Will he be deported after the jail term?

Posted by Smithy on May 24, 2014 16:15

Having had many friends with money vanishing from their accounts by these skimmers I believe it's an excellent job by the BIB.

Posted by Amazing Thailand on May 24, 2014 16:16

Excellent arrest. Too many foreign so and sos living on Phuket and committing crimes or scrounging off genuine visitors with sob stories. Phuket could be an amazing place again if they could weed out this kind of unwanted farang.

Posted by sateeb on May 24, 2014 16:25

The sooner the police remove these French Algerians from the Nanai 8 area they have taken over and ruined in Patong the better it will be for all of us decent people living here

Posted by Pete on May 24, 2014 16:35

Like so many other "farangs" this guy's morals do not come from France, of which country he holds a passport, but from his native culture in Africa. The percentage of delinquent Africans is too high, and they should be weeded out, and deported to their country of origin after serving a long jail term here

Posted by Guenter Bellach on May 24, 2014 17:24

I agree 100% to full control by Immigration Police of incoming foreigners through strict application of Visa entrees and use of scanning fingerprints of all foreigners arriving in Thailand.
Also, a better supervision of companies with foreigners as shareholder would avoid criminal to set up companies in order to get Non-Immigrant visa and stay all year round to play the con men at the expenses of true expats.

Posted by Whistle-Blower on May 24, 2014 18:30

As posted by Pete & Guenter: I was appalled passing through Bangkok on route to UK how the Africans have taken over a large swathe of Sukhumvit - in your face aggressively at night (males & females) - what is Thailand think about allowing this? Glad I've moved on for now.

Posted by Logic on May 24, 2014 18:36

I was a victim of this in Pattaya....Lock him up for as long as possible. Then send this Frenchman back to Syria.

Posted by It's too late on May 24, 2014 19:50

Perhaps I have missed something in the article and I read and re-read it several times to be sure but nowhere does it mention that he is Algerian or African. The article states he is French, therefore a French citizen and passport holder. His ethnicity has nothing to do with, so making an assumption like others, clearly some commentators have racism issues. And yet again, Whistle Blower trots out the same boring rhetoric about dodgy companies. If you have evidence to support this why don't you man up and pass that information to the relevant authorities? Perhaps you should change your pseudonym to Trouser Trumpeter.
That said, well done to the police for catching this individual. On a lighter note, are pink handcuffs standard issue for the police now or did I perhaps miss Breast Cancer Awareness Day?

Posted by Lord Melchett on May 24, 2014 22:14

@ Lord Melchett. I have been a victim of a ATM scam and have followed articals regarding these kind of crimes since then.In 90 procent of the cases there are people holding a passport from example Sweden, Norway, France and they are all imigrants in their new country.They are coming from Africa, middle east and south america. It is not racism to deliver facts MY Lord.90 procent of theese criminals are bringin shame to the country where they have been given permition to stay and in many cases so much benefit so they can travel to Thailand and commit crimes.

OT, look at the Algerians (with multiple passports from different countries) on Nanai and how they made a Ghetto of the area.But as a Liberal with with some marxistculture background as you probably have (a feminist as well, maybe)you shut your eyes from reality and pull the racist card.

Posted by One Expat 14years on May 25, 2014 08:35

In France ATM card-trapping is a plague and is almost a national sport in some areas. A device called "the collet Marseillais" is put on the machine by thieves to trap your card. (Marseilles is a 1 million inhabitants french town famous for its Algerian thugs, chain snatching and card snatching).

Posted by Kat on May 25, 2014 13:14

Don't listen to French, this guy is a real French, they are 12 million in France and the greatest honor for French Man is to offer her daughter to an Arab.

Posted by Cassius on May 25, 2014 14:58

@ One Expat 14years. Oh my, you really did make me laugh out loud with your comments, so much so I nearly dropped my afternoon glass of Port onto my gout foot. You appear to have fallen into the same trap as other commentators by making assumptions, based upon your own prejudices.
I worked for many years in law enforcement, including major fraud investigations and I know only too well the dangers of card skimming, ATM manipulations and the multitude of other frauds that are perpetrated by criminals and criminal gangs. Indeed, ATM skimmers have been around nearly as long as the ATM itself. It is a constant battle, waged between the financial institutions and the criminals.
Indeed over 20 years ago we recovered an ATM skimmer that was light years ahead of its time, consisting of a very thin numerical keypad that was placed over the ATM keypad, which stored key presses and a second device that fitted over the card slot, read the data on the magnetic strip and then burst transmitted it to the criminals, who within 30 seconds could clone a card. And where did that piece of technology originate? Well it was from an Eastern European Block Nation. The skimming device was so sophisticated that it remained in place for over two weeks and stole the card details of over 700 people.
There are some simple rules to follow when using an ATM, which I follow religiously and have (touch wood) never had an issue. Try to use just one ATM that is situated within the bank, at the exterior of the bank or in a shopping mall, rather than the ones that are independent, such as you see on street corners. That way if anything changes on the machine you are more likely to spot it.
Before using the ATM, do a visual inspection and physically check the keypad and card slot; if you're uncertain don't use it. Additionally, when using an ATM be aware of your surroundings and who is stood behind you. Furthermore do no allow anyone to see you enter the pin number and do not allow anyone to distract you. There were gangs of Romanian children doing this in France to great effect.
If using your card to pay for services or goods then never let the card out of your sight, even if that means accompanying say the waiter to the payment counter.
It is also a good idea to check your balance whenever you make a transaction, whether that be via online banking or printed receipt. And talking of receipts, always, always take a transaction receipt and keep it. Don' throw it on the floor or leave it behind, as there is a wealth of information on it that can be exploited.
A further consideration is to obtain a pre-paid credit/Debit card that many institutions offer, which you can load with money. These are great if you're traveling and also for use online. Many can be linked to a PayPal account and you can transfer funds with ease. The fees are reasonable and it's a good way to avoid unscrupulous access to your bank accounts.
Despite all the warnings, people do not follow simple risk management strategies and continue to be duped. Of course, PIN numbers are a weakness but people do insist on writing them down on a piece of paper, which stays in their wallet or horror of horrors they write it on the card. I have seen this done and quite frankly those people are simpletons. Always protect your PIN and also the security code on the rear of the card, usually 3 digits.
If you have difficulty remembering your pin number there are much safer options. You can find lots of advice on line.
As to your experience, I would bet that you are now much more cautious about how and where you use it. I understand that its frustrating and annoying but again manage the risk and follow some simple strategy.
As to my comments, I again re-iterate, the article clearly states that the person was a French National, holding a French Passport. Therefore he is a French National, regardless of his ethnic background. What I take exception to is the clearly prejudiced and thinly veiled racism, which has NO place in any society. We live in a multi culture world, so get over it and put aside those pre-conceived notions; difficult I know if you have had a bad experience. Not all criminals are black, not all tuk-tuk drivers are crooks, not all Algerians are criminals and not all police are corrupt. Criminals come from all nationalities, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
As to being a liberal, Marxist and Feminist, well which is it? People like you do love to pigeonhole people. Liberals generally support ideas such as free and fair elections, civil rights, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free trade, and private property. So yes I guess so. Marxist? I doubt you even know what that is and if mentioning Breast Cancer Awareness in a lighthearted end comment makes me a feminist? well thank you.
The point is that you assume many things, without any notion of what you are talking about. I am many things and embrace all ideas. Its called being open minded.
As they say, assumptions are the mother of all **** ups or a more polite term would be assumptions make an ass out of you and me.
I do not subscribe to assumptions, but hey if the cap fits perhaps you are an ass and had your card skimmed in a girlie bar? I await your next supercilious comments Sir. Chin-chin, its Gin and Tonic time before the curfew kicks in. Hey, I'm a poet!

Posted by Lord Melchett on May 25, 2014 16:56

please note the kind of French man that committed these crime. Background north africa which is the main background origin for people committing crime in france

Posted by seb on May 25, 2014 17:32

@ Cassius : don't lie. It's not a honor at all for a French to marry his daughter to an Arab as they don't like us. They claim they're Arab all the time, except when they need rights or benefits and remember then that they were given the French nationality. Politics have betrayed France and French in order to allow more men like him to come and do dirty jobs. They were given a great chance to come and be educated that they didn't got in so numerous ways in their own countries, but don't take it up and rather choose the easy way, the same way that this man has chosen...

Posted by Dum?? on May 25, 2014 17:51

actually, France also colonized Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, then called "Indochine"... but I never heard about trouble with these large populations in France since then ...
On the other hand, Sweden is experiencing severe troubles with north african populations... as it has never colonized any country !!

So long for the "karma coming from being a colonizing power"... :-)


Last, if you want a clear idea about who are the criminals in France, just check the list of the wanted criminals by French police :

http://www.avisderecherches.interieur.gouv.fr/personnes1.asp?T=R

click on "page suivante" to see them all.

Welcome to real life Lord Melchett. Hoping my "information rich comment" will also be appreciated from the editor.

Posted by mayburn on May 25, 2014 19:32

@Lord Melchett - well written, great attitude! almost deserves a story on its own "Phuketwan has a reasonable commentor"

Keep up the good work and ignore the idiots...

Posted by Anonymous on May 25, 2014 19:36

Please don't call him French ! I agree with most of the comments below. I am French and I can tell you France has been ruled for 40 years by traitors who gave French nationality to people we are ashamed of, who are ruining my country and who have nothing to do with France or French culture. Do anything you want with this guy but keep him definitively away from France. Thanks ! ;-)

Posted by vzmax on May 25, 2014 20:13

To reply to the editor comment, this has nothing to see with the karma of being a former colonial power, as we see it with many population that were not colonized by France and who are also from Pakistan for instance and other African countries. They just consider that France is a kind country and such kind that it is indeed weak. They see they're always defended for their misdemeanors so they continue. The system's encouraging them to persevere and at the opposite the successive governments are saying that we must not put people in jail if we don't want those people become criminals. So they're allowed to repeat such misdemeanors a numerous times and at the tenth or more times they do a felony that will conduct to jail. And they will say that the person is not a recidivist as he was never in jail. That's crazy...

In my opinion, they're for much of them racists. They're often telling you in the streets when you speak to them what's good values and bad, but later some don't hesitate to insult anyone or to act as they're selfish.

One is allowed to believe them when they speak but after you've seen numerous muggings you will re-balance your opinion. That's what's called empiricism. Believe me or not, French were so afraid to get prejudices against them that they were much more kind believing that they were victims of these prejudices. They're a lot to realize now they mistaken themselves.

Posted by Dum?? on May 25, 2014 23:37

Thoroughly enjoyed and informed by the comments from Lord Melchett, excellent post. So posts to PhuketWan can be rational, informed, well-reasoned, even subtly humorous, who knew? Thank you for that info, there are some things I need to keep a better eye on.

Unfortunately I see those comments had little or no effect on the irrational assumptions or bigotry of the commenter's here. Racial bias, bigotry or as Lord Melchett calls it "pigeon-holing" has no place in modern society. For those of you defending your assumptions, take a step back and recognize that this is the root of the discrimination that has caused the Rohynga tragedy and numerous other horrors in history.

Instead of projecting criminal tendencies on a random population, culture or ethnicity a better discussion would be about why bigotry exists and an examination of what your own are and why you have them.

One last item. I reject the notion that France had no crime or criminals before the government relaxed the immigration laws because those "people/they/them" are just criminals. Your arguments have all been made before (example Nativism in America in the 1800's made similar claims about those coming from France, Italy and Germany to America) and it even has a name xenophobia. A better measurement would be the economic circumstances, housing and provisions made for those who were immigrating and the positive benefits of a society properly providing for it's immigrant population, but that is beyond the scope of this discussion. Suffice it to say that no "people/they/them" have a greater tendency to crime than any other.

Here's hoping that the ill-considered action against the editor has been dropped and Phuket Wan, at least, can get back to keeping us informed without resistance. And the bigots, trolls and doomsayers can have some place to grouse.

Posted by Martin on May 26, 2014 09:00

This topic is so difficult to discuss. Many people are afraid to appear to be racist. But that is changing the bigger the problem gets. I'm looking just like that guy. And I'm treated and looked at like that guy. But I was single raised by my european mother and have nothing of that culture in me. While I'm angry about all the racism that I get served in my life, I also have to blame those guys. Would they behave differently, wouldn't so many people hate them and me. This is clearly a cultural problem. I still don't understand why Europe is letting that happen. It will be a huge problem in the future, that for sure some people will try to 'solve'. They will never be accepted. Believe me. I know how you treat me.

Posted by DoubleFarang on May 26, 2014 09:15

I don't understand, i don't see any french guy on the picture...or maybe that kind of african importation which french paper

Posted by jucunda on May 26, 2014 10:03

He may be French according to his passport, but he is not French ethnically with a name like that. Thai/English newspapers here tend to group people in that way without further distinctions. For example a group of Norwegians were accused of ATM fraud whose names were obviously non- Norwegian, who were in fact Indians who just immigrated to Norway a few months ago and have passports from Norway. Does a educated Russian from Moscow want to be lumped in with a drunken surly rude Russian on 2 week tour from from Norlisk one of the most polluted places on earth who is part of a ATM gang.

Posted by Ozette on May 26, 2014 13:34

@Lord Melchett. I am pleased to make you happy and hope that your gout is not so bad. Your quote:
"You appear to have fallen into the same trap as other commentators by making assumptions, based upon your own prejudices" Well, you mentioned Romanian children being involved in ATM thefts. I do not question your statement but a politician that share your multicultural political corectness would surley call you a racist. By the way, these politicians that brace this multicultural experiment are often Libdem,old marxist from Frankfurtschool (culture marxists) and leftvingers.

I thank you for bringing attention to ATM freuds and how to avoid them.

Posted by One Expat 14years on May 26, 2014 13:56

Dear Martin,

sorry for the racial bias, bigotry and discrimination but it seems the French police has a clear idea about all this.

If you want a clear idea about who are the criminals in France, just check the list of the wanted criminals by French police :

http://www.avisderecherches.interieur.gouv.fr/personnes1.asp?T=R

click on "page suivante" to see them all.

My wife is non European, my kids are metis... and this police site is about FACTS !!!

Welcome to the real world, dear Martin. And stop insulting us just because you don't have a clue about the real situation in France.

People like you were the one to give those criminals the impression that they could do whatever they wanted... and finally they gave a bad name even to the vast majority well-behaved immigrants

Posted by mayburn on May 28, 2014 03:26

Lolo la baise ratail

Posted by Mc manaman on May 28, 2014 04:05

Mayburn, it seems that France is suffering only because it first invaded African nations, they were not invited, they raped and murder the locals and who knows what else. Karma is a funny thing, but what is happening now is insignificant to what happened in those African nations.

Posted by Laurie Howells on May 28, 2014 08:36

@mayburn People are individuals and each should be judged on his or her merits. I don't think that is insulting but it is justice. It means that an individual who breaks the law should be dealt with as an individual and not all those who look like them or pray like them should be judged "en masse".

I am pointing out that history has shown that when people decide to judge groups based on ethnicity or religion the results are things like Kristallnacht, Armenian genocide, Rwanda, etc. So there is a scary precedent to where these attitudes can lead and few would disagree that stronger challenges to those attitudes at the time, might have averted disaster in each case.

I don't know who "us" is but I didn't direct my comment toward anyone in particular. I pointed out that to stereo-type people based on skin color, religion, ethnicity, nationality, etc. is bigotry and comments that reflect this attitude are out of place and racist. If you find that "insulting" that is your lookout not mine.

I also see your rush to judgement and condemnation is not limited to just racial biases as now you have categorized and labelled me responsible for the increase in criminal behavior in France. I don't remember our meeting or having a substantive conversation on my familiarity with France or it's problems or anything else for that matter so I am not sure where your opinions come from. I also don't see anywhere that I suggested that criminals should be free to do as they wish or should not be punished for their crimes. They should be punished and frankly think that a few years in Bang Kwang for foreign ATM scammers might change some of their minds.

Irregardless if the current top ten most wanted in France meet a racial stereo-type or the nationality of your wife and kids, it just isn't relevant and neither justify wholesale discrimination and bigotry. They don't eradicate or change the fact that casting a net over a large group of people and calling them all criminals and social misfits without considering each as a person is racism.

Posted by martin on May 28, 2014 11:18