Indian tourists were the first scam targets

Allegations of scams at Suvarnabhumi Airport go much deeper than the few incidents involving Europeans that were reported widely in the media.

Information has now emerged that indicates at least 40 Indian tourists were treated in an identical fashion, according to a reliable source in the Indian community here in Bangkok.

Interviewed on the condition that his identity would be protected, the highly reliable source said there was clear evidence that of the 200 or so cases relating to shoplifting scams, 40 involved Indians and most of them preceded reports on Europeans being set up by law enforcement officers and expatriate “volunteers.”

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PM hits out at scam brokers

Thailand’s Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, ordered airport officials to resolve all tourist scams at Suvarnabhumi Airport and restore confidence among foreign tourists.

Mr Abhisit inspected the country’s gateway airport on Saturday, 15 August. The visit was the main feature of his weekly television programme ‘Having Confidence in Thailand with Prime Minister Abhisit’ that was broadcast on the National Broadcasting Service of Thailand (NBT) on the following morning, 16 August.

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Travel advisories focus on airport scam

Embassies wade into shoplifting scandal with strongly worded travel warnings.

Foreign governments and their embassies, in Bangkok, are posting warnings urging citizens to be “extremely careful” when browsing at Suvarnabhumi Airport’s duty-free shops.

Denmark was the first to issue a warning, earlier this year, but more recent news concerning the arrest of British couple for alleged shoplifting has spurred other countries to issue warnings.

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Tourist Police sidelined at airport

Tourist Police have been excluded from the processing and investigation of shoplifting cases, since last March, a reliable police source reported, yesterday.

Asking not be identified, the source confirmed that the Tourist Police had been sidelined entirely from any involvement in the arrest of foreign tourists, either for questioning, or processing of shoplifting cases at the airport.

He said the change had occurred last March.

“Cases concerning foreign tourists at Suvarnabhumi Airport have not been passed through the Tourist Police since March.”

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Airport scandal: Will it happen again?

British Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chris Bryant, said he gained assurances from the Thai government and police that there would be no repeat of a recent incident when a British couple, falsely accused of shoplifting, subsequently had to pay their way to freedom.

Mr Bryant met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and high ranking Police officers during his official visit to Thailand, earlier this week.

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AOT recommends arrest guidelines

AoT outlines arrest procedures to make future investigations at Suvarnabhumi Airport fair for travellers, accused of crimes on its premises.

Airports of Thailand has recommended that a set of working procedures be put in place to ensure transparency whenever there is an arrest at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

It made the statement, at a press conference, yesterday, shortly after the case of a British couple accused of shoplifting last April gained national attention on local TV news programmes.

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Shoplifting saga continues

Police present statement on airport shoplifting case.

Suvarnabhumi Airport police deny newspaper accusations that a British couple, apprehended for shoplifting at the airport, bribed their way to freedom.

In a related development, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it had received reports from the relevant authorities and would release a statement soon on a case that has seriously damaged Thailand’s image as a hospitable tourist destination.

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King Power releases shoplifting video

Duty-free operator defends shoplifting arrest with CCTV video, but the jury is still out.

King Power Duty Free has posed CCTV video footage that it believes supports allegations against a British couple, who were accused of shoplifting at Suvarnabhumi Airport, last April.

The video that is far from conclusive can be seen on www.kingpower.com/2009/index.php

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King Power to issue statement on allegations

King Power, the duty-free shop company, at Bangkok’s gateway airport, is drafting a statement to counter allegations by a British couple in the UK media.

King Power Group is working on an explanatory statement that will be released later today to present its version of the story regarding  the recent arrest of a British couple accused of shoplifting at a King Power duty-free shop in Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The British couple returned home and in an interview with the Sunday Times claimed they had been falsely arrested and prevented from returning home for five days. Read more

Shoplifting shock for Suvarnabhumi’s image

A Sunday Times report, last week, reveals the possibility that tourists at Suvarnabhumi Airport are being falsely accused of shoplifting.

Thailand’s Tourist Police deny they have a connection to a foreign volunteer and interpreter identified in a UK newspaper report that claims two UK tourists were falsely accused of shoplifting at a King Power duty-free outlet at Suvarnabhumi Airport, last April.

Tourism Authority of Thailand’s deputy governor for marketing said an investigation was underway led by the UK TAT office and the PR department to check out the extent of shoplifting at the airport and the action taken by relevant authorities. Read more