Irish, Swiss, Britons and Canadians jailed for bogus visa stamps

[Nicke]

Irish, Swiss, Britons and Canadians jailed for bogus visa stamps

LONDON: Fifteen Britons who were duped into buying bogus visas have been jailed in Thailand, the Foreign Office said yesterday.

They were arrested as they tried to leave the country when immigration authorities noticed counterfeit stamps in their passports. Each had to raise £4,600 bail (approx. 300,000 Baht), their passports have been confiscated and they cannot leave Thailand until their cases come to court.

If convicted of immigration offences they face maximum jail sentences of 10 years or large fines.

Relatives of the tourists say they are innocent victims of fraud, who paid £26 (approx. 1,700 Baht) each for visa extensions at outlets they believed were legitimate.

The Foreign Office admitted that the fraud is posing a 'problem' for travellers. Bangkok's European consuls met this week to discuss the situation after Irish, Swiss and Canadian citizens were also jailed.

Among the Britons arrested were Nicholas Walker, Justin Righam, Paul Killey and Aaron Hay, all in their early 20s and from Douglas in the Isle of Man. They were intending to visit Australia, but were arrested as they left Thailand on Sunday.

Auban Walker, Mr Walker's uncle, also from Douglas, said: 'They were arrested simply for having the wrong stamps in their passports and were thrown into jail in Bangkok. The Thai police are treating victims of fraud as criminals, but aren't stopping the travel agents who issue these stamps.'

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Our travel advice on Thailand does give a warning about visa fraud and our understanding is that this has become a bit of a problem."