PHUKET: A tourist who told police he had been robbed at knifepoint in a Phuket shopping centre has been arrested and accused of lying to officers.
The dramatic reversal of the case of theft alleged by the tourist, a man from Malaysia, follows the use of Phuket security camera footage to turn the tables on an Australian woman who had claimed she was raped by a tuk-tuk driver.
In the latest ''reality cam'' episode, the Malaysian man, named as Naris Sharma, 34, went to Kathu Police Station, which oversees the tourist hub of Patong, on Phuket's west coast, about 9pm last night.
Mr Sharma told police that he went to the toilet while shopping in the large Jungceylon centre in Patong. He said he was confronted by a man with a knife, who stole his mobile telephone, an iPad and cash totalling about 200,000 baht in value.
Mr Naris made his statement to police, was given a copy of the statement, and left. Fearing more knifepoint thefts from tourists, Patong Superintendent Colonel Jirapat Pollchanaphan, sent police to investigate at Jungceylon.
Instead of finding security camera footage that could give them strong clues to the identity of the attacker, the investigating officers found there was no footage of an attack in the toilet.
They did, however, find footage of Mr Naris enjoying himself elsewhere in the shopping centre last night.
Mr Naris was arrested at his accommodation and was being questioned by police in Patong late last night. He is expected to be charged with lying to police.
It's not unusual for tourists to provide false statements to Phuket police to claim a travel insurance payout.
Earlier this year, Australian tourist Stevie Bamford alleged that she had been raped in Patong by a tuk-tuk driver. An investigation by police produced footage and witnesses who clearly established Ms Bamford had not been raped.
Ms Bamford served 15 days in detention on Phuket for lying to police. On returning to Australia, she reverted to her original account in an interview with tabloid television show 'Today Tonight' and accused Australian embassy officials of urging her to lie.
The dramatic reversal of the case of theft alleged by the tourist, a man from Malaysia, follows the use of Phuket security camera footage to turn the tables on an Australian woman who had claimed she was raped by a tuk-tuk driver.
In the latest ''reality cam'' episode, the Malaysian man, named as Naris Sharma, 34, went to Kathu Police Station, which oversees the tourist hub of Patong, on Phuket's west coast, about 9pm last night.
Mr Sharma told police that he went to the toilet while shopping in the large Jungceylon centre in Patong. He said he was confronted by a man with a knife, who stole his mobile telephone, an iPad and cash totalling about 200,000 baht in value.
Mr Naris made his statement to police, was given a copy of the statement, and left. Fearing more knifepoint thefts from tourists, Patong Superintendent Colonel Jirapat Pollchanaphan, sent police to investigate at Jungceylon.
Instead of finding security camera footage that could give them strong clues to the identity of the attacker, the investigating officers found there was no footage of an attack in the toilet.
They did, however, find footage of Mr Naris enjoying himself elsewhere in the shopping centre last night.
Mr Naris was arrested at his accommodation and was being questioned by police in Patong late last night. He is expected to be charged with lying to police.
It's not unusual for tourists to provide false statements to Phuket police to claim a travel insurance payout.
Earlier this year, Australian tourist Stevie Bamford alleged that she had been raped in Patong by a tuk-tuk driver. An investigation by police produced footage and witnesses who clearly established Ms Bamford had not been raped.
Ms Bamford served 15 days in detention on Phuket for lying to police. On returning to Australia, she reverted to her original account in an interview with tabloid television show 'Today Tonight' and accused Australian embassy officials of urging her to lie.
Great Job Police, I hope blacklistwill also have its consequences for Naris Sharma to travel anywhere else in the world. I'll be releaved the day that convicted criminal get travel limitations. A country has to take of its rotten apples itselve. Don't give them a second change elsewhere. Too often they continue to be law offenders elsewhere. This principle could be very effective and preventive.
Posted by PhuketExpat on September 12, 2012 09:48