Police set new sights on $0 tour scammers

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Deputy national police chief Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul, seated sixth from left, attends a meeting at the Crime Suppression Division on Wednesday as tourist police file a new complaint concerning zero-dollar tour scams against 29 companies. 

Police are taking legal action against 29 subsidiaries and business associates of big tour-related companies recently acquitted of running zero-dollar tour scams.

Tourist police contacted the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) on Wednesday to accuse 29 companies of violating laws on tour guide services and business competition.

Responding to the complaint, deputy national police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said that after the Criminal Court had acquitted tour-related companies and operators, police re-examined their evidence and found new cases involving the 29 companies.

Police were confident they had evidence to implicate the 29 companies and the CSD would also check if the 29 companies had evaded taxation, Pol Gen Srivara said. He declined to elaborate on the new cases.

The action follows a malfeasance complaint filed with CSD by the management of OA Transport Co late last month. The complaint concerned two police officers who earlier handled zero-dollar tour cases on behalf of tourist police.

Pol Gen Srivara said that OA Transport had the right to file its complaint.

Zero-dollar tour schemes lure Chinese tourists into buying cheap tour packages in Thailand, where they are forced to spend money on unusually expensive souvenirs and services. In late August the Criminal Court acquitted OA Transport Co and 12 other parties because of insufficient evidence.

The tourist police complaint on Wednesday targeted the following companies:

• Four companies that had rented tour buses from OA Transport Co:  Long Xiang Express, Thai Chang Long Travel (Thailand), Lian Tai Travel Group (Thailand) and UV Travel and Trading
• Five subsidiaries of OA Transport: RG Transport, Royal Dragon Transport, All Star Transport, Royal Paragon Transport, and Asia Vision Travel
• Five shops under the umbrella of OA Transport: Fukang Travel and Tour, Kanta Group (Thailand), Santarosa Travel (2000) and Thai Singyajow Tour
• Four companies that rented tour buses from Siam Gems Co: First Transport, SC Somchai Service and Golden Thai Travel.

Three tour bus companies and eight shops associated with Siam Gems Co were also listed in the complaint.

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