Embassy gets briefing on duty-free saga

Local News

Embassy gets briefing on duty-free saga

Envoys to be advised on airport theft cases

Writer: AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Published: 23/07/2009 at 12:00 AM

Embassy staff will be asked to join police inquiries into cases involving foreign nationals accused of shoplifting from duty-free shops at Suvarnabhumi airport.

Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum said the measure was intended to ensure justice for the accused.

The government is worried about a report that appeared on the BBC concerning an alleged scam at Suvarnabhumi airport. The report highlighted the case of a British couple who claimed they were victims of extortion.

They were accused of shoplifting from a duty-free shop at the airport, then held until they paid a large sum to secure their release.

The BBC identified the couple as Cambridge IT experts Stephen Ingram and his wife Xi Lin.

The couple were about to board their flight to London on April 25 when they were approached by security guards who accused them of stealing a wallet from a shop.

The couple were arrested and held at Rachathewa police station, which has jurisdiction over the airport. They were asked to pay 400,000 baht to secure their freedom.

Mr Sohpon said the case had hurt the country's tourism image.

He said the Airports of Thailand (AoT) and King Power, the airport duty-free operator, would explain to the British embassy what happened.

AoT president Serirat Prasutanond said his agency would work with police and duty-free shops to provide embassy staff with information on possible shoplifting offences at the airport.

He said AoT had asked the Council of State, the government's legal arm, to vet a bill aimed at giving the agency more power to supervise areas at the airport, and to empower AoT officials to make arrests in some cases.

Sombat Dechapanichkul, King Power group managing director, yesterday claimed security footage at the shop implicated the couple in the theft.

The CCTV footage is displayed at http://www.kingpower.com/2009/index.php

Mr Sombat said the item was a Givenchy wallet worth 6,700 baht.

"The AoT has written to explain to the British embassy and BBC," he said.

Regarding complaints from passengers that valuables had been stolen from their luggage during transfer to their aircraft, Mr Sohpon said more surveillance cameras would be put up at the airport, although he maintained the airport was up to international standard. Security cameras would be increased from 165 to 327 units.

Meanwhile, the AoT has put up announcements stating the agency and police would start cracking down on illegal taxi drivers and illegal tour guides at the airport from July 28.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/20745/embassy-gets-briefing-on-duty-free-saga