Bangkok duty free scam followup

King Power Duty Free responded to my recent blog about the duty free zig zag scam reported by the BBC at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. A representative of KPD, the operator of the duty free stores at BKK, provided a copy of the press release issued in response to the BBC article. The company, according to the press release, "has examined the facts related to the incident and states clearly that it has no involvement in the alleged 'zig-zag' scheme perpetrated by members of the Thai police."

King Power's version of the case: The accused shoplifters were seen on airport security cameras allegedly placing a Givenchy wallet into the woman's handbag. The incident was related to Airport Tourist Police who apprehended the couple in a restaurant. The man and woman were seated at separate tables and wearing different outerwear than they had allegedly worn whilst in the KPD shop. While the female was searched by police at her restaurant table, the male was observed leaving the restaurant and entering a men's restroom. Security staff reported finding the missing wallet in a trash bin at the restroom's entrance. The couple was subsequently charged with theft and taken to the police station.

What is the truth of the matter? Is the BBC's reporting accurate? Is KPD's account factual? Was a wallet actually stolen? Did they get the right couple? Did the police plant evidence? Is there a zig zag scam? Unfortunately, a fair and open trial was never held; witnesses were never cross-examined; and an impartial jury never determined the facts of the case.

The larger issue is this. While KPD may in fact "always follow the strictest legal procedures" in reporting alleged crimes, it does not dispute any of the following factual claims in the BBC story:

1. that the accused couple was denied access to a lawyer or to their embassy
2. that the facts of the case were not judged by a fair, open, and impartial court
3. that the accused were not allowed legal representation at their hearing, nor were they provided the opportunity to cross-examine their accusers
4. that a single police official served as judge and jury
5. that a fine of $13,000 was levied for the theft of a wallet

Nor does KPD's statement dispute the inference that security officers, police officials, and others may be profiting illegally from an alleged scam.

UPDATE

I posed the following questions to King Power Duty Free's representative and received the following responses:

(1) Did King Power Duty Free receive reimbursement for the stolen wallet from the fine extracted from the couple? In what amount?

King Power (KPD) did not receive any reimbursement for the stolen wallet from the fine extracted from the couple. In fact, we already received the stolen wallet back officially from the Police few days after the case already been filed and processed, as usual and normal practice.

(2) Does KPD acknowledge that there is a problem with the police practices described in the BBC story?

We (KPD) are not aware of any problem with the police practices described in the BBC Story. That's beyond our acknowledgement and responsibilities.

So ... there you have it. These are the answers, verbatim, provided on behalf of Mr. Sombat Dechapanichkul, Group Managing Director of King Power Duty Free Company Limited. I find the second response especially interesting ("we are not aware of any problem with the police practices described in the BBC Story"), and I will allow this comment to speak for itself.

zig zag scam (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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