Motorbike rental passport leads to Phuket arrest of Spanish nunchuk mugger

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Motorbike rental passport leads to Phuket arrest of Spanish nunchuk mugger
Phuket Gazette


Russian tourist Sergey Agafonov fingers the man who mugged him, Spanish tourist Mario Arturo Tovar Ferras, 23. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- A passport left as collateral for a motorbike rental has led to the arrest of a Spaniard for the nunchuk mugging of a Russian in Kata early yesterday morning.

Karon Police arrested Spanish tourist Mario Arturo Tovar Ferras, 23, at the Bonus Bungalow resort in Soi Ta-iad, Chalong, at about 7:30pm last night.

“Police seized a motorbike, a seven-inch knife, a set of nunchuks and an iPhone5, all found in his rental room,” said Karon Police Deputy Superintendent Sophon Borrirak.

Mr Ferras’ arrest followed Russian Sergey Agafonov, 29, being robbed under threat of nunchuks in Soi Plukjae, near Baan Kata School at 1:20am yesterday.

The robber, recorded on 7-Eleven CCTV, made off with Mr Agafonov’s iPhone 5, US$300 (about 9,300 baht) and 5,000 rubles (about 4,550 baht).

“Police learnt that the vehicle the suspect used to make his getaway belonged to Janpen Jara. We showed the CCTV footage to Mr Janpen and Mr Agafonov. Both of them identified the suspect as the same person,” said Lt Col Sopon.

Mr Janpen explained that Mr Ferras started renting a motorbike from him last month, and handed the Spaniard’s passport to police.

“We obtained an arrest warrant and tracked Mr Ferras to the resort in Chalong,” Col Sophon said.

“He was charged with armed theft at nighttime and evading arrest. He has accepted the charges.”

— Kritsada Mueanhawong

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Motorbike-rental-passport-leads-Phuket-arrest-Spanish/29084#ad-image-0


-- Phuket Gazette 2014-04-08

[TVGerry]

I don't know what's funnier, this picture or the fact the Spaniard was mugging people armed with a nunchuk.

Bruce Lee would be proud!

[damohowarth]

'Sergey Agafonov fingers the man who mugged him'... Bit too far if you ask me!

[Deaw]

Any guesses on how much time in the clink this moron will get, or just deportation? Big fine?

He's a pretty big guy and all that, but if that clown approached me at an ATM and told me to hand over money and my phone, etc......based on showing me a set of nunchuks, I'd probably laugh my arse off and say "what, are you freaking kidding me?"

[LivinginKata]

What is with the finger pointing. I have to assume these tourists were coached by the newspaper photographer - too funny.

[cardinalblue]

Why would he accept the charges?

I wonder whose idea for the photo shoot?

CB

[Jace]

This thug is on Facebook as Mario Tovar Ferras. He claims to be a bar tender at Jamie Olivers Fifteen restaurant in London and he fights Muay Thai at Tiger Muay Thai and MMA Training Camp in Phuket. I'm sure they are very proud of him, LOL.

Scum like this deserves to be named and shamed.

[Rimmer]

She looks very happy

[transam]

If I read this right, the rental shop should be nicked for holding passports, or has that stuff now been swept under the carpet.

[shirtless]

another quality tourist, if brains were gunpowder he would have trouble blowing his nose, I suppose now he got his visa extension.

[Tanlic]

Any guesses on how much time in the clink this moron will get, or just deportation? Big fine?

He's a pretty big guy and all that, but if that clown approached me at an ATM and told me to hand over money and my phone, etc......based on showing me a set of nunchuks, I'd probably laugh my arse off and say "what, are you freaking kidding me?"

Before or after he smacked you between the eyes with the nunchucks

[Katipo]

Never mind the finger pointing, I'm loving the thumbs up. Perhaps the police should adopt this positive approach in their future photo ops.

[eezergood]

I am sure thats just the publicity Jamie Oliver needs!

[Tanlic]

Glad they got him wouldn't like to meet him on a dark night at the ATM

Edited April 8, 2014 by Tanlic

[ingvar]

We know its the guy, because of the finger being pointed at him.

[Traveller45]

I take it that Phuket is now an international place to such an extent that a considerable part of the criminality now happens between foreigners. Progress ! Also, the "fingering" which in Thailand is both a traditional and a legal element, will perhaps find its way into Western crime prevention... not so bad after all

[Beetlejuice]

'Sergey Agafonov fingers the man who mugged him'... Bit too far if you ask me!

I think the finger pointing is a good thing, otherwise I would never have known what a Spanish mugger looks like.

[fatdrunkandstupid]

Not often where you see one of this pointing photos and the Perp is better dressed than the victim.

Look out Ruskie, that latino bad boy will steal your girl in a heart beat.

[misterphil]

Russian tourist fingers Spanish tourist? Whats she doing with her thumb? Is it going to be Russian tourist thumbs Spanish tourist next?

[Arkady]

What is a nunchuk?

[NamKangMan]

What is a nunchuk?

See the below link for information.

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

See the below link for them in action.

Edited April 8, 2014 by NamKangMan

[stevenl]

If I read this right, the rental shop should be nicked for holding passports, or has that stuff now been swept under the carpet.

Why, by which law is that not allowed?

[NamKangMan]

What is with the finger pointing. I have to assume these tourists were coached by the newspaper photographer - too funny.

It's quite rare to see the "double finger point."

One at the accused, and one at the recovered property. Sergey has done it perfectly.

[AhFarangJa]

If I read this right, the rental shop should be nicked for holding passports, or has that stuff now been swept under the carpet.

Why, by which law is that not allowed?

International law, for one. It is written in the passport that it remains the property of the issuing government and must only be passed to an unauthorised person......plus the law of stupidity says never hand over your passport for a rental agreement. on another note....what is Spanish for Som Nom Nar?

[NamKangMan]

I doubt this is his first robbery. I hope they go back through some reports and match him up to others.

Obviously not a smart guy, committing a robbery on a vehicle that can be directly traced back to himself.

[NamKangMan]

This thug is on Facebook as Mario Tovar Ferras. He claims to be a bar tender at Jamie Olivers Fifteen restaurant in London and he fights Muay Thai at Tiger Muay Thai and MMA Training Camp in Phuket. I'm sure they are very proud of him, LOL.

Scum like this deserves to be named and shamed.

Looks like Lee Aldhouse will have a new sparring partner.

Pretty soon, the biggest Muay Thai Camp for foreigners on Phuket will be inside Phuket Prison.

[stevenl]

If I read this right, the rental shop should be nicked for holding passports, or has that stuff now been swept under the carpet.

Why, by which law is that not allowed?

International law, for one. It is written in the passport that it remains the property of the issuing government and must only be passed to an unauthorised person......plus the law of stupidity says never hand over your passport for a rental agreement. on another note....what is Spanish for Som Nom Nar?

Yes, I agree, don't do it. But that is the renter to blame, he hands it out, not the rental guys.

[NamKangMan]

Everyone hands over their passport when they check-in to their accommodation. It's usually photocopied and returned to you, while you are given your room key.

You could easily do more than 50,000 baht damage to a reasonable hotel room, but hotels don't keep possession of your passport.

It's common with the motorbike renters to keep your passport, despite paying up front, so you can be scammed - simple as that.

[lee b]

If I read this right, the rental shop should be nicked for holding passports, or has that stuff now been swept under the carpet.

Why, by which law is that not allowed?

International law, for one. It is written in the passport that it remains the property of the issuing government and must only be passed to an unauthorised person......plus the law of stupidity says never hand over your passport for a rental agreement. on another note....what is Spanish for Som Nom Nar?

Think you mean "and must NEVER be passed to an unauthorised person......"

[quagmirefg]

a fine upstanding "Defense" for vehicle rental shops illegally holding a person's passport as collateral for rental.

A "Bad Attempt" to justify the "Passport as Collateral" issue in the Wake of the Malaysina Airlines dissapearance with 2 persons on-board with stolen passports from Phuket, Thailand.

Amazing Thailand