Time’s up for Singaporean gunman selling fake branded watches in Bangkok

BANGKOK: Unaware that he was under watch by the Thailand police, a Singaporean who wanted to make a quick buck threw caution to the wind and sold fake branded watches via a Facebook social media account.

On Wednesday, the Thai policemen caught up with the 28year-old foreigner but got more than they bargained for.

Apart from an assortment of fake branded watches, the police also seized a China-made 9mm automatic pistol and 10 rounds of ammunition in the man’s possession.

As if that was not enough, the Singaporean was found to have overstayed in Thailand for five years, Tourist Police deputy chief, Maj-Gen Surachet Hakpal told the media yesterday.

He said the Singaporean entered Thailand in 2014 and was supposed to have stayed until August that year.

According to him, the foreigner claimed to have made a monthly profit of between 70,000 Baht and 80,000 Baht (about RM8,900 to RM10,250) from his illegal trade of fake branded watches.

Surachet said the suspect was arrested at his rented room in Chatuchak district here in possession of 22 counterfeit branded watches which he bought from China for 2,000 baht (about RM256 per watch) before reselling it to online customers.

“The Singaporean pocketed huge profits after charging his customers between 10,000 Baht to 20,000 Baht for one fake watch (about RM1,280 to RM2,560).

Among the luxury brands borne by the fake watches included Rolex, Omega, IWC and Patek Philippe.

The Singaporean was expected to be charged for breaching copyright laws, overstaying and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. rounds, said Surachet.

Meanwhile, the Tourist Police deputy chief who headed the fight against the ‘Macau Scam’ or telecom fraud said the authorities had managed to wipe out 90 per cent of the scam in Thailand during seven months of operations. - Bernama