Suvarnabhumi Airport Security To Be Reviewed After Criminal Escapes

[wombat]

som nom na

[rubberduck]

I notice the article didn't say which nationality the guards were and i suspect if they were the German escorts this point would have been played up. I wonder too where the room he was held in was located, surely in a secure area but ...TIT.

I wonder if you know much about the differences between Thai culture and German culture.

edit: Aussies yes why not

Edited May 28, 2013 by rubberduck

[marell]

I notice the article didn't say which nationality the guards were and i suspect if they were the German escorts this point would have been played up. I wonder too where the room he was held in was located, surely in a secure area but ...TIT.

It was strange that in the last topic about this, it was stated that the Thai authorities were not informed of this transit. But now they are stating that he escaped from a room (possibly lounge?) where both his escorts were asleep and disappeared through the fire exit.

That he could exit a so called secure area (transit) is certainly an issue for AOT, a bigger issue would be the conduct of the escorts.

Does anyone know if escort duties for prisoners are covered by third party companies now, or is it the responsibility of the police from the extraditing country or receiving country?

The Post reported that he was escorted by two third party Australian guards and escaped from the transit lounge while said guards were asleep.

[chooka]

Just watching this on the Australian news and it is subject of a senate inquiry. The British company Serco who provided the security have a few questions to answer in relation to this and another incident where they lost 9 detainees last week. They were also saying that he was not in custody at the time and the security gaurds were not asleep contrary to reports comming out of Thailand. Thier apparent role was to ensure he boarded his flights only and when he failed to get his connecting flight they raised the alarm.

He recieved a 9 yr sentence in 2010 and was recently paroled and agreed to return to Germany of his own free will. They were saying he cannot be charged with escaping from lawful custody because he was not in custody. Australia had no obligation to notify Thai authorities that they were escorting a person in custody through Thailand.

Edited May 28, 2013 by chooka

[webfact]

UPDATE:

Australian guards lose German jewel thief in Bangkok

SYDNEY, May 28, 2013 (AFP) - Australian immigration officials confirmed Tuesday that a German jewel thief transiting through Bangkok under escort managed to escape his guards and flee the airport in an embarrassing bungle.

Carlo Konstantin Kohl, 25, was being extradited to Germany via Thailand when bad weather forced an extended stopover at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport and his two Australian guards decided to take him to a transit lounge.

During the overnight layover Kohl, convicted in Australia of stealing opals, drug trafficking and wanted for skipping parole in his native Germany, managed to give his escorts the slip and escape the airport.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/642604-embarrassment-for-australia-as-german-criminal-escapes-in-thailand/#entry6447382

[geovalin]

Aussies told

"Contrary to the media report the escorts were not asleep -- (that's) what I've been told," Bowles told a parliamentary hearing.

But Aussies do not understand that it's even worst to tell that! => we can make a lot of speculations and all of them aim us at thinking that Aussies are idiot. Which is not the case. Most Aussies are not like the ones mentioned in the article (Bowles + the escort).

Edited May 28, 2013 by geovalin

[lee b]

Hes the invisable man di di !

[creekside]

Just watching this on the Australian news and it is subject of a senate inquiry. The British company Serco who provided the security have a few questions to answer in relation to this and another incident where they lost 9 detainees last week. They were also saying that he was not in custody at the time and the security gaurds were not asleep contrary to reports comming out of Thailand. Thier apparent role was to ensure he boarded his flights only and when he failed to get his connecting flight they raised the alarm.

He recieved a 9 yr sentence in 2010 and was recently paroled and agreed to return to Germany of his own free will. They were saying he cannot be charged with escaping from lawful custody because he was not in custody. Australia had no obligation to notify Thai authorities that they were escorting a person in custody through Thailand.

As per AAP news, he was under custody on the flight from Australia as he was already a wanted man in Germany. He was a parole violator (from a previous German conviction) who had fled Germany.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1771760/Aust-guards-lose-thief-in-Thai-airport

Elsewhere, it is reporting:

Carlo Konstantin Kohl, 25, was being extradited to Germany

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=36746

[chooka]

Just watching this on the Australian news and it is subject of a senate inquiry. The British company Serco who provided the security have a few questions to answer in relation to this and another incident where they lost 9 detainees last week. They were also saying that he was not in custody at the time and the security gaurds were not asleep contrary to reports comming out of Thailand. Thier apparent role was to ensure he boarded his flights only and when he failed to get his connecting flight they raised the alarm.

He recieved a 9 yr sentence in 2010 and was recently paroled and agreed to return to Germany of his own free will. They were saying he cannot be charged with escaping from lawful custody because he was not in custody. Australia had no obligation to notify Thai authorities that they were escorting a person in custody through Thailand.

As per AAP news, he was under custody on the flight from Australia as he was already a wanted man in Germany. He was a parole violator (from a previous German conviction) who had fled Germany.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1771760/Aust-guards-lose-thief-in-Thai-airport

Elsewhere, it is reporting:

Carlo Konstantin Kohl, 25, was being extradited to Germany

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=36746

He wasn't being extradited. Security gaurds don't do extraditions that is left up to law enforcement and germany did not apply for extradition as they knew very well he was being deported back to germany.

[marquis22]

the sydney morning herald is one of the most trusted newspapers in the world.

they don't short cut. and if they aren't sure, they'll say so.

seems it was sort of both deportation and extradition.. as he was wanted on charges in germany..

although i'm not really sure that if you are returning back to your home country that extradition is the right word..

I did read that he is wanted in Germany and as he was being deported, the german authorities probably felt there was no need for a formal extradition order as they could just arrest him when he lands. Had it been an extradition then he would be in the custody of authorities and not rent a cop security gaurds.

The Nations story should actually read "escaped via an airport fire exit while transiting during extradition deportation from Australia."

Anyway the bright side is he is no longer in Australia and one more farang on the run, hiding out in Thailand, is not really going to upset the balance. He will probably make some very good friends, shack up with a bargirl and live happily ever after. All he needs to do is find a source of income.

Hire out the bargirl ??

[easybullet3]

The first weakness seems clear. The two security guards being asleep is a clue.

They only just discovered this flaw now?

hahahaa!!!

exactly!

I thought that "sleeping" was the job description of security guards in Thailand!

and, yes, its funny how the AOT will "look into weaknesses of the airport security system"!!

or do they prefer to let sleeping guards lay

[HerbalEd]

I notice the article didn't say which nationality the guards were and i suspect if they were the German escorts this point would have been played up. I wonder too where the room he was held in was located, surely in a secure area but ...TIT.

I would say they were German. They would have attended Australian courts for the extradition hearing and then the courts would place the defendant into the custody of Germany.

I read in previous article that he was being escorted by Interpol, so the guards might not have necessarily been German.

[gemini81]

the sydney morning herald is one of the most trusted newspapers in the world.

they don't short cut. and if they aren't sure, they'll say so.

seems it was sort of both deportation and extradition.. as he was wanted on charges in germany..

although i'm not really sure that if you are returning back to your home country that extradition is the right word..

I did read that he is wanted in Germany and as he was being deported, the german authorities probably felt there was no need for a formal extradition order as they could just arrest him when he lands. Had it been an extradition then he would be in the custody of authorities and not rent a cop security gaurds.

The Nations story should actually read "escaped via an airport fire exit while transiting during extradition deportation from Australia."

Anyway the bright side is he is no longer in Australia and one more farang on the run, hiding out in Thailand, is not really going to upset the balance. He will probably make some very good friends, shack up with a bargirl and live happily ever after. All he needs to do is find a source of income.

Hire out the bargirl ??

Or go in big time, invite the cousins & sisters & start a brothel out in the sticks...ought to be more lucrative.

[Jim walker]

Big chains and a padlock on all Emergency Exits same as Thailand
night clubs always a good idea to stop people doing a runner or getting in for
free.

[Emdog]

TOT will very firmly enforce a new rule that if security guards decide to sleep, they must do so in front of fire exits. That should take care of the issue.

[newermonkey]

Sooooo this would indicate that someone could transit through Thailand do exactly the same as he did. ie. go through an emergency exit. and stay in Thailand for the rest of your life without a visa and without all the silly hassles involved in just trying to stay here.

[chooka]

TOT will very firmly enforce a new rule that if security guards decide to sleep, they must do so in front of fire exits. That should take care of the issue.

TAT will shortly issue a statement that this incident did not and will not have any impact on tourism. All fire escapes and emergency exits will be welded shut for you convenience

Edited May 28, 2013 by chooka

[BookMan]

TOT will very firmly enforce a new rule that if security guards decide to sleep, they must do so in front of fire exits. That should take care of the issue.

[atyclb]

Although some "fire exit doors" do not open (Santika Disco) and during a fire many die, it is reassuring to know the airport fire exit doors do work, although not used during a fire.

Given the suspects criminal record, not sure if the title should be renamed to "farang in transit enters spiritual home". Could he not live a relatively normal life in Pattaya and "blend right in" ?