Police investigate Pattaya links with missing Malaysian Flight

[webfact]

Police investigate Pattaya links with missing Malaysian Flight





PATTAYA: -- Pattaya Police are currently investigating reports that two tickets purchased for the missing Malaysian Airline Flight MH 370 were obtained through a Travel Agency in Pattaya.

On Monday afternoon, Police Colonel Supachai, the Pattaya Police Chief, visited two Agencies based in South and Central Pattaya which are believed to be involved in the purchase of two tickets using stolen passports.

An Italian Passport under the name of Mr. Luigi Maraldi and an Austrian Passport under the name of Mr. Christian Kozel were used to purchase two tickets online through the Grand Horizon Travel Agency based in the Pratamnuk area in South Pattaya.

They used another Agency, Six Stars Travel situated on the ground floor of Central Festival Pattaya Beach to complete the sale of the tickets on 6th March for travel on 8th March on flight number MH 370 which is currently missing and was last seen on radar close to the Southern tip of Vietnam.

Pattaya Police removed documentation from both Agencies on Monday but refused to give details to the media of exactly what they seized.

Full story: http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/121105/police-investigate-pattaya-links-with-missing-malaysian-flight/


-- Pattaya One 2014-03-10

[animatic]

Passports stolen in Phuket, surface in Pattaya to purchase tickets for a plane from KL.

Why am I not surprised both these towns are involved.

[Jingthing]

It's a travel agent's job to check passports aren't stolen? Since when?

[clockman]

Only when Thai is exposed to international media. Something gets done!

[Costas2008]

It's a travel agent's job to check passports aren't stolen? Since when?

As it is a hot subject now, and the passports were stolen in Phuket, Thai authorities have to show the international media how active and concerned they are.

Nothing to do with travel agents checking passports.

[phuketrichard]

never had my passport checked when buying tickets to anywhere,

Only been told to make sure if i need a visa

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Passports stolen in Phuket, surface in Pattaya to purchase tickets for a plane from KL.

Why am I not surprised both these towns are involved.

Why am I not surprised that the usual drivel surfaces in minutes.

Reality: Nobody even needs a passport to buy a ticket. You need it to check in, but the travel agent just cares about your dates, your name and that money is paid. A passport number may be an optional field to fill in, but you don't even need to show the actual document.

The passport is checked, of course, at check-in. And then more thoroughly at exit immigration.

Next!

Edited March 10, 2014 by WinnieTheKhwai

[JesseFrank]

Passports stolen in Phuket, surface in Pattaya to purchase tickets for a plane from KL.

Why am I not surprised both these towns are involved.

I would have been surprised if the passports were stolen in Pak chong and the tickets purchased in Saraburi.

[Chang_paarp]

In fairness to the travel agent, they only booked the ticket and were paid cash. It could have been any travel agent in any country in the world.

[MrTee]

from The Grauniad.

A Thai travel agent who booked the men with stolen passports onto the missing plane, has told the FT that the tickets were arranged with an “Iranian contact” on behalf of clients looking for cheap tickets to Europe.

Benjaporn Krutnait, owner of the Grand Horizon travel agency in Pattaya, Thailand, said the Iranian, a long-term business contact who she knew only as “Mr Ali”, first asked her to book cheap tickets to Europe for the two men on March 1. Ms Benjaporn initially reserved one of the men on a Qatar Airways flighGrauniadt and the other on Etihad.

But the tickets expired when Ms Benjaporn did not hear back from Mr Ali. When he contacted her again on Thursday, she rebooked the men on the Malaysia Airlines flight through Beijing because it was the cheapest available. Ms Benjaporn booked the tickets through China Southern Airlines via a code share arrangement.

A friend of Mr Ali paid Ms Benjaporn cash for the tickets, she said, adding that it was quite common for people to book tickets in Pattaya through middle men such as Mr Ali, who then take a commission.

Edited March 10, 2014 by MrTee

[animatic]

Passports stolen in Phuket, surface in Pattaya to purchase tickets for a plane from KL.

Why am I not surprised both these towns are involved.

Why am I not surprised that the usual drivel surfaces in minutes.

Reality: Nobody even needs a passport to buy a ticket. You need it to check in, but the travel agent just cares about your dates, your name and that money is paid. A passport number may be an optional field to fill in, but you don't even need to show the actual document.

The passport is checked, of course, at check-in. And then more thoroughly at exit immigration.

Next!

I've always been asked for passport number and personal data,

no matter where I have booked flights, including Pattaya and Phuket.

But you ignore the point that these two places have particular issues with

dodgy characters abounding in a wild west, laissez-faire, atmosphere.

Of course if all airline booking systems referenced the Interpol Database of stolen passports even weekly,

and compared names, passport numbers and passport status,

these guys would have no chance of getting on a plane.

But hey the concept must be drivel since you said it is.

Edited March 10, 2014 by animatic

[Rhodiebkk]

The rebooking of these two passengers would suggest that it was chance that these two ended up on the MAS flight.

The fact that their destinations were Germany and Sweden via Amsterdam would again suggest that these two we're hoping to enter Europe without major passport security as at Amsterdam they would have been in transit to their final destination.

This "Mr Ali" is key to what may not be a pair of terrorists, but illegals on passport scam.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[JohnThailandJohn]

The rebooking of these two passengers would suggest that it was chance that these two ended up on the MAS flight.

The fact that their destinations were Germany and Sweden via Amsterdam would again suggest that these two we're hoping to enter Europe without major passport security as at Amsterdam they would have been in transit to their final destination.

This "Mr Ali" is key to what may not be a pair of terrorists, but illegals on passport scam.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Or their bomb could have detonated prematurely.

[laurentbkk]

I am pretty sure now to leave or to enter Thailand , controls will be very very tight ... for few weeks at least ...

[laurentbkk]

The rebooking of these two passengers would suggest that it was chance that these two ended up on the MAS flight.

The fact that their destinations were Germany and Sweden via Amsterdam would again suggest that these two we're hoping to enter Europe without major passport security as at Amsterdam they would have been in transit to their final destination.

This "Mr Ali" is key to what may not be a pair of terrorists, but illegals on passport scam.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Or their bomb could have detonated prematurely.

I dont think of a bomb but more of an illegal immigration link most probably .... hope they will find this plane or the remains and find out about this ...

[upena]

Don't know about Asia, but buying a one-way ticket in America to travel overseas is a major red flag.

[OZEMADE]

As both Passports were reported stolen a year ago? I would presume the Passports would have been valid for 30 days in Thailand. So they the Visas would have expired or have been cancelled and red flagged as stolen. One of the original passport holders was on holidays here as he said in one interview, I am on the beach on holidays, I am OK.

I remember a heap of stolen Australian Passports were used by the Israeli Intelligence to murder one or two people a couple of years ago.

If you ever saw an Australian passport, you would think it impossible to add, alter or copy, but they did and these passports had the electronic ID centre page.

However that being said, the old and new passport should have been red flagged at any airport at Immigration when entering or departing a country.

[godden]

How does one investigate one's own self!!

[jinners]

Passports stolen in Phuket, surface in Pattaya to purchase tickets for a plane from KL.

Why am I not surprised both these towns are involved.

Why am I not surprised that the usual drivel surfaces in minutes.

Reality: Nobody even needs a passport to buy a ticket. You need it to check in, but the travel agent just cares about your dates, your name and that money is paid. A passport number may be an optional field to fill in, but you don't even need to show the actual document.

The passport is checked, of course, at check-in. And then more thoroughly at exit immigration.

Next!

I've always been asked for passport number and personal data,

no matter where I have booked flights, including Pattaya and Phuket.

But you ignore the point that these two places have particular issues with

dodgy characters abounding in a wild west, laissez-faire, atmosphere.

Of course if all airline booking systems referenced the Interpol Database of stolen passports even weekly,

and compared names, passport numbers and passport status,

these guys would have no chance of getting on a plane.

But hey the concept must be drivel since you said it is.

Animatic, yes you are talking drivel. I presume you hail from a one horse town where the most exciting thing that happens is when the traffic lights change from green to red? To say the following;

But you ignore the point that these two places have particular issues with

dodgy characters abounding in a wild west, laissez-faire, atmosphere.

ignores the fact that this could be said for any reasonably large town/city anywhere in the world. Couple that with sun, sand s*x and lots of disposable funds and the problem is heightened. But why make a point about those 2 places? Bash away, but please make sense.

[fakename]

So has mr Ali been found, or his friend, that actually handed the money over? I guess that the tickets were actually E-tickets, so whoever they were for, would have access to them, anywhere in the world.

[MZurf]

Passports stolen in Phuket, surface in Pattaya to purchase tickets for a plane from KL.

Why am I not surprised both these towns are involved.

Well, lots of tourists does equal lots of passports, which equals lots of opportunities for criminals the get their hands on passports.

Wouldn't be so easy stealing a passport in Nakhon Nowhere, would it?

But why let facts get in the way if there's an opportunity for some Pattaya bashing

[OZEMADE]

Passports stolen in Phuket, surface in Pattaya to purchase tickets for a plane from KL.

Why am I not surprised both these towns are involved.

Well, lots of tourists does equal lots of passports, which equals lots of opportunities for criminals the get their hands on passports.

Wouldn't be so easy stealing a passport in Nakhon Nowhere, would it?

But why let facts get in the way if there's an opportunity for some Pattaya bashing

I think the lesson here is not to leave your passport with anyone else or with any one who wants to hold your passport in exchange for hiring a bike or car. If they insist on you leaving your Passport, tell them you will hire from another company and report that company to the local police and Immigration.

It would also help if you named the company on TVF if that is allowed, it would at least help the thousands of people that read TVF for info.

[BB1950]

The rebooking of these two passengers would suggest that it was chance that these two ended up on the MAS flight.

The fact that their destinations were Germany and Sweden via Amsterdam would again suggest that these two we're hoping to enter Europe without major passport security as at Amsterdam they would have been in transit to their final destination.

This "Mr Ali" is key to what may not be a pair of terrorists, but illegals on passport scam.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Or their bomb could have detonated prematurely.

I dont think of a bomb but more of an illegal immigration link most probably .... hope they will find this plane or the remains and find out about this ...

From CNN:

Authorities said Tuesday they had identified the two passengers who used stolen passports to board missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. The two passengers in this photo are young men who entered Malaysia using valid Iranian passports, Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble said at a news conference. But they used stolen Austrian and Italian passports to board the missing Malaysian plane, he said. Their names and ages are Pouri Nourmohammadi, 18, left, and Delavar Seyed Mohammad Reza, 29, right. Officials said it's unlikely that they were part of a terrorist group.

Inspector General Khalid Abu Bakar of the Royal Malaysian Police said it doesn't appear the younger Iranian posed a threat.

"We have been checking his background. We have also checked him with other police organizations of his profile, and we believe that he is not likely to be a member of any terrorist group," Khalid said.

"After he failed to arrive in Frankfurt, the final destination of his ticket, his mother contacted authorities", Khalid said. "According to ticketing records, the ticket to Frankfurt was booked under the stolen Austrian passport."

[JohnThailandJohn]

I dont think of a bomb but more of an illegal immigration link most probably .... hope they will find this plane or the remains and find out about this ...

From CNN:

Authorities said Tuesday they had identified the two passengers who used stolen passports to board missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. The two passengers in this photo are young men who entered Malaysia using valid Iranian passports, Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble said at a news conference. But they used stolen Austrian and Italian passports to board the missing Malaysian plane, he said. Their names and ages are Pouri Nourmohammadi, 18, left, and Delavar Seyed Mohammad Reza, 29, right. Officials said it's unlikely that they were part of a terrorist group.

IMG3911jpg-3188146_p9.jpg

Inspector General Khalid Abu Bakar of the Royal Malaysian Police said it doesn't appear the younger Iranian posed a threat.

"We have been checking his background. We have also checked him with other police organizations of his profile, and we believe that he is not likely to be a member of any terrorist group," Khalid said.

"After he failed to arrive in Frankfurt, the final destination of his ticket, his mother contacted authorities", Khalid said. "According to ticketing records, the ticket to Frankfurt was booked under the stolen Austrian passport."

While it does seem more likely than not these two were not terrorists or responsible for the planes demise --- keep in mind the Boston Marathon Bombing was committed by young Muslims with no criminal background or known terrorist ties. At this point, everything related to the cause of this is speculation. Although there are many possible scenarios, terrorism has to still be up there given the sudden loss, the planes safety record, pilot experience and the fact that you had two Iranians with stolen passports on the planes using a 3rd party paying cash to buy tickets. Interesting too is how this kid, who apparently has no negative background, is involved in the underground passport trade and is willing to risk jail time and any future possibility of legally visiting his mother as opposed to applying for a visa to visit his mother. Only speculation but would seem, if he has got his money legally, he comes from a family with money or has a good job if he is able to travel around as he is doing which would make me wonder why he didn't go the legal route to visit his mother.

Edited March 11, 2014 by JohnThailandJohn

[Rimmer]

Pattaya Police investigate Iranian link with stolen passports used on Malaysian Flight

PATTAYA:--Police Colonel Supachai, the Pattaya Police Chief, revealed on Tuesday Afternoon that a 51 year old Iranian resident of Pattaya had been questioned and subsequently released after questioning in relation to the two tickets purchased with stolen passports which were used by two Iranians who boarded Malaysian Airlines flight MH 370 which is still missing.

The Colonel confirmed they had spoken with Mr. Hashem Saheb Gharani Golestani aged 51, an Iranian who has been conducting business in Pattaya for the last 7 years. He currently runs a Picture Frame Business in the City.

He is alleged to have dropped off 51,000 Baht to the Six Stars Travel Office in Central Festival Pattaya Beach on 6th March in payment of two tickets purchased under the names of Mr. Luigi Maraldi and Mr. Christian Kozel, whose passports had been previously stolen. The tickets covered a one-way journey from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to China and then onward to Frankfurt in Germany.
- See more at: http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/121297/pattaya-police-investigate-iranian-link-with-stolen-passports-used-on-malaysian-flight/#sthash.4HqgHMMg.dpuf

-- Pattaya One 2014-03-12