Posted on 07/20/2009 2:50:31 AM PDT by LeoWindhorse
Bangkok's showcase new international airport is no stranger to controversy.
Built between 2002 and 2006, under the governments of then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the opening date was repeatedly delayed.
It has been dogged by allegations of corruption, as well as criticism of the design and poor quality of construction.
Then, at the end of last year, the airport was shut down for a week after being occupied by anti-government protesters.
Now new allegations have been made that a number of passengers are being detained every month in the duty free area on suspicion of shoplifting, and then held by the police until they pay large sums of money to buy their freedom.
That is what happened to Stephen Ingram and Xi Lin, two IT experts from Cambridge, as they were about to board their flight to London on the night of 25 April this year.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
I had a great trip to Thailand in 1999. Had an online girlfriend meet me at the airport. I enjoyed BKK, and a great
flight on Thai Airlines down to Phuket.
I bought a cheap Timex watch at the airport. It is the same watch that I wear today, analog. I have changed the battery
only twice.
Great memory of Thailand, every time I check the time.
Well, I guess the world is changing too fast. Corruption is everywhere, especially in the White House.
Anything to declare?
Yeah. Don’t go to Thailand.
IB4TT
Too bad; Thailand is a beautiful country, and the people are, by and large, very sweet. There’s always been this sort of thing on a small scale; however, to see this sort of scamming by officials at an international airport signals a quantum leap in the sort of (heretofore minor league) nasty stuff that has always elicited shrugs and dismayed half-grins and - yes - mutterings of TIT. Let’s hope they clean it up, fast.
A friend of mine was in Thailand on business two weeks ago and got caught up in this scam. She stopped in the duty free to buy gifts for her three young sons and was leaving the store when she was arrested for shoplifting a tube of lipstick.
She was held for a week and her husband ended up paying a couple of grand to get her out.
It was a nightmare...
I don't blame the people of Thailand for this. Thailand is a third world country and these things happen. Scams are common everywhere including the US. The problem is the lack of a unified PR front from those in power to tackle the problem.
maybe they’ll haul in old Hillary ,as she passes thru the Duty Free shop in a few days . Hold her for ransom ....
sorry man , I was fighting with my wife ;^)
Arrest Hillary? I can't think of anyone who would willingly want to spend extra time around her. :)
she will be wowing them down in Phuket manana~
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