British Couple Fights Bangkok Airport Extortionists

[salty]

Who are the thieves? The alleged shoplifters or the airport "personnel" and their cohorts.

[stevenl]

Not alleged shoplifters, shoplifters, that is clearl;y proven by the CTV.

So they had a choice: go to jail and let the justice system take its course, or buy their way out. They were clearly guilty, so buying ended up quite expensive.

[asiawatcher]

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.

Why is this not being handled by DSI and Khun Ahbisit?

[wackysleet]

Not alleged shoplifters, shoplifters, that is clearl;y proven by the CTV.

So they had a choice: go to jail and let the justice system take its course, or buy their way out. They were clearly guilty, so buying ended up quite expensive.

If this was clearly shown as you say, then, where pray was the evidence when searched, as nothing was found on them and subsequently all charges withdrawn.

[redscouse]

There was something on Thai news this morning but I could not understand what was said, a farang guy was taken to the counter by a staff member and the staff placed something on the counter, then an asian stood next to the counter just picked up the item when nobody was looking and walked away.

Also lets not forget that the alleged thieves in this case did not have the stolen wallet on them when searched

[paul199]

A couple I know from the UK came to Thailand about 2 years ago and bought 5 sleeves of cigarettes (1000) with them from the duty free at heathrow thinking it would be cheaper for them and last their holiday, this was their first time to Thailand. When they went through customs they were stopped and checked and then escorted to a taxi and taken by the police to the police station and then the ATM MACHINE where they had to hand over £500 or else. Admittedly they should have checked Thailands laws on how many cigarettes they were allowed to bring in but this was a bit harsh.

[nontabury]

What surprises me most in all of this is the attitude of the British Embassy.

Basically refusing to get involved, and the only help offered is giving them a Thai lawyer, whose advice is to stay in Thailand and fight the case

I have lived here over 10 years, and fortunately speak enough Thai and have enough friends/contacts etc, etc, that it would be highly unlikely something like this would go very far.

But if you were here on holiday, you pay the money and get out of Dodge.

Anyone who has been here any amount of time, we all know how the system works, which is why the embassy's naivity surprises me.

Having said that, maybe it doesnt. Cushy job, dont rock the boat etc

British Embassy= Chocolate Fireguard

yes i completely agree,what the hel_l do the British embassy do apart from organising and going to cocktail parties,the powers at be would be serving the British tax payers better by closing down this office for parasites .

[britmaveric]

What do you expect the British Embassy to do for two thieves caught red handed???

[nontabury]

What do you expect the British Embassy to do for two thieves caught red handed???

The stolen item was not found on them,and even if guilty an embassy should try to protect it's citizens from scams and not just sit on their backsides

do you think if this had been two Thai people the treatment and costs would have been the same?

[britmaveric]

The wallet was found in the gents room where the thief in question dropped it to avoid it being found on his person.

If I was the British Embassy I would do nought for them especially after seeing the CCTV tape. If it were two thai people they would have been tossed in jail. (these thieves got off lucky)

Edited July 21, 2009 by britmaveric

[nontabury]

The wallet was found in the gents room where the thief in question dropped it to avoid it being found on his person.

If I was the British Embassy I would do nought for them especially after seeing the CCTV tape. If it were two Thai people they would have been tossed in jail. (these thieves got off lucky)

I didn't know that the wallet had been found in the toilet,after the Brit had visited,if this is correct and they where guilty then I've no sympathy for them. however it's still corruption if they where not found guilty by a court,and the monies(8,000)presumably did not find it's way into the states coffers,or do you know something else?

[ILOOKFORWORK]

This scam has been going on for quite a long time now. Another victim was arrested last Thursday for nicking a lipstick from King Power but I don't think thats got in the papers yet. She got bail for 100,000 baht and a Lawyer, recommended by the British Embassy, has charged her 50,000baht for his services, no receipt! I wonder if he will turn up when she does require his services now he has the money.

I know whenever I'm leaving a country I just don't go into any of these shops even just to look.

I love it all. I can't wait to see Thailand regress more and more, until they're on the same level as Burma. They're not too far away now, just a little more extortion of foreigners, suppression of human rights, ignoring the democratic processes of voting and illegally installing a prime minister, while starting a small war with Cambodia over an issue that's been decided upon for 40 years already. Wow, great going Thailand! King Power is above the law I guess

[wackysleet]

The wallet was found in the gents room where the thief in question dropped it to avoid it being found on his person.

If I was the British Embassy I would do nought for them especially after seeing the CCTV tape. If it were two thai people they would have been tossed in jail. (these thieves got off lucky)

Where did you get the info of the wallet being found in the gents toilet from, as I must have missed that piece of proof or was that just hearsay from the BIB and their cohorts or indeed if it was found, do we know for sure that it wasn't planted there.

It seems to me that this practise of extorting money rather than taking an alleged thief/thieves to court just seems to enhance the general belief that here in Thailand if you have money then you can buy your way out of any sh-t that may come your way, which just goes to show what a beautiful country we live in.

[quiksilva]

The wallet was found in the gents room where the thief in question dropped it to avoid it being found on his person.

If I was the British Embassy I would do nought for them especially after seeing the CCTV tape. If it were two Thai people they would have been tossed in jail. (these thieves got off lucky)

I didn't know that the wallet had been found in the toilet,after the Brit had visited,if this is correct and they where guilty then I've no sympathy for them. however it's still corruption if they where not found guilty by a court,and the monies(8,000)presumably did not find it's way into the states coffers,or do you know something else?

If they were innocent, why did they pay?

[stumonster]

Where did you get the info of the wallet being found in the gents toilet from,

if you go to kingpower.com and click on the link for shplifting explanation you can view video from 3 cases and a pdf document containing a statement from KP about each case

remember the video has been compressed for uploading and streaming on the web so is not the same quality as the original that would have been presented as evidence , and also take note that KP in their statements say they are not responsible for what happens after they inform the police and submit their evidence/statements.

[wackysleet]

Where did you get the info of the wallet being found in the gents toilet from,

if you go to kingpower.com and click on the link for shplifting explanation you can view video from 3 cases and a pdf document containing a statement from KP about each case

remember the video has been compressed for uploading and streaming on the web so is not the same quality as the original that would have been presented as evidence , and also take note that KP in their statements say they are not responsible for what happens after they inform the police and submit their evidence/statements.

Thanks for that info, I have to say that of the so called video evidence I've seen to date shows one thing, lousy quality, as for the statements so far, thats just what they are, someone saying one thing, unless of course they have video evidence from the toilets, now wouldn't that be something.

[hughben]

If they were innocent, why did they pay?

I think the threat of spending time in the Bangkok Hilton while awaiting a potential trial had something to do with paying the money.

That is what they use to extort money - the threat of a living hel_l hole for 'X' amount of time.

On the BBC site this has been the most shared report since it broke two days ago.

I wonder if this is being reported in the likes of Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and China where many tourists come from?

For anyone who has been to the airport, is KP still getting a lot of custom?

[caf]

The wallet was found in the gents room where the thief in question dropped it to avoid it being found on his person.

If I was the British Embassy I would do nought for them especially after seeing the CCTV tape. If it were two thai people they would have been tossed in jail. (these thieves got off lucky)

Where did you get the info of the wallet being found in the gents toilet from, as I must have missed that piece of proof or was that just hearsay from the BIB and their cohorts or indeed if it was found, do we know for sure that it wasn't planted there.

It seems to me that this practise of extorting money rather than taking an alleged thief/thieves to court just seems to enhance the general belief that here in Thailand if you have money then you can buy your way out of any sh-t that may come your way, which just goes to show what a beautiful country we live in.

I don't beleive all I read in the newspapers.

And i would take anything Britmaveric says with a pinch of salt. Look at his posts on other threads

[caf]

The wallet was found in the gents room where the thief in question dropped it to avoid it being found on his person.

If I was the British Embassy I would do nought for them especially after seeing the CCTV tape. If it were two Thai people they would have been tossed in jail. (these thieves got off lucky)

I didn't know that the wallet had been found in the toilet,after the Brit had visited,if this is correct and they where guilty then I've no sympathy for them. however it's still corruption if they where not found guilty by a court,and the monies(8,000)presumably did not find it's way into the states coffers,or do you know something else?

If they were innocent, why did they pay?

What was their real alternative? Do you talk to average Thais? Do you meet ordinary people here who know the ropes?

[hughben]

From the BBC - readers sent these:

A similar system operates in Cambodia. Police arrest foreigners in the street and you are contacted by someone who claims to have influence with the police and judges and who asks for large sums for your immediate release, which doesn't happen. I was even told at my friend's trial that the police would provide witnesses of my friend's offence if more money was not immediately provided. Even though there was no evidence against him and he was acquitted, a large sum had to be paid to the prison authorities for his release.

John Smith, Doncaster, England

Another scam at Bangkok Airport is when the Thai customs meet passengers off airplanes from Dubai/Qatar where there is cheap duty free. The customs tell passengers to put duty free items inside their check-in luggage when they take it off the carousel - or they will be prosecuted for smuggling. They then tell people that it will be OK not to show or declare any duty free items. When the passengers reach the arrivals area, the customs pounce and you are arrested and taken to customs head office at BANG NA and told to pay four times the duty or go straight to jail. There is an ATM machine next door to the customs office. Your goods are kept by the officers and they then pocket the money you have paid them and you are free to go without any criminal record.

Paul Grant, London, UK

Same happened to me in April this year. The police arrested me and charged me approx £400. There were 5 of us in our group, we purchased 1000 cigarettes at Heathrow, but on leaving the plane at Bangkok the police approached me and told me to keep them in one bag. I did as I was told, and that was the set up, so when I got through customs with the other four people they arrested me and would not accept what we told them. They took copies of my passport and made me sign at least six documents, all in Thai. They would not give me copies so at this moment I don't know what I signed. They escorted me to an ATM. I have been in touch with the British consulate who asked me if I want to make a complaint but I don't want to go to another country and find they have done something to my passport. I will never return to Thailand again, it was the scariest time of my life.

Lynn Ward, UK

[wackysleet]

The wallet was found in the gents room where the thief in question dropped it to avoid it being found on his person.

If I was the British Embassy I would do nought for them especially after seeing the CCTV tape. If it were two thai people they would have been tossed in jail. (these thieves got off lucky)

Where did you get the info of the wallet being found in the gents toilet from, as I must have missed that piece of proof or was that just hearsay from the BIB and their cohorts or indeed if it was found, do we know for sure that it wasn't planted there.

It seems to me that this practise of extorting money rather than taking an alleged thief/thieves to court just seems to enhance the general belief that here in Thailand if you have money then you can buy your way out of any sh-t that may come your way, which just goes to show what a beautiful country we live in.

I don't beleive all I read in the newspapers.

And i would take anything Britmaveric says with a pinch of salt. Look at his posts on other threads

You know, whenever there is scandal or posts concerning farangs getting into trouble with the authorities there are always people without the slightest amount of indisputable evidence except hearsay, then the hang them high brigade come out in force, it makes me wonder if some posters actually live here and experience just what goes on, not all posters that recount their experiences here are bullshi--ers in regard to the bib or the corruption in general, I say once again what are the police doing letting alleged miscreants buy their way out of trouble, if they really have proof then take them to court, but of course if there's a whiff of money involved then thats a different matter all together.

[loong]

The wallet was found in the gents room where the thief in question dropped it to avoid it being found on his person.

If I was the British Embassy I would do nought for them especially after seeing the CCTV tape. If it were two thai people they would have been tossed in jail. (these thieves got off lucky)

Where did you get the info of the wallet being found in the gents toilet from, as I must have missed that piece of proof or was that just hearsay from the BIB and their cohorts or indeed if it was found, do we know for sure that it wasn't planted there...........

In the statement from KP, the security personnel claim that they found the wallet in a bin outside the gents toilet that the man had visited. Britmaverick is wrong, nowhere has it been stated that the man dropped the wallet in the Gents.

For some reason many people who post here are prepared to believe everything that the security claims even though it is quite possible that they are involved in a scam.

Until I see a video that is clear enough to actually see the features of the people that appear to steal a wallet, I will reserve judgement. All I can say for sure is that it is a man and a woman, very similar to 100's of other couples in the airport at any one time.

[aussiejosh]

What would be really interesting if some sort of pro active news agency sent a reporter to those 'dingy' hotels to find out if any of the current guests are stuck there under the same circumstances... that seems like a natural first step for media here as the police definitely won't proactively take down something that makes a select few of them money.

[Thara]

-----------

Here is a link to the CCTV footage from kingpower and a letter from kingpower

http://www.kingpower.com/2009/popup/pop_case2.html

Edited July 21, 2009 by Thara

[MUYTHAI]

Everybody should boycott or avoid king power shops, anyway it's always more expensive than on the streets.

Exactly. Tell everyone you now to boycott all businesses owned by this company. My days in LOS are numbered. There are other countries nearby that are not as corrupt as LOS. I am tired of people trying to rip me off and sell me garbage I do not need. The cops try to shake people down, etc. There is far too much police corruption. F*&% Thailand. I know of better countries nearby. I am going to write an article in my local newspaper detailing the scenario the OP posted and all my and my friend"s experiences with this type of corruption in LOS. I will recommend that all who read my article not go to LOS and to tell all their family and friends not to go to LOS!

[verydumbubba]

You must have gotten dumped real hard

Bubba

[stumonster]

What would be really interesting if some sort of pro active news agency sent a reporter to those 'dingy' hotels to find out if any of the current guests are stuck there under the same circumstances... that seems like a natural first step for media here as the police definitely won't proactively take down something that makes a select few of them money.

I would suggest you have a read at andrew-drummond.com who has also just posted a follow up story to incident involving the Irish woman.

[daver1951]

For the more experienced travellers you can smell or sense a scam a mile away. What worries me so much about this scam is that you normally have your defences down as you are heading home etc and would not really be thinking about possible ways of getting scamed as you are leaving a country. Happened to me last month at Swampy when i was changing some money and she short counted my Thai Baht. I caught her in the act and spoke firmly to her about her actions.......mai pen rai for her ......next mug please!

Well this changes all of that...............so what to do if this happens to you?

I know don't go into any airport duty free shops or dont buy anything from the airport, don't change money you might get ripped off, don't catch taxis etc, but if for some unfortunate reason you or your partner are caught up in this scam what would you do?

Make a scene, start screaming and really lose it........or maybe faint and pretend to have a heart attack.........get as many people involved as possible..........start filming the people involved with your camera, mobile etc...........Have your lawyer on speed dial on your mobile phone?

Any ideas from the more seasoned jury members?

So you actually caught a bank teller scamming you!! You state you caught her 'in the act' and not making a mistake. A very serious accusation. What bank, SCB, TMB, IaACT? date and time? and name of teller. All this is on your receipt. You are aware they are video recorded and must account for every penny. If they are short or over.

If she had given you more than you expected would you have told her?? Because the average wage is 300 quid a month and if I will she gives a customer 1000 euros instead of 100 euros, she gets the mistake taken from her wages. Think very carefully, there is a big difference between a SCAM and a simple mistake.

If it is my bank in LOS, I WANT TO KNOW.

[harleyclarkey]

For the more experienced travellers you can smell or sense a scam a mile away. What worries me so much about this scam is that you normally have your defences down as you are heading home etc and would not really be thinking about possible ways of getting scamed as you are leaving a country. Happened to me last month at Swampy when i was changing some money and she short counted my Thai Baht. I caught her in the act and spoke firmly to her about her actions.......mai pen rai for her ......next mug please!

Well this changes all of that...............so what to do if this happens to you?

I know don't go into any airport duty free shops or dont buy anything from the airport, don't change money you might get ripped off, don't catch taxis etc, but if for some unfortunate reason you or your partner are caught up in this scam what would you do?

Make a scene, start screaming and really lose it........or maybe faint and pretend to have a heart attack.........get as many people involved as possible..........start filming the people involved with your camera, mobile etc...........Have your lawyer on speed dial on your mobile phone?

Any ideas from the more seasoned jury members?

So you actually caught a bank teller scamming you!! You state you caught her 'in the act' and not making a mistake. A very serious accusation. What bank, SCB, TMB, IaACT? date and time? and name of teller. All this is on your receipt. You are aware they are video recorded and must account for every penny. If they are short or over.

If she had given you more than you expected would you have told her?? Because the average wage is 300 quid a month and if I will she gives a customer 1000 euros instead of 100 euros, she gets the mistake taken from her wages. Think very carefully, there is a big difference between a SCAM and a simple mistake.

If it is my bank in LOS, I WANT TO KNOW.

Eh....account if they are over????....I don 't think so!!

My daughter was scammed on Khao San road right in front of me and the b**ch denied short changing her.

[neilsaunders]

I am travelling to Bangkok airport next week for the first time with my girlfriend and I am looking for advice to avoid this scam.

Does anyone know if there is a way to pass through the airport without even passing through the shopping area.

And other than avoiding the shops can anyone offer any other advice to avoid being extorted by this corruption. I mean it seems to me if they're willing to faulsely arrest you in the shops they will more than likely arrest me if I am merely walking by. Will I be safe by just avoiding the shops.