Pattaya Tourist Police arrest suspected Jet Ski scammers

Pattaya Tourist Police arrested 5 Jet Ski Operators early on Saturday Morning, accused of attempting to extort money from two tourists from Saudi Arabia who had earlier hired Jet Skis from the operators on Pattaya Beach. The two tourists were confronted by the operators after they arrived back to shore and they claimed that damage had been caused and they should pay for the damage in what has been described as a classic case of a Pattaya Jet Ski Scam. Initially the operators and the tourists made their way to Pattaya Police Station where they could not come to a compromise. The tourists claimed that when they left the Police Station they were prevented from returning to their hotel, the Marriott Resort & Spa, further along Pattaya Beach and threatened to either pay or encounter problems. At this point the Tourist Police became involved and did something no local Police Division had done in the past.

Full story and pictures HERE

-- Pattaya One 2011-09-24

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Way to go BIB, keep it going. But I love the phrase, "did something no local Police Division had done in the past", answers on a postcard as to what this might be.

WOW !

At this point the Tourist Police became involved and did something no local Police Division had done in the past.

because the police are on there pay role

this is the second arrest by the TP, even joked in the last post about this, but they have got involved

could this be a change? , the tourist police taking over to protect the toursits ?

hope the samui and phuket TP learn, and start to do something

A VERY BIG well done to them, and i hope they are rewarded for there actions

boater

This is indeed great news, but I wonder if this is going to lead to problems between the two law enforcement bodies

Wonder what this is really all about, the tourist police have had hundreds of opportunities to step in years ago, they never have, why now?

Miracle Thailand! Or the Pattaya Miracle.

This is the biggest news story in Pattaya for years! I hope this is not just for show and the scams will end, I am not holding my breath though.

Well dare say they are back in business as we speak, if I were those saudi men I would get out of Pattaya quick.

Well done Pattaya tourist police but don't stop there patrol ever jet ski rental area on the beach because many people are to scared to report these mafia thugs and just pay up. I very much doubt that there is one honest jet ski vendor on the beach .

Every day it is you see the same thing the scammers are not there to make money from just rentals there biggest income is scamming people.

I hope these group that have just been arrested are taken off the beach one of them thugs was involved in a fight a while back with tourists and was never charged.

they never have, why now?

Probably just some new recruits that hasn't been "trained" yet.

Volounteers doing what they are supposed to do, should be kept as the jewels of the tourist's police, however, i have the impression these "jewels" are going to disappear soon, i am sorry for the saudis....

Now this incident should make the authorities crack down hard on every jet ski vendor it will be interesting to see the what occurs.

You know in Thailand everything is about losing face.

Since the channel 3 made the report the police is losing face big time and now try to save as much as possible.I hope they will use full force to get this scum of the street beaches.

well done to Lt Colonel Arun.

reading the article it mentions the arrest in the early hrs of saturday so it safe to assume they hired the ski's sometime on the friday afternoon probably towards the end of the day, the most risky time from my observations.

And they said it would never happen.

Five arrested after tourists allege jet-ski extortion

By The Nation on Sunday

Police arrested five Thai men in front of a luxury hotel in Pattaya at about 2am yesterday after some foreign guests lodged an extortion complaint.

The five men worked for a jet-ski rental operation on Pattaya beach. The foreign tourists had rented jet skis, which sustained minor damage in an accident, following which the operator demanded compensation so great they could not afford to pay it.

The tourists went to a police station to report the incident. However, when they left the police station, they said the five men intimidated them and tried to prevent them from returning to the hotel.

The five men were charged with extortion and illegal detention.

-- The Nation 2011-09-25

I love it! This shit goes on all the time by basically the biggest scumbags in Pattaya. I know a girl who owns one of these beach chair operations. I'll ping her and see what she knows about it.

I love it! This shit goes on all the time by basically the biggest scumbags in Pattaya. I know a girl who owns one of these beach chair operations. I'll ping her and see what she knows about it.

Good stuff it would be interesting to know if they are still detained and how severe the penalty can be.

I wonder if the tourist that was brave enough to complain, have to give testimony in court? If that the case the scumbags will walk as the court will be in maybe 6 month time or thereabouts.

I wonder if the tourist that was brave enough to complain, have to give testimony in court? If that the case the scumbags will walk as the court will be in maybe 6 month time or thereabouts.

It probably will take a while but I doubt they will keep their jet ski business either way .

More in Pattaya Daily news

When the police was informed about this case they immediately arrested the five suspects in order to prevent further damage to the reputation of Pattaya since threats and extortions from jetski operators are common. The five suspects confessed on all accounts.

http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/2011/09/25/jetski-gang-tries-to-extort-thb-from-pattaya-marriott-guests/

Jetski Gang Tries To Extort THB From Pattaya Marriott Guests

PATTAYA: -- Travelling Police Pataya (TPP) arrested five men operating a jetski rental on the Pattaya beach. The gang had threatened foreign tourists after the jetski rented by the tourists and the jet was damaged. The gang wanted more than 200,000 THB for the damage. The tourists refused to pay and the gang threatened to beat the tourists. Later the gang was arrested.

Pattaya, September 24, 2011[PDN]; Pol. Lt. Col. Aroon Prompan (Travelling Police Pattaya) and Pol. Sub. Lt. Chaleaw Srichong were notified of the arrest of a gang of a jetski boat operators extorting money from tourists.

The five suspects detained are: Mr. Jaturong or “Jongrak”| Singhakam age 24, address 576/2 Moo 10 Tambon Nong Preu, Chonburi, Mr. Somporn or “Taem” Thongpraiwan age 27, from 116 Moo 3 Tambon Daanchang, Supanburi, Mr.Sripaiporn or ” Moo” Monto age 27, from 20/43 Moo 6 Tambon, Sattahip, Mr. Akkarin or “Tai” Thongpraiwan age 26 from 116 Moo 3, Tambon Daanchang, Supanburi and Mr. Aroon or “Pom” Choomkaew age 36, address 407/65 Moo 12 Tambon Nong Preu, Chonburi. All suspects are operating a jetski rental service in Pattaya Beach Soi 10-11. The arrest took place at the lobby of the Mariott Resort & Spa in Pattaya in Central Pattaya. The gang is accused of threat and they will be prosecuted according to Thai law.

Story and pictures HERE

-- PATTAYA DAILY NEWS 2011-09-25

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It looks like the police were called by the Hotel manager if you read the rest of the PDN article, in which case they would be forced to act as no way can they allow a disturbance in the lobby of the Marriot Hotel.

I've been wondering when they would screw with the wrong "tourists".

I figured it would be the "wrong" Russians, but many Saudi (and other) tourists have enough bucks that they can make pretty much anyone- anywhere- disappear.

The scammers are probably lucky they were arrested and their bodies didn't just show up in some ditch- which they just may if they're released. It's probably no longer about the money- it's about "don't mess with us". I can also imagine a scenario where a major investor in Marriott calls the CEO of Marriott and says, "My nephew is having problems at your Pattaya hotel- take care of it- or update your CV".

I cannot remember any of these thugs ever being arrested. So, maybe this will stick as so many arrests just seem to evaporate after a few days. Hopefully, this is the start of the end of this scam which has been going on for so long it has made international news. However, I am highly skeptical, hope my instincts are wrong and it stops this terrible issue.

I've been wondering when they would screw with the wrong "tourists".

I figured it would be the "wrong" Russians, but many Saudi (and other) tourists have enough bucks that they can make pretty much anyone- anywhere- disappear.

The scammers are probably lucky they were arrested and their bodies didn't just show up in some ditch- which they just may if they're released. It's probably no longer about the money- it's about "don't mess with us". I can also imagine a scenario where a major investor in Marriott calls the CEO of Marriott and says, "My nephew is having problems at your Pattaya hotel- take care of it- or update your CV".

It's always about the money in just about all issues in this country. and ..... history, from many years of spending time here, has taught me it's never the foreigners that comes out on top, it's always the Thai's. We will see. However, to insinuate a foreigner has more connections in this country than a Thai is ludicrous.

I doubt if this will stop them especially if there are still corrupt police involved There would be hundreds of guests who stay at high class hotels and get scammed big amounts once the tourist mentions his address as places like Marriot the scammers would go for bigger money than some one staying at the sunshine in soi 8. In this case they were asking 200,000 baht

Hats off to the Tourist Police in Pattaya. In Phuket the jet ski scum have been given another extension, this one for 2 years and they have been warned that they are going to be tested for drugs next week. Amazing Thailand.

The 5 men were later transferred to Pattaya Police Station for further investigation.

So, they are out again.

I thought the Mayor dragged all the boat/Jet Ski opertators into his office and gave them the ultimatume - get insurance to cover any damage/ stop the scams or lose your permit to operate

This arrest has only happened because the police for once have not sided with the scammers or given advice that the tourist should pay and let them sort it out themselves but I think it has been planned before hand by the Pattaya Police and the tourist police and they were waiting for the first slip up as it was the only way to charge them.

Lets hope if this is the case that the Police have strict instructions to keep their snouts out of the trough.

There was a scam still going on at soi 12 tonight , now i think the scammers will try and keep the tourists on the beach as long as possible to get money and they will probably make a quick deal if the people start calling the police.