Tourist extortion hard to stop
 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...es-prosecution

Local News
Jet ski video maker faces prosecution
Police admit extortion of tourists hard to stop

Writer: ONNUCHA HUTASINGH
Published: 18/09/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

A Thai video production company involved in the filming of alleged
extortion of foreigners by a Phuket jet ski operator is to be
prosecuted for sending the recordings abroad for broadcasting without
permission.

Wanasiri Morakul, director of the Thailand Film Office which comes
under the Tourism and Sports Ministry, yesterday said police had
traced the tapes to a company called Black Sheep Productions.

She said the managers of the company, which had produced the Big
Trouble In Thailand series for Bravo All News station in England,
admitted to holding the copyright for the recordings.

Ms Wanasiri said normal videos made by Thais do not require prior
approval from the ministry's Office of Tourism Development.

But the people responsible for the Big Trouble In Thailand series,
which has been a big hit on YouTube, had violated Article 34 of the
motion picture law by not having the contents examined by a Tourism
and Sports Ministry film committee before they were broadcast abroad.

The company's managers could face 12 months in jail and/or a fine of
up to a million baht.

Seksan Nakawong, director-general of the Office of Tourism
Development, said the film-makers also violated Article 23 of the same
law for making a film tarnishing the reputation of Thailand.

The clips feature Phuket jet ski operator Vinai Naiman, also known as
"JJ", demanding compensation from a British client, a marine on rest
and recreation leave.

In the footage of the British marine, Mr Vinai was seen going to a
storeroom and returning with a gun which he dangled by his side.

Sasisupa Sungvaribud, president of the Film Production Services
Association, said the recordings took the form of a reality show and
the events depicted were obviously staged and scripts written for the
film.

Tourist Police chief Adis Ngamjitsuksri has conceded the extortion of
tourists was a problem which the police alone could not stamp out.

He said the extortion gangs, including those in tourist provinces,
worked under highly influential people.