Travel Trade Weekly has a very disturbing story today about the ongoing King Power Duty Free scandal at the Bangkok international airport. Not only are Indian citizens a favorite target of the scammers, the scam was going on at the old Don Muang airport for many years, before it moved over to Suvarnabhumi.
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 projected, 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.”
he details of the operation were identical to what was described by Irish, Danish and British tourists, who claimed they were falsely accused of shoplifting at King Power Duty-Free shops at the airport.
The scam came to light, last May, when the Sunday Times reported that a British couple allegedly paid bribes to gain their release.
In an interview with TTR Weekly, the source said the problem had been going on much earlier and that statements, by approximately 40 Indian tourists, outlined the same pattern as exposed in the UK newspaper.
“They were falsely accused usually after additional items were placed in their bag by shop attendants,” the source explained.
A familiar pattern emerged when investigations were carried out on all the complaints.
“We discovered the accused persons were not allowed to contact anyone, including their consular service or a lawyer.
“The police handcuffed them and took them to the Rachatewa Police Station branch at Suvarnabhumi Airport, where they were threatened and humiliated with strong and impolite language.
“They were then forced to sign a document, written in Thai, but with the promise that if they signed they would be released.”
However, instead of releasing they were taken off the airport to the Rachatewa police station.
A so-called interpreter, wearing a tourist police volunteer badge, was introduced at the station.
The source identified the same Sri Lankan citizen, Sunil “Tony” Rathnayaka, who was implicated in cases involving Europeans, but there were also other interpreters — Pakistani, Indian and Burmese — involved in many of the Indian cases.
“These guys are middle men, who broker a deal to free the accused, but at a stiff price. The first sum, usually about Bt400,000, was extracted to ensure the case did not go to court, but in some instances the fee was as low as Bt250,000 depending on the value of the stolen item.
“After the deal was concluded, the interpreter took the accused to an ATM machine to withdraw cash. In many instances, they were detained in a motel until the money was transferred. In some instances they had to pay a bail of around Bt100,000 to Bt200,000, which they were unable to retrieve.”
What is more disturbing is the revelation that the same scam was operating out of Don Mueang Airport before the move to the new airport, but on a smaller scale.
“There is plenty of evidence to show that this scam was around at Don Mueang, but then the allegations focused on police taking Bt30,000 to Bt50,000. It was more relaxed and sometimes police were lenient allowing the accused to leave the country without paying a fine at all,” said the source.
Identifying one particular case, the source said an Indian lady identified as, Gazal Kapur, was accused of stealing an Ipod. During her detention at Rachatewa police station she was eventually able to call the embassy using Tony’s mobile phone, under the pretext she wanted to call a relative. However, an embassy official was refused access when they arrived at the police station.
She eventually secured bail and the case was read to the court last June. She has been in a Thai jail for six months.
By its own admission the Royal Thai police state that a foreign suspect has the right to consular contact within 24 hours. The police can delay a case for up to 90 days, before it must be presented to a court. For shoplifting it could take up to one year to go through the courts.
There are also allegations that immigration officers discriminate against Indian visitors by standing at the air bridge and identify passengers at random for detailed questioning.
They are usually sent back to India on the next available flight but in the meantime they are questioned and subject to verbal harassment.
Airlines know this problem exists, but have not complained to the authorities.
The source confirmed that 20 people in a 40-strong Tata Motor Company incentive group were denied for questioning by immigration officials, who challenged their ability to pay their way in Thailand. They were on a fully hosted tour, with legitimate visas, as is always the case with paid company incentive holidays.
There is speculation that travel agents, who work with the Indian market, know about these hassles and are prepared to pay to smooth passage through airports.
What should worry the travel industry is that India is one of a few markets that generate a substantial growth in tourism to Thailand.
Actions of unscrupulous officials damage the country’s image and also the livelihood of literally thousands of Thai citizens who rely on tourism.
Unfortunately, there is clear evidence that whether individuals are guilty of shoplifting, or not, they could be hassled and treated unfairly by law enforcement officers.
What is more damning is that the problem had been going on for a considerable time but only came to light when a British couple blew the whistle.
It suggests a double standard, perhaps discrimination. Only when the problem impacted on Europeans, who were prepared to take their story to the media, did the country’s Prime Minster step in and demand action.
TTR Weekly contacted the Indian Embassy for a comment. An official said he was not at liberty to make statements on issues regarding citizens.
However, travel companies that have a stake in the Indian inbound tourism market independently confirmed the details outlined in this report saying they were aware of both shoplifting scams and unfair immigration scrutiny of Indian travellers on arrival at the airport.
Technically, Indian travellers supposed to demonstrate that they have US$500 in cash or they could be denied entry. This rule applies even if they have credit cards, or are on hosted trips.
The police continue to deny that they employ the services of foreigners as interpreters, which would clearly violate labour laws. However, the weight of evidence suggests that basic rights that should be afforded to visitors are sadly not applied.
A police officer told TTR Weekly there have been no shoplifting cases since the Prime Minister visited the airport.
Until there is evidence of transparency, travellers should shop with extreme caution at the airport.
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