Extortion racket at the airport?

[Oogleman]

British couple fights Bangkok airport extortionists

A British couple who were falsely accused of shoplifting in Bangkok airport and were forced to pay 8,000 pounds in bribes to secure their release are to take legal action for compensation.

Times online reported on Sunday the couple were the victims of an extortion racket that has ensnared other foreign travellers at the airport, which handles most of the 800,000 British visitors to Thailand every year.

Stephen Ingram, 49, and Xi Lin, 45, both technology professionals from Cambridge, were detained by security guards as they went to board Qantas flight QF1 to London on the night of April 25.

They were accused of taking a Givenchy wallet worth 121 pounds from a King Power duty-free shop and were handed over to the police. An official release order from the local Thai prosecutor's office subsequently conceded there was no evidence against them.

The online claimed they were freed five days later after a frightening ordeal in which they said they were threatened and held against their will at a cheap motel on the airport perimeter until they had handed over the money.

They alleged the bribes were paid to an intermediary named Sunil "Tony" Rathnayaka, a Sri Lankan national in his fifties who works as a "volunteer" interpreter for Thailand's tourist police

"Our main motivation is to protect other innocent British tourists from being caught up in this nightmare," said Ingram last week. "We intend to take every legal means to recover our money and obtain justice."

Last week Rathnayaka admitted in a telephone interview that he had received cash and money transfers amounting to more than 7,000 pounds from the Britons. He said the money was for police bail and for a payment to a figure he called "Little Big Man" who could withdraw the case against them.

"In Thailand everyone knows it's like that," he said. "They can go to jail or they can just pay a fine and go home. It is corruption, you know?"

Rathnayaka also agreed that the "bail" — about 4,000 pounds — was never returned to Ingram and Xi. Thai law says bail should be refunded.

In a detailed statement the couple said they were first detained at an airport office of the tourist police and later taken to cells at a police station in an isolated modern building on the fringes of the airport.

Rathnayaka confirmed that he met them in the cells on the morning of Sunday, April 26, and arranged the "bail". The police kept the couple's passports. Rathnayaka then escorted Ingram and Xi to the Valentine Resort, a lurid pink motel a few hundred yards from the runways. They were to remain there for four days.

During that time, Rathnayaka warned them not to tell anyone about their plight, especially the British embassy, lawyers, friends, family or the press.

However, on April 27 they sneaked out of the hotel and found their way to the embassy, where they met Kate Dufall, the pro-consul.

According to the couple, she told them the embassy could not interfere with the Thai legal system and put them in contact with Prachaya Vijitpokin, a lawyer.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/06 ... 106228.php

[scottish-guy]

....the Valentine Resort, a lurid pink motel a few hundred yards from the runways.

Location sounds a tad noisy ...but the colour scheme is right up my alley!

How do I book?

[Nalong]

However, on April 27 they sneaked out of the hotel and found their way to the embassy, where they met Kate Dufall, the pro-consul.

According to the couple, she told them the embassy could not interfere with the Thai legal system and put them in contact with Prachaya Vijitpokin, a lawyer.

Doesn't that have the ring of truth!!

[Beachlover]

Totally f*cked

[Min]

I find that the above thread should be of real interest to us but every time I open Gay Thailand all I read is
..... Another Suicide,Spanking,Those Ladyboys did it,or Mr Dream ad nauseum.
So is that all I am expected to read .......or say this board is BORING BORING!!!! Along with its contributors. Surely I am not a lone voice on this!!!. Always remember none of us are far away from some sort of scam in this country. Its a given!!

[romania]

I find that the above thread should be of real interest to us but every time I open Gay Thailand all I read is
..... Another Suicide,Spanking,Those Ladyboys did it,or Mr Dream ad nauseum.
So is that all I am expected to read .......or say this board is BORING BORING!!!! Along with its contributors. Surely I am not a lone voice on this!!!. Always remember none of us are far away from some sort of scam in this country. Its a given!!

I can't say that I've noticed that any of your nine postings under your current name have set the world on fire!

[Smiles]

If you're interested:

Valentine Resort - Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok

Valentine Resort, situated close to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, this is a very convenient place to stay for those with an early departing flight or who are too tired to travel on after landing. Rooms are simple and basic but clean and include air conditioning, television and a fridge.

The standard room rate is THB900 and you might be able to negotiate this down to around THB600. Breakfast is basic and at extra cost. Next to the building, in the parking area, is a Thai restaurant for breakfast, a minimart and an ATM.

For an evening meal, turn right from Valentine and walk about 100 metres or so to enjoy a Thai evening with live music at the huge Chay Ka restaurant.

There is no website at present. You will find the resort where King Kaew Road meets On Noot Road 2 kilometres from the airport exit. The simplest way to find it is by leaving the airport keeping left and following King Kaew Road signs.

The 'Valentine' sign is not easily seen so look for three buildings with the word 'Mansion' in the names. Valentine Resort is in the middle building named 'PA Mansion'.

Contact details: 02 175 1686/1687 081 458 7232

For an English speaker, call Peter 081 485 1949

The address is: 51/18 m.7 King Kaew Road, Bangplee, Samutprakan, Bangkok.
<< http://www.grumpyexpat.com/blog/2008/09 ... abhum.html >>

Always a number of posts here about staying close to the Airport for early morning flights, last minute drug deals etc etc

[brainlessbabbling]

but every time I open Gay Thailand all I read is ..... Another Suicide,Spanking,Those Ladyboys did it,or Mr Dream ad nauseum. So is that all I am expected to read .......or say this board is BORING BORING!!!! Along with its contributors.

Bored boarders create the boring board. Then the next bore boards the board. SUI CIDE? SPAN KING? LADY BOYS? DREAM TRANSPORT? T H R I L L I N G ! Nothing is so hard as a gay man's ingratitude. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. SUI BOYS? SPAN TRANSPORT? KING DREAM? LADY CIDE? T H R I L L I N G ! Nothing is so hard as a gay man's ingratitude. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Then the next bore boards the board. Extortion racket at the airport? B O R I N G ! SUI CIDE? SPAN KING? LADY BOYS? DREAM TRANSPORT? T H R I L L I N G !

[kenc]

I suppose this story is possible but.....
Seeing as it comes from a British newspaper I'm not so sure of the facts.

I find that the above thread should be of real interest to us but every time I open Gay Thailand all I read is
..... Another Suicide,Spanking,Those Ladyboys did it,or Mr Dream ad nauseum.
So is that all I am expected to read .......or say this board is BORING BORING!!!! Along with its contributors. Surely I am not a lone voice on this!!!. Always remember none of us are far away from some sort of scam in this country. Its a given!!

WELL! The only thing I have to say to you is.....

[maisoui]

.

[z909]

Posts about Thai scams are amongst the most valuable on this board, as they allow people to avoid the scams themselves.
The ungrateful & uninterested can ignore the thread.

Mind you, the time to get really worried is when gogo bar customers start being targets for such money raising.

[Beach Bunny]

Does it come as any surprise that a khaek was apparently involved?

[Beachlover]

Posts about Thai scams are amongst the most valuable on this board, as they allow people to avoid the scams themselves.
The ungrateful & uninterested can ignore the thread.

True... I can't imagine how many scams I've avoided thanks to reading this board and other bits and pieces about Thailand online.

Can you imagine how screwed over an internet-illiterate first-time visitor to Thailand would be?

[Beach Bunny]

15 years ago we were all internet-illiterate -- there was no internet -- yet, somehow everything worked out just fine (for those of with half a brain, anyway).

[krobbie]

15 years ago we were all internet-illiterate -- there was no internet -- yet, somehow everything worked out just fine (for those of with half a brain, anyway).

That last 8 words is an absolute gift but I will leave it to some other wag to give it all they've got.