OAG fights cheap-tour case

The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) is preparing to appeal against the Criminal Court’s acquittal last month of 13 suspects involved in dubious Chinese tours that have besmirched Thailand’s reputation as a top tourist draw, sources say.

The office is looking into evidence as a preliminary move to reviving the so-called “zero-dollar tour” case, said Pol Lt Col Ruamchai Mana from the Department of Special Litigation.

Prosecutors brought the case to the court last October following raids on companies that were believed to be involved in the country’s biggest zero-dollar tour network, a coordinated scam to sell unusually cheap tour packages.

Tourists were allegedly forced to buy overpriced products and services from shops with ties to the package sellers.

The suspects included executives of Fuan Travel Co and those of OA Transport.

The Criminal Court dropped all charges on Aug 25, citing insufficient evidence and positive feedback from the alleged victims.

Most said they had a “good impression” of the tour and were “never forced to buy products and services”, the court said.

The defendants, including the six firms they operated, faced charges including collusion to unfairly reap benefits from tourists, and illegally running tour services.

Other charges were laundering money, and causing damage to the economy and tourism, the court was told.

Meanwhile, Phaya Thai police chief Nitiwat Saengsing, who was transferred to an inactive post on Saturday, received an order to return to his post yesterday having completed his mission.

As the six companies operated in the area overseen by the Phaya Thai police station, Pol Col Nitiwat was initially transferred over investigation conflicts.