Ian Day, a British tourist in Pattaya, Thailand, was partying with his friends when authorities arrived.
A British tourist, Ian Day, allegedly faked his own kidnapping to extort money from his family in the UK after running out of cash in Pattaya, Thailand. Sun reported.
British police arrested Day, along with fellow Briton Darren Cheeseman, 57, Frenchman Damien Roche, 50, and New Zealander Ben Cooper, 36, after frantic relatives of the 48-year-old man reported that they were He was doing FaceTime while his companions kept him prisoner. .
Police Lieutenant Colonel Sorasak Saengcha, who is leading the investigation at the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), said the man used iMessage and FaceTime to chat with his relatives in the UK.
Saengcha said: “He sent photos of himself being attacked and then injured. His friends beat him and left bruises on his face. He made his three friends wear masks in the videos and act like gangsters.
“He organized the kidnapping and asked his family to send money. They were worried and contacted the police in the UK. Interpol was informed. Interpol contacted the Thai police and we located the man. But when we arrived, they were having a party “.
Police Maj. Gen. Montree Theskhan, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, said the four men were arrested on Saturday on charges of joint possession of firearms, ammunition and unauthorized drugs.
He added: “Time and personnel resources were invested to rescue the British man. We acted quickly because we feared for his safety. When the police arrived, he himself was doing something illegal. He will now be prosecuted.”
Police said the men had overstayed their visas and would be deported once authorities dealt with it. They remained in police custody last night,
