Ah, the white sands of Phuket, where the Andaman Sea kisses the shore, and adventures lurk in every corner! But who would have imagined it’d be the stage for a tale of a Finnish tourist’s trickery that’s as twisty as the winding roads of Thailand’s beloved island?
Get ready to chuckle and gasp, dear readers, because this story is a rollercoaster ride sans seatbelts! Imagine this: a sunny Saturday night at Patong police station, twinkling with the camera flashes as two Finnish friends, aged 27 and 34, find their shenanigans caught in the act!
Ostensibly living it up in the tropical haven, these gentlemen were hit by a brainwave: “What if,” one says to the other, “we weave a tale so convincing that it opens the bank vaults from afar?” And what a tale it was. A distress call to the folks back home – “Help, we’ve been nabbed by the law!”, they cried, “And only a ransom of 7,000 euros will set us free!”
Meanwhile, the unsuspecting parents, engrossed in their peaceful Finnish life, are shaken from their calm by a devious voice on the other end of the line. “Hello, Phuket Police here, send us 7,000 euros if you ever wish to see your son without bars between you,” it said with a mock sternness.
The plot thickens! The Finnish duo had been frolicking in Phuket since June’s last blush. Days turned into weeks, and their tourist visas waved goodbye on July’s twilight. Not a care in the world, or a visa extension attempt, did they bother with. Ah, but the authorities, ever so diligent, began to sense something fishy when a perplexed and panicked complaint landed on their desk.
Enter Pol Lt Col Ekachai Siri, our intrepid superintendent of tourist police. He’s no stranger to riddles wrapped in mysteries inside enigmas. A bit of sleuthing and voila! The wandering sons of Finland were located. When questioned at the police station, our 27-year-old adventurer cracked, confessing their ploy to shake down his own kin for a small fortune.
Charges, as they often do, were served the next course – overstaying their Thai welcome, to be precise. But fret not, there is a sliver of silver lining. The heartbroken parents were soon informed that their son was safe and snug, albeit a touch less wealthy in the virtue department.
There you have it, folks, a tale of beaches, bamboozles, and bungles. As the sun sets on this episode of ‘Tourists Behaving Badly’, let’s take a moment to chuckle and shake our heads in bemused disbelief at the lengths some will go to for a bit of extra beach cash. Remember, when in Phuket, keep it honest, keep it fun, and for heaven’s sake, keep your visa up to date!
Be First to Comment