Escape From Suvarnabhumi Airport: German Ex-Convict ' Just Holidayed'

[webfact]

Ex-convict 'just holidayed'
The Nation


German ex-convict Carlo Konstantin Kohl shows how he opened a security door at Suvarnabhumi Airport

BANGKOK: -- The German ex-convict who managed to escape from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport while being escorted from Australia to Germany, said he simply wanted to enjoy the city's tourist sites before going home.

Carlo Konstantin Kohl, 25, told police investigators after being rearrested on Thursday that he had heard about many interesting places for foreign tourists - like Patpong, khao san Road and Soi Cowboy, said Immigration Police Commissioner Panu Kerdlabpol yesterday.

The man, who was arrested at the German Embassy in Bangkok, also said he was impressed after visiting those places and that he would certainly come back, according to Panu.

Police took Kohl to Suvarnabhumi in a van yesterday for a re-enactment of his escape. He was accompanied by some 50 policemen and security guards and was mobbed by a large group of media photographers and cameramen.

In a brief interview with the media at the airport, Kohl said he did not plan the escape on May 15 and that he was just "lucky".

After his escape, the German said he had remained in Bangkok the whole time. "I holidayed for two weeks. It's enjoyable - a very nice country," he said with a smile. "I want to see Thailand again; it's a beautiful country."

Kohl told investigators he had escaped from the room where he was being held, while his Australian guards were asleep. He then hid inside a ventilator shaft, according to Sita Divari, the Airports of Thailand chairman, who also accompanied the German to Suvarnabhumi yesterday.

After remaining inside the airport for about 30 hours, Kohl used a coin to open a security door's control box before cutting its wires. He managed to open the door without starting an alarm, and then jumped on a public bus heading into the city.


-- The Nation 2013-06-01

[highonthai]

Unbelievable...Why give him anymore media coverage? He's just smiling and eating up the attention.

Makes me angry.

[Payboy]

You know what they say, today's escaped convicts are tomorrows business & leisure tourists.

[moe666]

heheheeh waiting for his escape to be a Thais fault as his Aussie security guards slept.

[notmyself]

Quite funny I think.

[Thai at Heart]

TAT sponsored this article I think.

[Puyai]

Yep, funny. He didn't do anyone any harm and went off to Patpong to see the sights! I'd like to know where he got the money from?

[Bellweather]

TAT sponsored this article I think.

Oh yes very Thai. A convicted criminal heading home to face more charges escapes from his escorts, breaches airport security and remains at large for a couple of weeks yet it's played as a tourist related story on how he just had to see Bkk and will definitely return. Why are we surprised at nonsense like this ?

[notmyself]

Yep, funny. He didn't do anyone any harm and went off to Patpong to see the sights! I'd like to know where he got the money from?

lol. Ran up a tab then called the police on himself.

[bigbamboo]

Remember this story next time you're waiting in line forever at Swampy in the interests of 'security'.

[Thai at Heart]

TAT sponsored this article I think.

Oh yes very Thai. A convicted criminal heading home to face more charges escapes from his escorts, breaches airport security and remains at large for a couple of weeks yet it's played as a tourist related story on how he just had to see Bkk and will definitely return. Why are we surprised at nonsense like this ?

He just couldn't resist, and had to visit. The allure of Bangkok was just to much, and at the end he was impressed.

Quite what urge might have dragged him into town after a few years incarceration, we won't ask. Wat PRA kaew maybe?

[Songhua]

Aw, poor bloke, he only wanted to see the sights and have a holiday. He'll be welcomed back now for upholding Thailand's reputation. Maybe he could get an 'I love Thailand' tattoo on his neck and be recommended to the Tourism and Sports minister as a preferred visitor.

Not a hint of a German accent btw, he speaks like an Aussie farmer.

[kartman]

Australian Government confirms all future connecting flights for deportees will be at Pyongyang.

[noitom]

TAT sponsored this article I think.

Oh yes very Thai. A convicted criminal heading home to face more charges escapes from his escorts, breaches airport security and remains at large for a couple of weeks yet it's played as a tourist related story on how he just had to see Bkk and will definitely return. Why are we surprised at nonsense like this ?

Great point!! Instead of launching a major investigation for faulty security boxes that were contracted for, they play it like a see the sights story. He opened a security box with a coin and cut wires that didn't set off any alarm. Shocking breakdown in airport security. International organizations and airlines take note.

[retell]

Yep, funny. He didn't do anyone any harm and went off to Patpong to see the sights! I'd like to know where he got the money from?

his family send him money ,it is all in the YT clip

[KonKorat]

I reckon he's an Aussie,his accent is aussie,no hint of a German accent here.he was probably born in Germany or have German parents and lived most of his life in Australia.and it took 50 policemen to see how he unlocked the security door hahaha

[jalansanitwong]

He seems to have picked up the Aussie accent and hubris to go with it. He obviously found two years of prison life agreeable.

It takes a farang fugitive to show 100 airport security goons how things work..........strewth !

[highonthai]

"Great point!! Instead of launching a major investigation for faulty security boxes that were contracted for, they play it like a see the sights story. He opened a security box with a coin and cut wires that didn't set off any alarm. Shocking breakdown in airport security. International organizations and airlines take note."

I never even thought about that, goes to show you that airport security is in place to make us just feel safer....

[Thai at Heart]

I reckon he's an Aussie,his accent is aussie,no hint of a German accent here.he was probably born in Germany or have German parents and lived most of his life in Australia.and it took 50 policemen to see how he unlocked the security door hahaha

Glad they gave us such detailed accounts of how he disabled the door. Falang gheng, noh....

Anyone seriously think they are going to retrofit every security door at svb?

[BookMan]

I feel a little sorry for the bloke.

He wasted 30 hours of his holiday stuck in a ventilator shaft

[Thai at Heart]

"Bangkok, with getaways to fit any pocket"

[BookMan]

Aw, poor bloke, he only wanted to see the sights and have a holiday. He'll be welcomed back now for upholding Thailand's reputation. Maybe he could get an 'I love Thailand' tattoo on his neck and be recommended to the Tourism and Sports minister as a preferred visitor.

Not a hint of a German accent btw, he speaks like an Aussie farmer.

He pick up speak Thai like Pidgin English good too. Have holiday. Good time. Like Thai mak mak

[GrantSmith]

Guess he thought he could be a modern day Frank Abagnale...

[capt_canada42]

Unbelievable...Why give him anymore media coverage? He's just smiling and eating up the attention.

Makes me angry.

Good man .. tough titty dude ...glad its makes you angry ..

[NongKhaiKid]

Reflecting on this I wish he had stayed free for a little longer because, if as is suspected he was living in Khao San Road area, would it not have been the hoot of hoots if he has been there for Chalerm's walkabout and had his picture taken shaking hands with the man who is responsible for overseeing the police and internal security ?

[Gerald14]

Good on him, well done, hope the incompetent guards will have learnt a lesson

[mrxten]

I reckon he's an Aussie,his accent is aussie,no hint of a German accent here.he was probably born in Germany or have German parents and lived most of his life in Australia.and it took 50 policemen to see how he unlocked the security door hahaha

Glad they gave us such detailed accounts of how he disabled the door. Falang gheng, noh....

Anyone seriously think they are going to retrofit every security door at svb?

They are. Spent the last 5hours at airport. They where fixing door-by-door.

[Emdog]

Maybe should post to youtube as a "how to overcome Thai airport security". That is a benefit of reenactment. Now everyone can avoid those long lines at immigration! Maybe Thailand can be the next "hub of international criminals in transit". Are these the hiso tourists TOT is pursuing? "impressed after visiting those places and that he would certainly come back". I wonder if he got blacklisted. Oh, but wait! He doesn't have to go thru immigration! Do it yourself kind of guy.

[Maggusoil]

Unbelievable...Why give him anymore media coverage? He's just smiling and eating up the attention.

Makes me angry.

Good man .. tough titty dude ...glad its makes you angry ..

This German/ Australian hybrid, has two things admire at least. Initiative and a sense of humour. Not a lot of that around some of these posts . ..

[Dibbler]

Thailand, the Land of Smiles, even for escaped convicts. Would be interested to know who he was going to see at the German Embassy when he ran out of money was caught?