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Aussie Tourist 'Stole Sunglasses at Phuket Airport'
By Chutima Sidasathian and Alan Morison Thursday, January 6, 2011
AN AUSTRALIAN tourist is being held in Phuket Prison after being accused of stealing a pair of Rayban sunglasses from a duty-free store as he was about to board a flight at Phuket International Airport.
The man, Gilman Ferreira Martins, 31, was arrested in the departure lounge at Phuket airport about 6am yesterday.
Officers from Thachachai Station, north of Phuket airport and responsible for enforcing the law at the facility, were called by staff at the King Power duty free store, police said.
Officers confronted the man in the departure lounge. At that stage, he was wearing the Raybans and claimed the sunglasses were his property.
Staff at the duty free shop had become suspicious and reviewed security camera footage before calling police.
The Australian initially maintained that the Raybans were his personal property. But police said that after being taken to a room to view the security camera footage, he confessed.
At that point, he offered to pay the 5700 baht cost of the sunglasses, police said.
Staff at the store placed a telephone call to King Power's head office in Bangkok for advice. They were told not to accept a compromise. The case should be taken to court, the King Power staff were told.
Mr Ferreira is now in Phuket Prison, awaiting an appearance before a Phuket judge. Police are pursuing a gang of beach thugs who beat up a fruit vendor on five star Surin beach and scattered her fruit and cash across the sand, claiming the area belonged to them.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
Silly man. He could've bought a pair for a lot less in Patong.
Posted by
Mike Boyd
on
January 6, 2011 18:50
What in the name of pete possessed this guy to try and pull such a stupid stunt??? Very little, if any, sympathy.
Posted by
WingFat-Asia Road Warrior
on
January 6, 2011 19:22
I can only commend both the Police and the HQ of King Power. Theft is a crime which should be punished. This case should, and I sincerely hope will, deter others from "performing" such stupid criminal acts.
Posted by
Abe Simhony
on
January 6, 2011 19:26
no compromise - they're using him as an example, good for them.
Posted by
Khiaao
on
January 6, 2011 19:27
Well I guess this is one way to get an extended stay with free room and board, compliments of our hard-earned income taxes.
Posted by
Amazing Thailand-Amazing Tourists
on
January 6, 2011 19:29
If he's guilty they should prosecute him to the full extent of the law, but if this another duty free/police scam to extort money from another dumb tourist gone wrong I think this is just another reason for tourist to avoid the LOS and its grimy plastic resort town.
Posted by
John
on
January 6, 2011 20:08
Editor Comment:
Do you have some evidence this is a scam, John? Or are you just guessing, and being insulting out of habit?
Normally stealing something like a phone or sunglasses means 3 years jail in Thailand. If You confess on time this jail term will be reduced by half. So this might mean 1.5 years free holiday in the Monkeyhouse.
Personally I believe this would serve / suit the Thai community and warn other Tourists to do Something criminal and foolish during a holiday.
Please leave your bad habbits wher your come from. Enjoy Thailand's hospitality and don't expext mercy.
Long live the King and Thailand
Posted by
PhuketExpat
on
January 6, 2011 20:14
DAFT TYPICAL AUSSIE, DOSENT HE KNOW THEY
ARE ONLY 100 BAHT, (COPIES), NOW BANGED UP.
Posted by
mally
on
January 6, 2011 20:24
In Thailand we have a 16y old High-So teenager causing the death of nine people by reckless driving but is set free on bail and police is facilitating a compromise with the victims families.
A foreigner stealing a pair of sunglasses is sent to jail and no compromise is to be accepted.
Posted by
Chris
on
January 6, 2011 20:34
Editor Comment:
Hello Chris, Is there some risk that the young girl will flee the country? Does she have a passport? The circumstances of the car crash are horrifying but somewhat unclear. It seems the evidence against the Aussie tourist is indisputable. I would suggest you are striking a comparison that is absolute nonsense, and based on a lack of understanding of the substantial difference between the two cases. The background of both accused has nothing to do with it. Are you suggesting that until everybody in Thailand accused of a motoring offence has their case concluded, petty thieves should be allowed to fly free?
Chris,
Sorry to say, I don't always agree with "the Editor", but in this sunglasses case I fully do.
Posted by
PhuketExpat
on
January 6, 2011 21:09
Hello Editor,
I just made you a compliment, but I have also to remark you left/kicked out a few VERY essential sentences which are for my personal case essential!!! Please give my complete remark and not only the lines who are nice to you. Please stay independent and unpartial.
This is very important to be in your position!
(difficult too)
Posted by
PhuketExpat
on
January 6, 2011 21:20
Editor Comment:
Religion doesn't enter into this debate.
The guy was caught in the departure lounge and confessed. This is clearly not similar to the scam operating at BKK airport, where, if you unknowingly cross the threshold of one store, to another, you get arrested. Then the second part of the scan kicks in, a farlang 'negotiator' helps you out of the predicament, for an exhorbitant fee of course, possibly split between police, negotiator and King Power staff.
john says 'Proecute him to the full extent of the law'. OK, but lets have this right across the board, especially for those involved in the scams in BKK.
Posted by
Patong kop
on
January 6, 2011 22:03
Editor Comment:
The scams that occurred at Suvarnabhumi and the duty free are ancient history, unless you have some recent information. Hardly relevant, unless you really want to live in the past. I've cut the racist part of your comment. Why bother making remarks that tag you as someone whose opinion is not worth reading?
This is stupid. It's wasting time and money. In the end he'll pay a fine anyway. So he should have just been made to pay a big fine and leave on his plane.
What a farce.
p.s. 3 years for theft in Thailand. That might be the theory. You can't let anything out of your sight in Phuket before it grows legs and mysteriously walks away! Not to mention the gun crime and bag snatching that seems far too common.
Posted by
Mike Hunt
on
January 6, 2011 22:43
Phuket Expat, as much as I would like to not get personal, by your statements you are obviously one of these people that could not last in your mother country so now are trying to be "Thai"!
@To the editor, even with your noted defence of all things Thai I am sure you do not think that no scams occur at either Phuket or Bangkok airports? And ancient history, how long ago was the confirmed King Power scam being performed? Less than two years if I recall correctly.
Posted by
Jimmy
on
January 7, 2011 00:04
Well.. There's a saying,
If you are in someone's turf, behave yourself, respect the rules and you would be just fine.
As in every country, theft won't be tolerated.
But as for the King Power duty free shop, i reserve my comments about them. Do a google search and you would know what I mean.
Cheers
Posted by
The Tourist
on
January 7, 2011 02:13
The alledged sunglass thief was detained at 6 am and the story says King Power staff contacted head office in Bangkok. I would eat my hat if someone of authority was there before 10 am
Posted by
Anonymous
on
January 7, 2011 03:09
Alan, I deliberately refrained from making any kind of comparisons or conclusions. I merely recapped a couple of recent cases surfacing in the media.
Whatever whoever wishes to conclude from these 2 cases is up to the individual. I just highlighted them.
To briefly comment on the crash - there is video footage of the crash which has not been disputed by the offender. I fail to see what is "unclear".
Perhaps you know more than I and the rest of the Thai media do but if that's the case, please share it with us.
Equally the sun glass thief is reported to have acknowledged the theft upon reviewing the video evidence.
I have no doubt your reporting is accurate and I certainly don't think a petty thief should be left off the hook because a HiSo teenager is or isn't.
You will never see me defend anyone breaking the law.
Posted by
Chris
on
January 7, 2011 03:42
Editor Comment:
Well if your aim was to pointlessly provoke a reaction, you succeeded.
Of the crash, police say: ''This is a case of simple carelessness. There was no intent.''
Please resist the urge to play games with the rest of us in future.
To help with the web search:
BBC News: Tourists warned of Thailand airport scam
20 July 2009
Posted by
John Crystal
on
January 7, 2011 06:31
Editor Comment:
Eighteen months ago - ancient history. Why live in the past?
Nice post you guys..... my comments is simple: "If you do not wanted any troubles in Thailand, then, don't make troubles"..... If the guy don't stole that eye glass, the police don't catch him and he can happily go home without any trouble...see that point?.....LOL
Posted by
Domy
on
January 7, 2011 10:51
@editor
"Is there some risk that the young girl will flee the country?"
Considerable risk, I would say. Or, perhaps not: seeing as probably nothing is going to happen to her.
"Does she have a passport? "
She has spent time in the USA - that usually requires possession of a passport. And there has been no report in the media that I have seen of her surrendering it.
"The circumstances of the car crash are horrifying but somewhat unclear. "
She has admitted she was driving recklessly, speeding, without a licence, and admitted to causing the accident. Eye witnesses say she hit the van from behind. Doesn't sound very unclear to me.
"It seems the evidence against the Aussie tourist is indisputable. I would suggest you are striking a comparison that is absolute nonsense, and based on a lack of understanding of the substantial difference between the two cases. "
The main difference between the 2 cases is that one is trivial (at most a theft of something costing a few hundred dollars) and the other is extremely serious, involving the deaths of 9 people. One is gaoled (when confiscation of his passport would be completely sufficient to ensure him sticking around till the case is sorted out), and the other is not restrained in anyway, and, it appears, still has the means to flee the country. TIT!
"The background of both accused has nothing to do with it. Are you suggesting that until everybody in Thailand accused of a motoring offence has their case concluded, petty thieves should be allowed to fly free?"
your standpoint is so ridiculous it is hardly worth commenting on, but I'd just point out that not every motoring incident in the country involves the death of 9 people.
Happy New Year
Posted by
Naiharn
on
January 7, 2011 13:05
Editor Comment:
It was a horrifying event but, as the police say, there was no intent to kill, whereas the Australian's intent appears to be quite clear. My standpoint is that it's ridiculous to talk about both cases in the same comment, and it was Chris's ''intent'' to trigger my reaction and your reaction, knowing full well there is no logical link between the two.
When forced to make a comparison, there's a huge difference between a theft and a regrettable incident that claimed nine lives. The scale of the damage has no bearing on the principle that one was a deliberate act, the other was not. Clearly, the girl, an underage juvenile, is not seen as a flight risk. The Aussie, an adult, was in the departure lounge at an airport.
Alan, please refrain from claiming to know what my intent was or was not, together with what I know or don't know.
Can you perhaps read my mind now ?
The initial comment was not directed at anyone, including you. It was just food for thought.
Some may agree with you, others with me. Another person may come up with a totally new point of view.
Isn't that what discussion should be all about ? Presenting the facts and letting people discuss them.
Posted by
Chris
on
January 8, 2011 07:03
Editor Comment:
Sure. But in idly highlighting two events for which there is no logical connection, you knew you were pulling the pin on a small grenade and walking away. If you didn't intend for there to be a reaction, you wouldn't have posted the comment. I didn't realise there is now some kind of competition to have readers agree with one person or another. Why create more black holes rather than shedding light?
[quote]
t was a horrifying event but, as the police say, there was no intent to kill, whereas the Australian's intent appears to be quite clear.
[/quote]
im sorry but driving without driving licence looks for me as intent to kill
Posted by
alex
on
January 8, 2011 23:24
That guy was an idiot. One week in lock-up, a five year ban from entering the country and then booted out would seem to be enough punishment.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
January 9, 2011 11:18
as in the rest of the world all airports shops, towns have CCTV cameras and can watch you at any time. so the answer if you want things, PAY FOR THEM
Posted by
john
on
January 9, 2011 20:09
His punishment should be in accordance with the law, but compared to other crimes, three years is way too harsh for a crime that is relatively petty.
He is in the lock up already, the disgrace he has put on him and his family, the cost of the fine and a certain time limit ban on Thailand, should be more than enough.
As for killing 9 people, even if you meant it or not. Means that is still manslaughter. So prison for several years, is a must.
I think you have to have stronger sentences for killing people that for thievery.
Posted by
Tbs
on
January 10, 2011 16:06
Editor Comment:
Manslaughter also involves intent. A coroner would rule this tragedy as misadventure.
So the lynch mob is all geared up and ready for party, eh?! In jail for stealing a pair of sunglasses? Come on, it's bulls**t! If it was back in the real world, he would be fined, and end of story! You guys are absolutely way off here...
Posted by
BOM
on
January 10, 2011 16:15
I am sorry, but I would have to disagree with your version of manslaughter, as I thought - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manslaughter_in_English_law
Also you can read about Involuntary manslaughter or Motor manslaughter or Manslaughter by gross negligence for which the descriptions would fit her case.
Anyway I digress, this story is about thievery.
Posted by
Tbs
on
January 10, 2011 18:56
easy on the bloke, dont tell me everyone on here paying him out is a Saint, yeah right..... I bet u all got skeletons in the closet!!!! its not the worst thing committed (petty theft) but I certainly agree you don't do this kind of thing in Thailand out of respect and due to the strict laws but just remember all the other shocking crimes committed over there compared to this petty thing. Too many to name but yet this criminal act somehow makes the headlines because he's an Aussie.
Punishment should be a fine and ban as per other theft cases. Serving Jail time for this, wake up to yourselves.....
Thailand is a great destination, his loss.
Posted by
JJ
on
January 11, 2011 20:58
Aussies arrested for stealing sunglasses - Aussies arrested for stealing alcohol???
Has anyone been informed that stealing in any country is a criminal offense?
Is Thailand a "free for all" holiday destination?
Play with fire and you're sure to get burned. Thailand, albeit that they are strict and don't take kind to Farangs in general, manage to uphold the law and set examples of what happens when you go against the law.
As in all countries, when you visit, you enjoy respect and act as you would as if you were in your own country, otherwise, expect the pay the ferryman when the time comes.
There is a double standard for farangs in comparison to the locals, but that doesn't provide any incentive.
Good luck - chokdee kap.
Posted by
El Greco
on
January 13, 2011 01:53
Editor Comment:
You say ''they'' . . . ''don't take kind to Farangs in general.'' Really? Try telling that to millions of visitors who enjoy a great holiday and warm, well-meant Thai hospitality. In Thailand, it's one law for all. Thai thieves are also severely punished.
@editor "it's one law for all. Thai thieves are also severely punished."
Ha ha! One law for all? A man in Phuket accused of (and confessed to) peddling counterfeit electronic goods with a value of a million baht was arrested the other day. 600 items seized. And he was granted bail.
If there was one law for all, how come someone accused of a crime involving a few thousand baht (a pair of sunglasses) is denied bail, while someone confessing to a much more serious offence is allowed to go free?
And don't come back with the sunglasses pilferer might have fled. Where would he flee to without his passport?
You're dreaming.
Every day in the Thai media one can read of one person committing a trivial offence being banged up with no chance of bail, meanwhile someone (with a bit of money or connections) commits a much more serious offence and is given bail. And then, mysteriously, we never hear of the latter case again!
Posted by
Naiharn
on
January 18, 2011 13:43
Editor Comment:
It's a matter of Thai interpretation of Thai law. While pilfering is almost encouraged in the West, any kind of theft is treated seriously in Thailand. Copyright or intellectual property infringements? Well, in Thailand, not regarded as seriously as theft. Drug-taking in the West? Decriminalised. Here? Possession of small amounts of drugs will land you in deep trouble. Stop imagining the Western scales of justice swing over Thailand.
The guy should go free. Why? The police and King Power have zero credibility.
There is cause for reasonable doubt in anything they say.
That King Power Duty Free-Police scam in Bangkok has never been properly investigated, no?
Posted by
JJ
on
January 23, 2011 10:12
Editor Comment:
Where's the ''reasonable doubt'' in security camera footage, JJ? This case has nothing to do with any other case. To say that ''there is cause for reasonable doubt in anything they say'' in relation to the police is straight from the anarchy handbook. Put it away, please.
Er, sorry Ed, your comment "manslaughter involves Intent" is incorrect. Murder involves intent. Manslaughter is the slaying of a person during a physical attack with no intent to actually kill. Please get it right if you intend to preach.
Posted by
A. Skeptic
on
January 24, 2011 01:44
Editor Comment:
I'll leave the preaching to you, A. Skeptic, and just stick with challenging myths and bigotry.
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Silly man. He could've bought a pair for a lot less in Patong.
Posted by Mike Boyd on January 6, 2011 18:50