarding card and credit card and signed the slip.

Two minutes after she left she shop she said she was surrounded by security guards employed by King Power, a company run by a Thai businessman and polo playing chum of Britain’s Prince Charles.

“They were shouting at me. ‘You! You! You go jail six months!’ I did not know what they were talking about. They took the eyeliner off me and started waving it in my face. I said I had paid for it, but when I looked at the receipt it was only a receipt for 576 baht (12 Euros) for the Bobby Brown lipstick.”

Rajatewa Police station Bangok airport

“They took me to the airport police station and then to a police station outside the airport. It was terrifying. The cell was filthy and stank and was full of mosquitoes. I paced the cell all night. I did not want to sit or lie down.”

“What do I do?” she asked the Irish Mail on Sunday last week. “I have never been away from my baby son for more than four days. I have to do whatever it takes to get home.”

“ I did not steal the eyeliner. I did not intend to steal the eyeliner. But I did leave the shop without paying for it. Of course I may have to pay to go free.

“To fight the case I would have to wait for up to a year if I pleaded not guilty and several months even if I were to plead guilty. They have you and they know it.”

It was not immediately clear how Dr. Norris left Thailand. She did not appear in court but claimed authorities told her she had no case to answer. But she also claimed just hours before her departure that her passport had not been returned and no longer trusted anybody. The Irish government may have given her a second passport in her married name.

Her husband Ronan, the Director in charge of Global Development for IdentiGen said: “What is happening here is outrageous and needs to be exposed. It’s a national scandal.”

Dr Loftus has also worked for UNFAO, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation.

On June 25th Dr. Norris was given bail in the sum of 100,000 Thai baht (2097 Euros), after contacting Thai friends who said they would negotiate with the police, and then released from Rajatewa Police station near the international airport.

Late on Thursday she told the Irish Mail on Sunday: “I spent all day at the police station and prosecutor’s office. My understanding from both the police chief and the prosecutor is that there is no case to answer. They said that my passport would be returned and Immigration Police would stamp me out of the country”.

But when she went to Immigration Police Headquarters on Friday she said she was arrested again.

Close to tears she said: “We do not know what is going on. We do not trust anybody. Thailand has a public holiday for the first three days of next week. We cannot even talk to anybody. We have to leave.

“ I have only been to Bangkok once before, twenty years ago, after I left University.

“Then my friends and I fell for the local jewellery scam. By the time we reached Australia we had virtually no money left”

(The jewellery scam is a famous Bangkok scam. Tourists are told they have arrived on a special day when the government is giving massive discounts on jewellery for selected tourists. They can pay for their holidays with the profits, they are told.)

Husband Ronan, 43 added: “We have no choice but to leave. We have people who will help us. The Irish Government is being supportive.”

K.P. Company Ltd, which trades under the name King Power is owned by Vichai Ratsriaksorn, President of the Siam Polo Club and Ham Polo Club, just outside London. He has a stable of 100 polo ponies.

King Power insists it has sold evidence against the Britons, Stephen Ingram and Xi Lin, and Dr. Norris.

Managing Director Sombat Dechapanichkul said: “The evidence (CCTV) clearly shows that Mrs. Norris only presented one item to the cashier. We would like to confirm that none of our staff are involved in (any) extortion and scam.”

To support their case King Power have been putting up video clips on the internet. ( http://www.kingpower.com/2009/index.php#). Travel Trade Report in an article this week says that King Power feel victimised over the recent allegations. The company is expected shortly to put up video of Dr. Norris.

Stephen Ingram denies that the video clip implicates him and is suing for 1 million Thai baht for wrongful arrest and imprisonment. The video appears to show Xi Lin putting he wallet in her shoulder bag while Stephen Ingram looks on.

He says he has no evidence that King Power is in on the scam but was told that part of his money had already been paid to security staff at King Power.

Dr.Norris says that what she saw does not implicate her either. Dr. Norris, author of ‘Breeding for business’, needed to return home to her family and her work for Marine Harvest, which is one of the two biggest salmon farming companies in the world.

Said Stephen Ingram: “The scam does not happen until you get to the police station. We had to pay, and for that we got letters from the prosecutor’s office and police saying there was no evidence against us. The only other choice was a year in jail. But we were innocent anyway”, he told the Irish Mail on Sunday.

He said that the principal dealer, a Sri Lankan police volunteer/ translator, Sunil Rathnayaka had tried to scam him right up to the last minute. We had already paid out the equivalent of £8000 then as we were leaving he asked for another £1000. We just did not have it.

“He boasted that he had dealt with 160 other cases. He had three houses. He claimed he did it to help people. He did not need the money.”

Rathnayaka, who receives the money at an account of Siam Commercial Bank at Big C in Rajdamri Bangkok, had approached Dr. Norris, but disappeared when the scandal broke. “Don’t get a lawyer. I am the only person who can help.” he had said.

The British Embassy says that some 25 of its citizens have been arrested over the last two and a half years. They are liaising with other Embassies to build a fuller picture of what is going on.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs says that Dr.Norris had been given full consular support.

“The issue of the travel advisory is under discussion with our Consular Division, our mission in Kuala Lumpur and the Consulate in Bangkok.

I can confirm that we have no record of any

[brahmburgers]

What if the persons apprehended had no money? All they would have to do is claim

their innocence ( that is if they were innocent of any crime) and say in effect "you

will have to charge us". The persons who detained them (if they were the police) would have had to release them.

Ahem, pardon me, sir, methinks you're rather new to the way things actually transpire here in Land Of Smiles.

[cpofc]

What if the persons apprehended had no money? All they would have to do is claim

their innocence ( that is if they were innocent of any crime) and say in effect "you

will have to charge us". The persons who detained them (if they were the police) would have had to release them.

Ahem, pardon me, sir, methinks you're rather new to the way things actually transpire here in Land Of Smiles.

Yeah, but you have to admit it was funny.

[hughben]

From the Andrew Drummond blog:

I can only summarise the case as this. People, whether guilty or not, are being shaken down for large sums of money after being arrested by King Power security at Bangkok airport. A clear accusation says statements are changed in the police station to suite the result. I am not unused to these things.

[david96]

There are warnings here:

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-li...ceania/thailand

You should also be careful to observe demarcation lines between shops and stalls, particularly in market areas and at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Taking items from one shop’s area to another is likely to be treated by shop staff as suspected theft. You may be arrested by the police and asked to pay a substantial fine and/or face imprisonment.

[david96]

If he/she had purchased the item in question they would have an official receipt and the item would be in a bag or similar marked with the name of the duty free shop mentioned.

The receipt would have the time of transaction, type of payment, name and number of store

employee and details of item and quantity purchased also the store would have a record of the transaction.

But they did not, as they had stolen it from the shop.

(From the FCO website: 812,000 British Nationals visited Thailand in 2008.) How many British Nationals are charged and detained in custody by the Thai police for more than 24hrs in a 12 month period?

Question, How many?

1000?, 2000? which as a percentage of the total in one year (2008) is 0.123% and 0.246%

It is most likely a lot less, perhaps an average of 2 to 3 per day? 1 a day is 0.0445% or 365 in a year.

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-li...ceania/thailand

Yes corruption does exist in Thailand as in most non- western countries, save a thought for the Australian detained in China for "stealing state secrets" and the Australian Government

can do very little about it, even working though diplomatic channels.

If you commit a crime in a foreign country there is very little your government can do for you.

Here is an interesting article from the "Sydney Morning Herald" Australia 13/07/2009.

Reference is made to detainees in China, Thailand and Indonesia, and other S E Asian countries etc.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/the-stark-tr...c0.html?page=-1

[Serpico]

Police have taken over the best scams. They are untouchable.

Interesting story about a Tourist Police volunteer.

"A number of years ago I worked teaching English to the tourist

police(the book is incredibly good)Obviously I became reasonably

friendly with some of the officers.

After a few weeks one of them put a proposition to me re gems scams.

He wanted me to set up tourists to go

to gems shops and I would get a share of the proceeds.

I declined and

pretty much avoided him from then on.

The police are definitely complicit in the scams going on."

[david96]

Extract from post #164.

"The British Embassy says that some 25 of its citizens have been arrested over the last two and a half years".

ie.25 in a period of 30 months out of an estimated number of about 2,000,000 British Nationals

who travelled to Thailand. An average of slightly more than 1 a month.

(Based on 2008 figures).

[gleeglee]

Extract from post #164.

"The British Embassy says that some 25 of its citizens have been arrested over the last two and a half years".

ie.25 in a period of 30 months out of an estimated number of about 2,000,000 British Nationals

who travelled to Thailand. An average of slightly more than 1 a month.

(Based on 2008 figures).

Apart from Thai Visa Why as this not been in any newspaper either Thai or English language, This is a International scandal of a very serious nature. This will for sure put the final nail in Thailand's Tourist industry, In the last 2 days several friends have cancelled coming here in December.

Also about the scandal in Pattaya in regards to the huge building project THE BEACHES 200 million baht in paid deposits for top end condos in a huge water park as been stolen 5 Russians taking the company to court as the owner says it is nothing to do with his company, Once again no newspaper as printed this scandel (who will ever buy another property in Thailand again off plan) http://pattayadailynews.com/showfeature.ph...reID=0000001293 this is the only newspaper to print the story online newspaper

[Serpico]

Extract from post #164.

"The British Embassy says that some 25 of its citizens have been arrested over the last two and a half years".

ie.25 in a period of 30 months out of an estimated number of about 2,000,000 British Nationals

who travelled to Thailand. An average of slightly more than 1 a month.

(Based on 2008 figures).

25 "officially arrested"...not including the thousands that have been scammed or defrauded.

[sunholidaysun1]

Extract from post #164.

"The British Embassy says that some 25 of its citizens have been arrested over the last two and a half years".

ie.25 in a period of 30 months out of an estimated number of about 2,000,000 British Nationals

who travelled to Thailand. An average of slightly more than 1 a month.

(Based on 2008 figures).

25 "officially arrested"...not including the thousands that have been scammed or defrauded.

Well said Serpico .

Yes , I would recon every single touristthat comes here is conned in some way , from Tuk-Tuk fares to double pricing for anything government owned for tourists to visit , to basic stealing what ever way they can , when ever they can.

Honest Thai's - Your Joking.

[caf]

Extract from post #164.

"The British Embassy says that some 25 of its citizens have been arrested over the last two and a half years".

ie.25 in a period of 30 months out of an estimated number of about 2,000,000 British Nationals

who travelled to Thailand. An average of slightly more than 1 a month.

(Based on 2008 figures).

and from your same source can you tell us how many were "fined" and left in lieu of an arrest?

[david96]

Extract from post #164.

"The British Embassy says that some 25 of its citizens have been arrested over the last two and a half years".

ie.25 in a period of 30 months out of an estimated number of about 2,000,000 British Nationals

who travelled to Thailand. An average of slightly more than 1 a month.

(Based on 2008 figures).

and from your same source can you tell us how many were "fined" and left in lieu of an arrest?

That number is not known because those scammed do not report it to the Embassy and if reported they do not publish the figures.

[Arkady]

Tourists should certainly be warned not to visit Kingpower or not to come to Thailand at all. These scams have been reported for some time now and there is no sign that the government is taking any steps to stop them and preserve the tourism business. It would just take a couple of phone calls to track down the Sri Lankan dirt bag and his police accomplices and have them all locked up. Come to think of it nothing has been done about taxi touts or people who search luggage of tourists after they have already past through customs. They don't deserve to have a tourism industry.

[MongerSEA]

Tourists should certainly be warned not to visit Kingpower or not to come to Thailand at all. These scams have been reported for some time now and there is no sign that the government is taking any steps to stop them and preserve the tourism business. It would just take a couple of phone calls to track down the Sri Lankan dirt bag and his police accomplices and have them all locked up. Come to think of it nothing has been done about taxi touts or people who search luggage of tourists after they have already past through customs. They don't deserve to have a tourism industry.

Tourists are being warned not to come to Thailand. There's a tremendous amount of negative word of mouth going around in tourist circles globally now and it's only begun to take its toll on Thai tourism. The Thais have burned too many foreigners too many times and all the ads in glossy travel magazines and cut-price package tours aren't going to fix it.

[salty]

The scale of corruption in Thailand is appalling. So many are involved that any official attempt to resolve it is met with a mixture of indifference/intimidation.

I fervently hope that legitimate business in King Power has fallen dramatically in last few weeks. It could not happen to a nicer bunch of people.

[Datsun240Z]

So how does a man feel in a country full of corruption when you touch Thai soil after coming out of the plane?