Finns arrested after cop extortion claim
Two Finnish men have been arrested for overstay after they duped one of the men’s parents out of 7,000 euros (about B267,295) by falsely telling them their son had been arrested and needed the money for his release.
Lt Col Ekachai Siri of the Tourist Police reported that officers were informed last Friday (Dec 15) that the parents of 27-year-old Finnish national Aki-Petteri Kristian Varsala had been unable to contact their son and had reported him as “missing”.
During the time that their son was “missing”, the parents had received a phone call from a person claiming to be a Phuket police officer. The so-called “officer” told the parents that they needed to transfer 7,000 euros to ensure his release.
The parents transferred the money, but still had not heard from their son, prompting them to contact the Tourist Police themselves.
By 3pm last Friday Tourist Police and Patong Police had made their way to the Chang Bar One on Nanai Rd, where they had been told their “missing person” had been seen.
Staff at the bar told the officers that Mr Varsala had not been to the bar for about two months. They did know that at that time Mr Varsala and his Finnish friend ‒ later named by police as 34-yearold Finnish national ‘Silklouma Joonass Patteri’ ‒ were staying at the Coco Resort on Nanai Soi 8.
Officers travelled to the hotel, but were told the two Finnish men had checked out about a month ago. Returning to the bar, the officers learned that one of the staffers still had a way of contacting the men.
The staffer organised to meet the men at the Tops store on Nanai Soi 8 at 7:30pm, when officers also arrived to greet them, and invite them to Patong Police Station to answer some questions.
Officers discovered that both men had entered the country on tourist visas that allowed them to stay until June 28. Both men extended their stays until July 27, but had not extended their stays further.
Both men were deemed to have stayed in the country illegally 141 days.
During questioning, the two men admitted that they had worked together to create a story that they had been arrested by the police to ask for money from their parents, Lt Col Ekachai said in his report.
Police charged the men for staying in the country illegally, and have informed the parents to let them know that their son was safe, Lt Col Ekachai confirmed.