Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Thailand Cracks Down on Donut Thieves



We all know that you are supposed to pay for all food items at 7-11 before you consume them, but sometimes hunger takes over and you eat the donuts before you reach the cashier. Don't try this in Thailand, where the police will be called, you will be hauled off to jail, and only the payment of $5000 to the police will speed up the date of your hearing. Remember, this is Thailand.

What else can Thailand possibly do to screw up their tourism profile?

The Telegraph reports on the latest stupid trick coming from the Land of Smiles.

A SYDNEY school teacher is the latest Australian tourist to reveal he was locked up in Thailand - after being accused of stealing a doughnut.

His story comes as mother-of-four Annice Smoel returned from the hot destination to be reunited with her daughters after spending four nights in jail accused of stealing a beer mat, and two other Australians have found themselves before UK courts for their behaviour on flights.

Sean Kearney told The Daily Telegraph yesterday he was lining up at a 7-Eleven store in Bangkok with two bottles of water and some doughnuts when he was taken by police for eating the doughnuts before he reached the counter about January 20 this year.

Mr Kearney said the store attendant phoned the police, who arrested him when he reached the counter with the empty doughnut packet. Mr Kearney, who teaches at Waverley College in Sydney's east, couldn't believe what was happening. "Within 30 seconds police turned up and they were at the register and at the door," he said.

"I told them that I had money to pay but they wouldn't listen."

Mr Kearney said he then tried to run from the officers, who later caught him and locked him up for 22 hours before his release. They alleged he stole the doughnuts and water, worth 40 baht ($1.47). "I told them I didn't steal anything but they didn't believe me," he said. "They wouldn't talk money with me until I apologised. It was like a respect thing.

"I was told if I paid police $5000 I could get an earlier court date and be released from jail. "Once I gave them the money I got my passports back and was allowed to leave."

No comments:

Post a Comment