Frenchmen arrested in Pattaya

Accused of forging credit cards

Police have arrested two French nationals in Pattaya, who confessed to counterfeiting bank cards, officers said yesterday. Tachefini Smaine, 20, and Alexandre Guasmia, 21, were arrested on Friday in the tourist resort, tourist police said.

The pair were found in possession of various materials for counterfeiting bank cards.

Police also confiscated blank plastic cards and chips, which would have been encoded with bank card data.

Police said the men confessed to using a ''skimmer'' to steal information from the magnetic strip on the back of bank cards.

After the men had stolen the electronic data, they would covertly watch as a potential target typed in his ATM code, police said.

If convicted, the pair will face maximum jail terms of seven years.

Meanwhile, tourism operators in Pattaya have been encouraged to set up a fund to combat rising crimes against tourists.

The fund would provide immediate help to tourists falling victim to crime gangs, and support ongoing efforts by the state to crack down on tourism crimes.

Bang Lamung district chief Prateep Jongsuebtam said the tourism industry is an important revenue generator which must be protected.

Hoteliers will be asked to contribute first, although other tourism businesses would also be approached.

''We all face this problem together, and it needs immediate solutions,'' Pattaya deputy mayor Ronakit Akasing told tourism operators at a meeting to discuss the fund yesterday.

Tourists robbed and injured as a result of criminal activities need quick help and this would be possible only if there was a special fund to cover their expenses.

It could also help pay for joint patrols between police, soldiers, and civilians in tourist spots including the Pattaya beaches. The government also plans to recruit more informants to improve security.

The businesses should contribute to the fund for their own sake and the general public good as well, Mr Prateep said.

Bangkok Post
Sunday January 28, 2007