Five arrested after tourists allege jet-ski extortion
Police arrested five Thai men in front of a luxury hotel in Pattaya at about 2am yesterday after some foreign guests lodged an extortion complaint.
The five men worked for a jet-ski rental operation on Pattaya beach. The foreign tourists had rented jet skis, which sustained minor damage in an accident, following which the operator demanded compensation so great they could not afford to pay it.
The tourists went to a police station to report the incident. However, when they left the police station, they said the five men intimidated them and tried to prevent them from returning to the hotel.
The five men were charged with extortion and illegal detention.
