Tour company’s owner turns himself in to police to face fraud charge

An owner of a tour company in Satun province turned himself in to police today (April 17) to face fraud charge after 44 tourists lodged a complaint with Ko Lipe police that they were cheated by the tour firm.

The complainants said they bought tour packages from the company, Thai Alpha Andaman, which offered a tour package of three days and two nights at Lipe island at 7,900 baht per head plus one free of charge.  They added that customers’ reviews of the company’s service were positive and the company was legally registered.

However, when they arrived at the company’s office in Satun, they could not find any staff there and could not contact any of them.  So, they decided to seek help from police.

Pol Lt-Gen Surachate Hakparn, deputy commissioner of Tourist Police, said a background check of the tour company’s owner, Mr Prateep Kaewnont, showed that he had previously been accused of cheating customers and several cases are still pending in the court.

He disclosed that as many as 1,600 customers who bought the tour packages to Lipe isiland might have been duped to the tune of over 10 million baht.

Mr Prateep said he decided to turn himself in after learning from the media that he was wanted by the police.

He was later brought to Satun province to face charges.