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Police admit extortion of tourists hard to stop


Faustian

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At the risk of incurring the wrath of the mighty Troy, I start this new thread....

 

I find this piece incredible. How can you have a law which says it is illegal to tarnish Thailand's reputation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So in theory Thai's can do whatever they want to farangs, we are powerless to report on this, as that's illegal!!!!!!!

 

Wasn't it an individual who was extorting money, not a whole country? Or is that now part of the national culture/identity?

 

How insane is this?

 

Also the bit at the end is priceless...nameless, faceless people organise the abuse of foreigners....so we can't do squat. Thanks for that.

 

I hope this piece gets broadcast around the world!

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/24040/jet-ski-video-maker-faces-prosecution

 

Jet ski video maker faces prosecution

Police admit extortion of tourists hard to stop

 

Writer: ONNUCHA HUTASINGH

Published: 18/09/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

[color:red]A Thai video production company involved in the filming of alleged extortion of foreigners by a Phuket jet ski operator is to be prosecuted for sending the recordings abroad for broadcasting without permission.[/color]

 

Wanasiri Morakul, director of the Thailand Film Office which comes under the Tourism and Sports Ministry, yesterday said police had traced the tapes to a company called Black Sheep Productions.

 

She said the managers of the company, which had produced the Big Trouble In Thailand series for Bravo All News station in England, admitted to holding the copyright for the recordings.

 

Ms Wanasiri said normal videos made by Thais do not require prior approval from the ministry's Office of Tourism Development.

 

[color:red]But the people responsible for the Big Trouble In Thailand series, which has been a big hit on YouTube, had violated Article 34 of the motion picture law by not having the contents examined by a Tourism and Sports Ministry film committee before they were broadcast abroad.[/color]

 

The company's managers could face 12 months in jail and/or a fine of up to a million baht.

 

[color:red]Seksan Nakawong, director-general of the Office of Tourism Development, said the film-makers also violated Article 23 of the same law for making a film tarnishing the reputation of Thailand.[/color]

 

The clips feature Phuket jet ski operator Vinai Naiman, also known as "JJ", demanding compensation from a British client, a marine on rest and recreation leave.

 

In the footage of the British marine, Mr Vinai was seen going to a storeroom and returning with a gun which he dangled by his side.

 

Sasisupa Sungvaribud, president of the Film Production Services Association, said the recordings took the form of a reality show and the events depicted were obviously staged and scripts written for the film.

 

[color:red]Tourist Police chief Adis Ngamjitsuksri has conceded the extortion of tourists was a problem which the police alone could not stamp out.

 

He said the extortion gangs, including those in tourist provinces, worked under highly influential people.[/color] [color:blue](I think he means the police chiefs??)[/color]

 

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At the risk of incurring the wrath of the mighty Troy, I start this new thread....

 

No wrath and I'm not too mighty but I'm in a better mood so there will be no verbal abuse.

 

On topic......the police will NEVER crack down too hard on this as it is their bosses and probably themselves creating the fleecing or at least protecting it for a cut.

 

 

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