Embarrassment For Australia As German Criminal Escapes In Thailand

[webfact]

Embarrassment for Australia as German criminal escapes in Thailand

SYDNEY: -- Australian authorities were accused Tuesday of trying to cover up the "hugely embarrassing" escape of a criminal being escorted through Bangkok by security guards en route to Germany.

Member of Parliament Eric Abetz said two guards hired by the immigration department were asleep on the job when 25-year-old Carlo Konstantin Kohl escaped through an emergency exit in the transit area of Bangkok’s international airport on May 15.

The connecting Thai Airways International flight in Bangkok to Frankfurt was delayed, and Kohl managed to flee on the pretext of taking a shower.

Thai authorities said they believe Kohl is on the run in Thailand and have posted a reward for his capture.


-- The Nation 2013-05-28

[webfact]

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.

Immigration department chief Martin Bowles confirmed the May 15 incident but denied Thai media reports that the two guards, from a private firm that runs Australia's immigration security, were asleep when he got away.

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

Conservative Senator Eric Abetz blasted Bowles for the "pretty big and embarrassing issue for Australia as a nation, let alone for the department administering this".

According to Thailand's Bangkok Post newspaper, Thai police were not informed that Australia was transiting Kohl through Suvarnabhumi.

"All the bureau can say now is that suspect is not in the airport," Suwichpol Imjairach, division two chief of the immigration bureau, was quoted as saying.

"But it remains a mystery where he is now and how he managed to get out of the airport."

The Sydney Morning Herald said a Thai police probe had concluded the guards fell asleep and Kohl fled the airport by slipping through a fire exit door he disarmed by disconnecting the electricity.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-05-28

[NongKhaiKid]

The Aussie Immigration Chief says he was told the guards were not asleep so doesn't that just make the situation worse as if they were wide awake how did they manage to lose their prisoner ? As they say in the newspaper business this story has " legs ".

[KonKorat]

A jewel and opal thief,i hope they don't leave any stone unturned hehehe

[Thai at Heart]

Do we really need 3 or 4 threads running on this?

Surely it is equally embarrasing that the bloke managed to get out of the airport quite so easily?

[americaninbangkok]

When will the media point out that:

A. It is equally embarrassing for Thai immigration that this person escaped the in-transit lounge and managed to enter the Kingdom illegally?

B. The longer he remains free, the more reflective it is of Thai law enforcement's incompetence in tracking down a criminal?

[LindsayBKK]

http://www.news.com.au/world-news/gang-suspect-escapes-australian-officers-at-airport/story-fndir2ev-1226652014184

Well nobody seems to know where he is and Australian Authorities seem to think he is still in Thailand.

[attento]

Surely, the Thai Immigration Dept., and Police have a secure containment area at the airport, without unlocked exit doors to the outside world ?

If they dont have secure rooms, then they could have used some form of direct restraint during the detention period, e.g. 'handcuffs'

Edited May 28, 2013 by attento

[chainarong]

The problem I've got is that this contracting company have stuffed up plenty of times before, from prisoners escaping from court rooms to jumping out of vehicles during transfer to prisoners having died during transfer, one case just finished in Perth , dragged on for years, the Question is why the State authorities are still using this company , this is just a repeat of many stuff ups from this crowd, hence the question from the M.P, only this time they've excelled themselves, by going International.

[bigbamboo]

To have one guard fall asleep on the job may be considered unfortunate, to have two do so looks like carelessness.

Of course it could be that Wayne and Shane had been at the local amber nectar and being Aussies weren't used to strong beer.

[BrianCR]

Ah, now no one is blaming the Thai police! Yesterdays posters were insistent in telling us how badly organized the Thai's were and how it just had to be their fault! A new day and a new back track! LOL

[Bluespunk]

Surely, the Thai Immigration Dept., and Police have a secure containment area at the airport, without unlocked exit doors to the outside world ?

If they dont have secure rooms, then they could have used some form of direct restraint during the detention period, e.g. 'handcuffs'

I'm sure that if the Thai authorities had been made aware that there was a prisoner in transit they could have provided a secure containment area. They weren't, so they didn't.

[bra]

This is having a good run on Australian TV tonight. Of course there are denials from the Government that anyone was asleep, but as a previous post has pointed out the contracting prisoner transfer company has form. The strange part, if true as has been reported, is that the prisoner volunteered to return to Germany - so why escape? Perhaps he planned to flee in transit at BKK? One night (or several) in Bangkok makes the heart beat faster!

[Hamlet07]

To have one guard fall asleep on the job may be considered unfortunate, to have two do so looks like carelessness.

Of course it could be that Wayne and Shane had been at the local amber nectar and being Aussies weren't used to strong beer.

Strong beer !! Are you serious ?? we're Aussies ! when we are born we're slapped on the arse and given a 'pint'

Edited May 29, 2013 by metisdead
Large font reset to normal.

[DocN]

Yes, indeed it is very embarrassing for the Australians.

But sure not for the Thai- security at the Airport, who let a guy get out of the Airport, who was not in possession of a passport and obviously not checked at all....

Lets say, it was a case of the blind leading the blind!

[BookMan]

To have one guard fall asleep on the job may be considered unfortunate, to have two do so looks like carelessness.

Of course it could be that Wayne and Shane had been at the local amber nectar and being Aussies weren't used to strong beer.

They were probably getting a bit of shut-eye before heading down to Pattaya for a big one

[BookMan]

To have one guard fall asleep on the job may be considered unfortunate, to have two do so looks like carelessness.

Of course it could be that Wayne and Shane had been at the local amber nectar and being Aussies weren't used to strong beer.

Strong beer !! Are you serious ?? we're Aussies ! when we are born we're slapped on the arse and given a 'pint'

Some of the beers are almost 5% now!

[sunshine51]

Hurry Up...Get Chalerm on the job...case solved in 3 weeks...errrrrrr...

[geriatrickid]

Ah, now no one is blaming the Thai police! Yesterdays posters were insistent in telling us how badly organized the Thai's were and how it just had to be their fault! A new day and a new back track! LOL

I have not commented yet, nor joined the blame game. However, the protocol is that foreign agents are not supposed to be unattended. A Thai escort is assigned. This would have either been an officer or official from either immigration or the RTP, or would have include both. Remember, foreign agents are not allowed to operate in an official capacity unless accompanied by a Thai official. IMO there is more to this story than has been printed.

[Halion]

Ah, now no one is blaming the Thai police! Yesterdays posters were insistent in telling us how badly organized the Thai's were and how it just had to be their fault! A new day and a new back track! LOL

Not exactly. In Thailand the Thai police are in fact in charge of the immigration protocols and between them and AOT there shoiud have been no way in hell that any transit passenger could exit the airport from a transit lounge let alone a passenger in custody. However having said that it is also true that there should have been no way that this slippery bugger could have evaded his contract gardians. For me it is a massive cock up highlighting gross negligence all round.

[ripstanley]

The problem I've got is that this contracting company have stuffed up plenty of times before, from prisoners escaping from court rooms to jumping out of vehicles during transfer to prisoners having died during transfer, one case just finished in Perth , dragged on for years, the Question is why the State authorities are still using this company , this is just a repeat of many stuff ups from this crowd, hence the question from the M.P, only this time they've excelled themselves, by going International.

The government hire outside agencies and this is the result. Cost cutting dose not work as stated above.

[bombis]

Funny how the first comments are always blaming the Thais right away... typical farang.

To me, if the Australians would have been smart enough to tell the Thai authorities that they are transferring a criminal (which would have been normal procedure), the security could have been better.

Like this, its simply the Australians fault that they lost him. How can 2 people loose their prisoner??? And he told them he is taking a shower? That was it? Sounds too easy to me.

[moonray]

I do not understand all this fuss about this incident.Petty criminal was deported from Australia after serving 3 yrs long sentence.

He is not wanted for war crimes against humanity,he did not kill anybody,he is just exconvict/small time thieve.He could enter Thailand anytime

for holidays;nobody would stop him,Germans have visa exemption.

Why have you made 3 or 4 threads about him,7 or 8 pages??

Do you think - he will come to your house and he will steal your precious personal stash of Singha beers in your fridge?

Carlo!- come to my fridge,help yourself,you are welcome!

Keep going!Mate!

[Thai at Heart]

Funny how the first comments are always blaming the Thais right away... typical farang.

To me, if the Australians would have been smart enough to tell the Thai authorities that they are transferring a criminal (which would have been normal procedure), the security could have been better.

Like this, its simply the Australians fault that they lost him. How can 2 people loose their prisoner??? And he told them he is taking a shower? That was it? Sounds too easy to me.

They lost him in a building he isn't supposed to be able to exit. Essentially they lost him in a supposedly locked room.

[bigbamboo]

I do not understand all this fuss about this incident.Petty criminal was deported from Australia after serving 3 yrs long sentence.

He is not wanted for war crimes against humanity,he did not kill anybody,he is just exconvict/small time thieve.He could enter Thailand anytime

for holidays;nobody would stop him,Germans have visa exemption.

Why have you made 3 or 4 threads about him,7 or 8 pages??

Do you think - he will come to your house and he will steal your precious personal stash of Singha beers in your fridge?

Carlo!- come to my fridge,help yourself,you are welcome!

Keep going!Mate!

'Hardy Kruger' will likely never have to buy a drink in Thailand again. He will become Germany's legendary new 'One that got away.'

[americaninbangkok]

To me, if the Australians would have been smart enough to tell the Thai authorities that they are transferring a criminal (which would have been normal procedure), the security could have been better.

If the Australians told the Thai authorities first, then the Thais could have f***ed it up instead of the Australians f***ing it up!

[GrantSmith]

Does it really surprise anyone Australian, Thai or German, that neither side has apportioned blame to themselves?

Would it be the first time the shits hit the fan and the Thai governments jumped the gun and denied any involvement?

Is it the first time an Australian government has denied an international incident occurred?

We should all just kick back with a 6 pack or 7 and enjoy the shit slinging, unless you live in Patong, people be a little sensitive about drunken farangs lately

[Emdog]

Lots about this story doesn't add up. Why would Australians be escorting him back to Germany? Germany wants him, and isn't it normal that the country requesting extradition handles the transportation. Seems as soon as he is handed over for extradition, it is the Germans who carry the ball. When USA gets someone extradited to the land of the free US marshalls bring the criminal back. Why should Australia foot the bill and have the responsibility?

And I am still waiting for a photo of our man on the lam... or lamb... Could buy him a drink in Pattaya, ya know? Fair dinkum

[surangw]

If it had been a thai guard in charge of the criminal there would be lots of calls for pay offs, What are the chances this is the case with this case?

[wiki12]

Perhaps two brown envelopes did the trick?