Bangkok: Ex-bank employee held for selling fake money

[webfact]

Ex-bank employee held for selling fake money
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has arrested a former bank employee for allegedly selling fake banknotes of several foreign currencies, including the US dollar.

However, the suspect insisted the notes were real but damaged, which is why he could sell them for three times less.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith and his deputy Pol Colonel Yannapol Yungyuen told the press yesterday that the department, in conjunction with a US Secret Service team, had arrested Pisit Ritthikulpipatin from Bangkok's Beung Kum district as part of a sting operation.

Officials also seized 1,000 US$100 banknotes in the 67-year-old suspect's possession.

The real value of the banknotes is about Bt3 million, but Pisit allegedly tried to sell them to an undercover official for just Bt800,000. Officials also found a banknote detection device, as well as some documents about counterfeit banknotes and foreign currency trade at the suspect's home.

Initial investigation found that the suspect used to work at a bank in the foreign currency division. Pisit claimed the banknotes were real but had been pulled out of |the system because they were damaged.

Yannapol also quoted the suspect as saying that the banknotes were only sold to certain targeted groups. However, the DSI official said that since orders for allegedly making banknotes were also found at his home, it is suspected that he had done this job for years.

The suspect initially admitted to being a retailer, not a fake banknote maker as accused.


-- The Nation 2013-09-19

[ChrisY1]

Another idiot.....great news this morning in TV )

[Thai at Heart]

Another idiot.....great news this morning in TV )

Indeed. Every facet of corruption, incompetence and greed today, with a bit of flooding thrown in.

[SOTIRIOS]

...the bank which will remain nameless.....maybe this is only the tip of the iceberg......

[noitom]

This story is an example of very poor journalism. First it states "fake" currency, then it states 1000 $100 dollar bills were in his possession worth over 3 million baht which would be the approximate value of 1,000 "real" notes. They should have flipped this guy to find out which branch and bank this guy worked for and it should be under investigation and then nail his backers.

[Neilly]

Pisit claimed the banknotes were real but had been pulled out of |the system because they were damaged.

So he took them home to look after them??? Think someone is telling porky pies

[belg]

greed suits them all

[jaltsc]

Can I use the fake money to pay for fake love???

[lee b]

If a picture of the bank he worked at was shown, would they paint over the logo like Thai air did? Makes me wonder..

[ThaidDown]

also quoted the suspect as saying that the banknotes were only sold to certain targeted groups.

I suppose the main targeted groups would be the greedy and the gullible.

[bob4you]

Unfortunately so many Thai's think if they lie with a straight face that people have to/will believe them.

[GentlemanJim]

Well, I just hope for his sake that he is tried and punished in Thailand, because as the US Secret service were involved and also the US Dollar,if he is extradited for crimes against the US (remember the guy who owned the internet company that you could copy movies etc that only had some server traffic routing through the US, for example) then he would probably be looking at a 30 year stretch in the US. He might be lucky to get away with 3 years here. Stupid is as stupid does.

[bangon04]

Well, I just hope for his sake that he is tried and punished in Thailand, because as the US Secret service were involved and also the US Dollar,if he is extradited for crimes against the US (remember the guy who owned the internet company that you could copy movies etc that only had some server traffic routing through the US, for example) then he would probably be looking at a 30 year stretch in the US. He might be lucky to get away with 3 years here. Stupid is as stupid does.

Maybe if the Thai generals are looking for some favours from the US , then this guy might indeed get extradited...

On the other hand, the US probably wants more favours from Thailand these days.....