South African Family's Phuket Holiday Nightmare

[webfact]

SA family's holiday nightmare

Johannesburg - A South African family’s holiday in Phuket turned into a nightmare on their last day, after the father was arrested and detained for almost a month for supposedly being in possession of fake dollars.

Gabriel Sequeira, 43, from Johannesburg was released only after his family paid out several amounts, totalling about R200 000 to local police and lawyers, reported The Star.

A delighted Sequeira arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday where he was met by his wife Carla and two of his three children. (The other was at a school camp).

His ordeal started on the last day of their 10-day family holiday in Phuket when Sequeira changed $1 000 (about R7 800) at a bank across the road from his hotel. He was arrested by police who said he had fake dollars.

Sequeira, however, said they had bought the dollars from a travel agent in Johannesburg and had exchanged them throughout their holiday with no problems.

His wife remained in Thailand while his children flew back to SA. His brother and a friend flew to Thailand to help free him.

His passport was confiscated and police continuously demanding money for his release.

Despite a letter from the travel agent insisting the money was genuine, authorities refused to release him.

Finally, after a month and about R180 000, the family’s money ran out and Sequeira’s passport was returned and he was allowed to travel back to SA.

Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/SA-familys-holiday-nightmare-20110930

-- news24.com 2011-09-30

[webfact]

'My R200 000 holiday hell'

By Botho Molosankwe

A Joburg man received a jubilant welcome at the OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday morning as he arrived home from a month-long nightmare ordeal that cost his family R200 000.

Gabriel Sequeira was finally united with his family weeks after their 10-day holiday in Phuket, Thailand turned sour.

Sequeira was arrested on charges of being in possession of fake dollars, had his passport confiscated for a month and had to frequently pay out sums of money to the police and lawyers to apparently finance the “case” against him.

As Sequeira faced uncertainty in Phuket, his distraught family and friends in South Africa kept depositing money into his credit card. At the same time the police kept taking it and demanding more.

A month and R180 000 later, the family pleaded poverty. They deposited their last R20 000 and the 43-year-old man was able to leave and head for South Africa after finally being given his passport in a barter agreement.

This morning the group of people who had helped secure Sequeira’s release through financial contributions and support gathered at OR Tambo under a banner proclaiming “Gabs we love you”.

Sequeira’s wife’s Carla was the first to go to him, and hugged and kissed him in the arrivals terminal.

Sequeira then embraced his 9-year-old daughter Alexis and 13-year-old son Steven. His 12-year-old son Marco was away on a school camp and unable to meet his dad.

The family’s nightmare began on the last day of their holiday.

They were about to check out of their hotel when Sequeira crossed the road to exchange $1 000 (R7 800) at the bank in order to settle his hotel bill. However, police arrested him on a charge of being in possession of alleged fake dollars.

The couple was confused because they had bought the dollars at Rennies Travel in Bedfordview, and had exchanged them throughout their stay without a problem.

They believe they were targeted because Sequeira was exchanging a large amount and police had identified him as a rich individual.

His passport and remaining dollars were confiscated and he was taken to the police holding cells where Carla was sickened by what she saw when she went to visit him.

“He was in a tiny cell the size of a toilet cubicle with about 10 other foreign men. There was a dip in the centre where they could relieve themselves and there was a guy on the floor eating food,” she said.

“Gabriel was holding onto the bars and said ‘try and get me out of here’,” she said. to me

While still in the cell a police officer brought a statement written in Thai for Sequeira to sign. He refused as he didn’t understand the document. But a New Zealander introduced to him as a tourism police officer and one of the few officials who could speak English, told him it was safe to sign the document as it was “just a formality”.

Unbeknown to Sequeira, by signing the statement he was acknowledging guilt.

He was released on R75 000 bail, but not given his passport. His children returned to South Africa on their own while Carla remained in Thailand.

Sequeira’s friend and brother flew to Phuket to try to secure his release, and although they paid money, the authorities refused to budge. A document from Rennies Travel proving that the dollars were genuine, a copy of which has been seen by The Star, was also disregarded. Efforts to seek help from both the South African and Portuguese embassies failed because Sequeira was no longer in custody, he had signed an admission of guilt and the police insisted that the matter was under control.

Disheartened, Sequeira’s supporters returned to South Africa. At some point the authorities demanded more money to take the dollars to Bangkok for forensic investigation – costs of which the family had to cover.

“Basically I had to buy my way out,” Sequeira said this morning.

It was only on Wednesday, after Sequeira was given his passport to withdraw the last R20 000, that he managed to leave the country.

He paid a fine for overstaying his visa and was free to leave with no pending criminal action against him on record.

Spokesman for International Relations Clayson Monyela advised that South Africans visiting foreign countries make the high commission or embassy their first port of call. This, he said, was to make sure they are registered as visitors and given advice for that particular country. Should they run into trouble, someone will then be able to come to their assistance quickly. - The Star

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/my-r200-000-holiday-hell-1.1147472

-- iol.co.co.za 2011-09-30

[Richard4849]

So ... were the dollars fake or not?

[ginjag]

PLEASE NOTE..............This is for T.A.T. tourist authority hi so directors, it is NOT the south Thai probs--or the floods, you silly lot this is what you have to face up to and stop, these happenings at Phuket-Samui-Pattaya Bkk......The SCAMS and CORRUPTION are the main reasons with other factors that tourists are not comming back------it's mabe not stopping tourists coming ---but it's stopping them coming back. If this case is lacking in fake money evidence the government and the weight of the TAT should put an end to all this crap.

[Jimi007]

This story smells fishy. Why would anyone exchange their cash at a travel agency instead of a bank? Why would you bring US Dollars to Thailand instead of Thai Baht? It just doesn't make sense...

[Richard4849]

Fishy indeed. I wonder if the US Embassy was called to investigate, as they usually are when fake currency pops up?

[RogueExpat]

5 star hotel in Hua Hin -10,000B per night, Phuket 1500B per night.

No wonder - Get beaten up getting from the airport to town for daring to suggest a lower price to the driver, get thrown in jaol for souveniring a beer mat, get rolled by the police for using [allegedly - yeah right ] dodgy banknotes that everybody else has been accepting for 10 days prior, mugging and frequent rapes/murders, and getting extorted at immigration, or setup for shoplifting on the way out.

The crooks are slowly, but surely bleeding their cash cow to death.

[thaibeachlovers]

This story smells fishy. Why would anyone exchange their cash at a travel agency instead of a bank? Why would you bring US Dollars to Thailand instead of Thai Baht? It just doesn't make sense...

Dunno about the travel agent, perhaps he had a "good deal" or maybe that's what they do in Sth Africa.

Can't see any reference to Sth Africa currency on TV's baht rate converter, so perhaps it's not convertible in Thailand, hence the need to bring another currency.

Anyway. I'd never convert my currency to baht outside Thailand. It's always a better deal in LOS.

[SabaiBKK]

This story smells fishy. Why would anyone exchange their cash at a travel agency instead of a bank? Why would you bring US Dollars to Thailand instead of Thai Baht? It just doesn't make sense...

just maybe because you cannot buy thai baht in his town and the change rate from the travel agent was more interesting than the bank's rate , are you a PR for chalerm?

btw if you are changing your currencies to thai baht outside thailand you are getting robbed so its not really clever.

[marioc]

This story smells fishy. Why would anyone exchange their cash at a travel agency instead of a bank? Why would you bring US Dollars to Thailand instead of Thai Baht? It just doesn't make sense...

Do you think the guy could buy Thai Bath in S.A.?????????

[Jimi007]

Don't know if he could buy Thai Baht in SA. But would you exchange your money at a travel agency instead of a bank? I personally would have used an ATM card...

[ginjag]

This story smells fishy. Why would anyone exchange their cash at a travel agency instead of a bank? Why would you bring US Dollars to Thailand instead of Thai Baht? It just doesn't make sense...

Maybe they didn't realise like so many tourists, that buying bht -out of Thailand you get a very low rate. example U.K. you buy bht at the rate in many banks--about 39 to the pound if your lucky 41. arriving in say Pattaya at a booth you can get 48-ish. and the dollar has jumped this last week from 29-31 so some do get dollars and exchange here for bht............................... but this police farce has to stop--even if something was a bit wrong, why the police scam and pocket money, this is the sick stuff that has to be knocked in the head if they want tourists, if you don't want tourists then you make a big deal like this and get adverse publicity exactly opposite to what Thais are after. Miracle Thailand ????

[Jimi007]

This story smells fishy. Why would anyone exchange their cash at a travel agency instead of a bank? Why would you bring US Dollars to Thailand instead of Thai Baht? It just doesn't make sense...

Do you think the guy could buy Thai Bath in S.A.?????????

What's a Thai Bath? I usually only see showers! I use an ATM card where ever I have traveled without a problem. You get a higher exchange rate usually than cash and you won't end up in jail like this guy.

[DP25]

They believe they were targeted because Sequeira was exchanging a large amount and police had identified him as a rich individual.

Yes, a thousand dollars, I'm sure the bank had never seen money like that before and leaped at the opportunity to accuse such a high roller of counterfeiting. Nothing to do with them buying fake money, intentionally or not, at "Rennies Travel"

[softgeorge]

"He paid a fine for overstaying his visa and was free to leave with no pending criminal action against him on record."

So not only was he possibly scammed out of all his money he was incarcerated and held in Thailand for a month. Then they have the nerve to fine him for overstaying his visa ontop of everything else there in lays another scam. So if there was no pending criminal action taken then I would pressume that the notes were not fake and all the monies extorted from him over the month were returned in full.

[ginjag]

This story smells fishy. Why would anyone exchange their cash at a travel agency instead of a bank? Why would you bring US Dollars to Thailand instead of Thai Baht? It just doesn't make sense...

Do you think the guy could buy Thai Bath in S.A.?????????

What's a Thai Bath? I usually only see showers! I use an ATM card where ever I have traveled without a problem. You get a higher exchange rate usually than cash and you won't end up in jail like this guy.

A.T.M. was ok but now you lose what you gain, through 150 bht-Thai rip off,,,and admin-costs at your national bank. the best way is to have a bank here that only charges peanuts when you use an ATM, the problem is tourists do not have accounts here in general, so Dollars are not a big loser. DO NOT advertise your money to one and all--This IS Thailand.............. most countries have people who are experts in spotting weak tourists,

and especially here. But here the police are a private enterprise, expect anything anytime-do not flaunt what you have.

[scorecard]

This story smells fishy. Why would anyone exchange their cash at a travel agency instead of a bank? Why would you bring US Dollars to Thailand instead of Thai Baht? It just doesn't make sense...

Do you have specific knowledge of where, typically, South African folks would change their money? Many people who come to Thailand don't go to banks to change money. Maybe in SA travel agents are usually also exchange counters.

Edited September 30, 2011 by scorecard

[scorecard]

This story smells fishy. Why would anyone exchange their cash at a travel agency instead of a bank? Why would you bring US Dollars to Thailand instead of Thai Baht? It just doesn't make sense...

Do you think the guy could buy Thai Bath in S.A.?????????

What's a Thai Bath? I usually only see showers! I use an ATM card where ever I have traveled without a problem. You get a higher exchange rate usually than cash and you won't end up in jail like this guy.

Maybe he changed Rand to US Dollars before he departed.

[Boater]

another amazing thailand story......

[chiang mai]

It's a normal practice in J'burg at least to have the travel agent take care of such things, similarly, it's also normal practice for doctors to consult over the phone and then send the prescribed medications via courier. It's not the same as Kansas I'm afraid.

[Jimi007]

This story smells fishy. Why would anyone exchange their cash at a travel agency instead of a bank? Why would you bring US Dollars to Thailand instead of Thai Baht? It just doesn't make sense...

Do you think the guy could buy Thai Bath in S.A.?????????

What's a Thai Bath? I usually only see showers! I use an ATM card where ever I have traveled without a problem. You get a higher exchange rate usually than cash and you won't end up in jail like this guy.

Maybe he changed Rand to US Dollars before he departed.

So what? If you carry around cash, be it in Dollars or Baht, you invite trouble! He found it!

[Richard4849]

So if there was no pending criminal action taken then I would pressume that the notes were not fake

Bad assumption.

It could be that the bills were in fact fake, but the police decided that they did not have enough evidence of intent to prosecute the guy.

No intent, no crime.

[laocowboy2]

Not sure about why the travel agency but it may also be a licensed money changer - I have seen that elsewhere in Thailand.

Ref why bring USD, probably because (a) THB notes are not realdily availabe - I live in Cyprus and most banks only carry terling or USD plus possibly ( that they are not too sure how much they will sopend - and do not want to have problems trying to sell back THB when returning home.

While this might be 'fishy', this has happened in other countries to friends of mine - the bank claims that notes are fake - and they are. Only the ones that are fake are not those being exchanged at the time but ones that the teller is already holding - they end up with the real ones and get rid of the fakes to the poor traveller.

This story smells fishy. Why would anyone exchange their cash at a travel agency instead of a bank? Why would you bring US Dollars to Thailand instead of Thai Baht? It just doesn't make sense...

[Orac]

So if there was no pending criminal action taken then I would pressume that the notes were not fake

Bad assumption.

It could be that the bills were in fact fake, but the police decided that they did not have enough evidence of intent to prosecute the guy.

No intent, no crime.

Why would they need evidence if he had signed a confession???

[Richard4849]

So if there was no pending criminal action taken then I would pressume that the notes were not fake

Bad assumption.

It could be that the bills were in fact fake, but the police decided that they did not have enough evidence of intent to prosecute the guy.

No intent, no crime.

Why would they need evidence if he had signed a confession???

Who knows what the "confession" said? You can't assume that he confessed to having knowingly attempted to pass counterfeit currency.

[richard_smith237]

75,000 rand is about US$9200 - Does anyone else see a disproportionate amount of bail being paid for what is otherwise a very low level crime when compared to the bail paid in other local crimes.... i.e. isn't B20,000 a figure usually thrown around for Bail charges ?

[cloudhopper]

Just another routine day on Crime Island. I really hate that fuc_king place.

[whybother]

This story smells fishy. Why would anyone exchange their cash at a travel agency instead of a bank? Why would you bring US Dollars to Thailand instead of Thai Baht? It just doesn't make sense...

I know a lot of people that will buy $US when traveling. It's much easier to change $US in most countries than baht, rand or many other currencies.

[sawadeeken]

If somebody would just call this issue to the attention of the new PM Yingluck, she should be able to get all the family's money back and the police officers involved transfered out to NIGERIA, or KENYA. I am just making a joke, but that is just what trying to clean up "CORRUPTION" is, in Thailand, just something of a joke. The high 'ranking' officials are (mostly) all in it together.

[Richard4849]

I'm not saying there was none, but where is the corruption in this story?