Phuket Immigration head warns of stricter monitoring of passports
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- Phuket’s head of Immigration has ordered officers to be more strict when inspecting passports, and to visit guesthouses and hotels in Phuket to view the guest list, in order to keep a closer eye on fraudulent passport use.

Immigration police met with identity fraud victim Luigi Maraldi, who had his passport stolen in Phuket and it was later used by someone to board the missing Malaysia Airlines flight, and have written him off as a suspect.

The head of Immigration, Pol Sr Col Sanchai Chokkayaikit, said he had ordered immigration officers to be more strict when inspecting, and to watch out for the use of fake passports on the island. Immigration officers should also scrutinize those arriving and departing from Phuket more closely, to watch for fraudulent use of passports, he said.

He said officers would be inspecting guesthouses and hotels in Phuket to view the guest list, and appealed to all foreigners in Phuket to carry their passports with them at all times.

Mr Maraldi was questioned at 2pm yesterday at Phuket Immigration, and Immigration police were confident that he was purely a victim in this case.

Col Sanchai also confirmed that Mr Maraldi only had one passport, not four as had been reported by some media.

Mr Maraldi had earlier explained to the head of Region 8 Police, Pol Lt Gen Panya Mamen, that his passport was stolen on July 22, 2013, after an incident at a motorbike rental shop.

He used his passport as a deposit when he rented a motorbike, and when he returned the bike, he was told his passport had been given to someone else. He contacted police on July 25 to report his passport stolen, and was given a temporary travel document to return home to Italy.

Mr Maraldi arrived back in Thailand on March 1, and police located him at a guesthouse on Nanai Road, and brought him to the police station for questioning.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-immigration-head-warns-of-stricter-monitoring-of-passports-45103.php


-- Phuket News 2014-03-12

I don't see crackdown mentioned in the article, nor see I mentioned if the increased monitoring will last for longer than 1 week.

17 years, on a tourist visa, says it all. T.I.T.

Can someone please explain how viewing a guest-list (if such a thing exists) at guesthouses and hotels will help in monitoring the use of fraudulent passports?

As always in Thailand, a knee-jerk reaction after an incident that will probably not last very long.

What interested me is the photo (screnshot) of the immigration computer on the other Phuket "News" source which cannot be linked here.

And what's the betting on the next knee-jerk reaction being an official ban on motorbike rental places retaining customers' passports? Or, if it's already illegal (who knows?) will there be a "crackdown"!

stable door...................horse

Usual Thai incompetence.

Asking to foreigners to bring their passports with them at all times will increase the chances to loose them or being stolen... Gave a thought to that?

Sherlock holms and the case of shutting the barn doors after the horses has bolted....

And what's the betting on the next knee-jerk reaction being an official ban on motorbike rental places retaining customers' passports? Or, if it's already illegal (who knows?) will there be a "crackdown"!

This is where the focus should be placed...

It seem unreasonable that foreigners should have to leave their passport with a rental agency,

especially when they fail to keep it safe.

How are foreigners expected to have their passports on them at all times,

if the rental agencies continue to hold them for deposits?

That should truly be the question that everyone should be asking.

The lack of security from the rental agency, is now causing all foreigners to have to carry their passports on them at all time;

as it was stated in this report, via the Phuket Immigration...

and yes I realize this has been the law all along, but it's kinda impossible to do so in every situation.

For us to count on this will just blow over, is just a lack of facing the true issue here,

and rely on us all being hopeful that it does truly blow over after a week or so.

That type of thinking is what gets us off guard when some official actually follows the law,

and wishes to enforce it.

Keeping in mind, we are also expected to have our work permit on us at all times when we are working.

Phuket’s head of Immigration has ordered officers to be more strict when inspecting passports

...and Santa Claus is telling the kids to behave until he returns.

Asking to foreigners to bring their passports with them at all times will increase the chances to loose them or being stolen... Gave a thought to that?

No....no they did not.

If I return the bike and they don't return my passport can I keep the bike?

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And what's the betting on the next knee-jerk reaction being an official ban on motorbike rental places retaining customers' passports? Or, if it's already illegal (who knows?) will there be a "crackdown"!

This is where the focus should be placed...

It seem unreasonable that foreigners should have to leave their passport with a rental agency,

especially when they fail to keep it safe.

How are foreigners expected to have their passports on them at all times,

if the rental agencies continue to hold them for deposits?

That should truly be the question that everyone should be asking.

The lack of security from the rental agency, is now causing all foreigners to have to carry their passports on them at all time;

as it was stated in this report, via the Phuket Immigration...

and yes I realize this has been the law all along, but it's kinda impossible to do so in every situation.

For us to count on this will just blow over, is just a lack of facing the true issue here,

and rely on us all being hopeful that it does truly blow over after a week or so.

That type of thinking is what gets us off guard when some official actually follows the law,

and wishes to enforce it.

Keeping in mind, we are also expected to have our work permit on us at all times when we are working.

When my son visits he rents a motor bike and has never paid a huge cash deposit or left his passport as "security".

Dumbos will continue to be done !

Wise men know where to go for a decent and honest deal.