Man arrested in Russian tour scam
Police arrested a man at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Thursday after a group of 25 people filed complaints that he lured them to pay Bt39,000 each for a tour package to Russia that did not take place.
Jessada Honghin, 32, was arrested after police had one of the victims arrange to meet him at the airport.
The complaints filed at the Suvarnabhumi police station stated that Jessada offered a tour package with air tickets and accommodation from May 4 to 10 for Bt39,000.
They were due to leave on a Qatar Airways flight at 10 am on Thursday, however Jessada did not show up at the airport.
When they contacted the tour company Jessada worked for, they were told that he had paid for the airfares but did not pay for accommodation so they could not depart.
While they were filing their complaints, one of the group managed to contact Jessada by phone. Police told him to arrange to meet Jessada at the airport, where he was arrested.
Chaemchan Boonpiroon, 67, a victim, said she had previously bought tour packages from Jessada without any problem. When he offered a cheap package to Russia she and several friends bought it.
Samut Prakan police chief Pol Maj Gen Thamnoon Traitippong said that Jessada used to be chief tour guide for a company so he knew the tactics for deceive tourists.
