Fake Bomb Dectectors maker Gets 7 Years Jail..

[MB1]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23768203

A businessman from Kent who sold fake bomb detectors around the world has been jailed for seven years.

The devices made by Gary Bolton, 47, were simply boxes with handles and antennae, the Old Bailey heard.

The prosecution said he sold them for up to £10,000 each, claiming they could detect explosives. The trial heard the firm had a £3m annual turnover selling the homemade devices.

Bolton, of Redshank Road, Chatham, had denied two charges of fraud.

As sentence was passed, the judge described the equipment as "useless" and "dross".

The court was told Bolton knew the devices - which were also alleged to be able to detect drugs, tobacco, ivory and cash - did not work but continued to supply them to be sold to overseas businesses.

They were made at Bolton's home and the premises of his company Global Technology Ltd, near Ashford, and sold in more than a dozen countries, including Mexico and Thailand.

[MB1]

I wonder if he's banned from Thailand as well...

[kkerry]

 

I wonder if he's banned from Thailand as well...

 

He's not banned but the judge and prosecutor probably will be for damaging the reputation of Thailand, what with all the different Thais who said the money spent on the devices was worthwhile...

[andrew]

Thanks for sharing.

This whole saga was a disgrace.

Lives were lost here in Pattani as a consequence of this scam.

One good thing to have arisen from this dross is that Pornthip Rojanasunand has finally been exposed as a worthless fraud.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pornthip_Rojanasunand

Per WIKI:

Pornthip was a vocal and sustained supporter of the GT200, a "remote substance detector" that Pornthip and the UK manufacturer claimed could detect from a distance various substances including explosives and dead bodies. Several nations have found the devices to be fraudulent.

=============================

Note: the GT200 is just an empty box. The BBC links reveals all.

[GuestHouse]

The evidence is now a matter of public record, including that relating to who it was he bribed in Thailand.

[jbrain]

I know i'm gonna be rebuffed for this comment, but I take my hat off for this guy who was able to sell air for a fortune to government specialist all over the world.

It should be an eye opener as how these governments spend the tax payers money and claim that it is well spent.

Keep in mind that we are not talking about third world countries only, but also the country which claims to be the most powerful and smartest country on this planet.

[MB1]

The whole saga/fiasco with regards to the Detectors was a scam from the start, how people in authority though did no checks on the devices which were empty boxes to see if they actually worked is unbelievable and more so that he duped numerous countries..

As for Thailand, there were plenty of bombs around at the time to test the devices on and discover they were useless...

As for the guy posting who says he takes his hat of to the fraudster, how you can say that when these devices were putting lives at risk by those who used them and the people they thought they were trying to protect..

[andrew]

The evidence is now a matter of public record, including that relating to who it was he bribed in Thailand.

All I know for sure on this point is that the Royal Thai Army has expressed no desire to go after him.

Is this due to a loss of face on their part (ie, they invested serious cash in what is basically junk), or might it be due to other things (ie, bribery; commission; kick backs)?

I don't know.

[jbrain]

As for the guy posting who says he takes his hat of to the fraudster, how you can say that when these devices were putting lives at risk by those who used them and the people they thought they were trying to protect..

Why don't you blame your governments for that, they carry as much responsibility for it as the seller. I would say even more, because if they weren't so greedy they would have discovered it was a scam.

[MegaRanter]

The English man ranks other fraudsters, like the ones that send you tons emails for newly discovered inheritance and money transfer.

Nothing else to do but have the queen knight him right away.

[Waterloo]

7 years? I'd give him life

[MB1]

As for the guy posting who says he takes his hat of to the fraudster, how you can say that when these devices were putting lives at risk by those who used them and the people they thought they were trying to protect..

Why don't you blame your governments for that, they carry as much responsibility for it as the seller. I would say even more, because if they weren't so greedy they would have discovered it was a scam.

The governments are to blame, yes, you just can't blame the fraudster/scammer but one would think when procuring such items for national security that checks would be in place to ensure that they do what it says on the tin, but you saying you take your hat off to him is IMO wrong.

[jbrain]

As for the guy posting who says he takes his hat of to the fraudster, how you can say that when these devices were putting lives at risk by those who used them and the people they thought they were trying to protect..

Why don't you blame your governments for that, they carry as much responsibility for it as the seller. I would say even more, because if they weren't so greedy they would have discovered it was a scam.

The governments are to blame, yes, you just can't blame the fraudster/scammer but one would think when procuring such items for national security that checks would be in place to ensure that they do what it says on the tin, but you saying you take your hat off to him is IMO wrong.

Well, I see him as a business man who was able to scam an organization which scams us all the time, and it was only due to the massive greediness and irresponsibility of those governments that he succeeded.

[andrew]

As for the guy posting who says he takes his hat of to the fraudster, how you can say that when these devices were putting lives at risk by those who used them and the people they thought they were trying to protect..

Why don't you blame your governments for that, they carry as much responsibility for it as the seller. I would say even more, because if they weren't so greedy they would have discovered it was a scam.

Maybe the governments didn't know the scam was going on.

Same here in Thailand. I mean, the Army is not the Royal Thai Government.

Try to remember that the Thai Army has a fair degree of autonomy. Much of what they do is unaccountable, too.

[chrisinth]

7 years? I'd give him life

Personally, I would like to see him released, preferably somewhere like Spīn Ghar in the White mountains of Afghanistan with his little box of tricks, see how well the GT200 works for him there. <deleted>!.................

(Spīn Ghar is also known as Tora Bora..............)

[trainman34014]

Seven years to learn all about 'Thainess'....lucky him.

[MegaRanter]

A businessman from Kent.... My foot.

A fraudster from Kent, more appropriate.

If it had been a Russian or Indian or worse Nigerian, we would be on page 11 by now.

[MegaRanter]

In the words of a poster with 18000+ posts, at the bottom Is an authentic daft post.

As for the guy posting who says he takes his hat of to the fraudster, how you can say that when these devices were putting lives at risk by those who used them and the people they thought they were trying to protect..

Why don't you blame your governments for that, they carry as much responsibility for it as the seller. I would say even more, because if they weren't so greedy they would have discovered it was a scam.

The governments are to blame, yes, you just can't blame the fraudster/scammer but one would think when procuring such items for national security that checks would be in place to ensure that they do what it says on the tin, but you saying you take your hat off to him is IMO wrong.

Well, I see him as a business man who was able to scam an organization which scams us all the time, and it was only due to the massive greediness and irresponsibility of those governments that he succeeded.

[MB1]

A businessman from Kent.... My foot.

A fraudster from Kent, more appropriate.

If it had been a Russian or Indian or worse Nigerian, we would be on page 11 by now.

Yes a fraudster/scammer, just heard on the news that the fake bomb detectors cost only UK £5 to produce, and he sold them for thousands of UK pounds per piece all over the world, India, Pakistan, Mexico and Thailand, numerous other countries also, a very profitable scam, lets hope now he gets hit with the proceeds of crime act and loses plenty, if they can find it that is..

[jbrain]

A businessman from Kent.... My foot.

A fraudster from Kent, more appropriate.

If it had been a Russian or Indian or worse Nigerian, we would be on page 11 by now.

Yes a fraudster/scammer, just heard on the news that the fake bomb detectors cost only UK £5 to produce, and he sold them for thousands of UK pounds per piece all over the world, India, Pakistan, Mexico and Thailand, numerous other countries also, a very profitable scam, lets hope now he gets hit with the proceeds of crime act and loses plenty, if they can find it that is..

You forgot the smartest country on earth, the US.

[MB1]

A businessman from Kent.... My foot.

A fraudster from Kent, more appropriate.

If it had been a Russian or Indian or worse Nigerian, we would be on page 11 by now.

Yes a fraudster/scammer, just heard on the news that the fake bomb detectors cost only UK £5 to produce, and he sold them for thousands of UK pounds per piece all over the world, India, Pakistan, Mexico and Thailand, numerous other countries also, a very profitable scam, lets hope now he gets hit with the proceeds of crime act and loses plenty, if they can find it that is..

You forgot the smartest country on earth, the US.

Says who eh, I'd put the Irish way in front of the USA when it comes to smart.. ......

[mrtoad]

I think they may still even be using them in Thailand.

[jbrain]

I think they may still even be using them in Thailand.

They are, look up the previous thread where was announced that the guy was in court.

[jeanpierre]

i got one as well