Two customs officers at Manila Airport in the Philippines have been caught on video stealing 5,one hundred baht from a Thai vacationer at a baggage examine counter.
The video of the 2 customs officers stealing money was posted on Facebook by Piyawat Gunlayaprasit on February 22.
Piyawat reported that he heard one other Thai vacationer, identified as Kitja Tbabtim, shouting that his money had disappeared whereas he was in line ready for a baggage examine. The officers claimed that there were no CCTV cameras within the space and urged Kitja to contact the lost and found division.
However, Piywat seen two airport officers talking to one another suspiciously, so he determined to document a video of them. The video revealed a female officer stuffing something, believed to be money, into her colleague’s pocket.
Piyawat decided handy the video to Kitja. They then confirmed the video to the offending officers, who admitted to the theft and returned the money. The feminine officer additionally requested Piyawat to delete the video, and he pretended to delete it earlier than exposing it on social media.
Piyawat said in his Facebook post…
“At that time, I did not know what I should do. There were no security guards or cops on the spot. What I and the sufferer might do was shout out loud and verify out asking for the cash back. I noticed many individuals warn travellers about thefts at this airport, however nobody had evidence. I have clear evidence now. Be careful, everyone. #TheftCheckpointPleaseBewareYourBelongings.”
The sufferer, Kitja, later up to date the situation on Facebook, saying that he despatched the video evidence to the police and the airport department of the Philippines. The officers in the video were quickly suspended and banned from coming into the airport whereas further investigation into the case is ongoing.
Be the first had been believed to be at Manila Airport for transit flights to Japan. Most Thai vacationers visiting Japan go for a connecting flight to Manila as a much less expensive travel possibility.
This is not the first time customs officers at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport have been accused of stealing from tourists. Two weeks ago, Thai tourist Saruta Jansila warned people to be cautious of light-fingered officers at Manila Airport.
Saruta reported that she and her husband had been suspicious of the officers’ behaviour during a baggage verify and later found that 10,000 baht in cash was lacking from their belongings. After confronting the officers, their cash was mysteriously returned. She said…
“It was so scary. They committed crimes however seemed so chilled.”