Four Foreigners Arrested for Faking Own Kidnapping

[reader]

From Pattaya News

Four foreign tourists in Pattaya found themselves in hot water after they staged a kidnapping scheme, leading to their arrest and the discovery of illegal drugs and firearms.

The elaborate charade began when one of the men, a British citizen identified only as Ian, contacted his parents claiming he’d been kidnapped and that the kidnappers were demanding ransom. Worried and desperate, Ian’s parents, instead of sending money, alerted Thai and international authorities, triggering a swift investigation by the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) and the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).

Following Interpol’s tip-off, police raided the four foreigners’ rented house in Pattaya on Saturday, January 28th, 2024. While no signs of the alleged kidnapping were found, the officers stumbled upon a different kind of surprise: A stash of illegal drugs, including crystal methamphetamine, and a loaded revolver with ammunition.

The four individuals, two Englishmen, a Frenchman, and a New Zealander, were promptly apprehended on charges of drug possession, firearm possession, and visa overstay. As it turned out, the kidnapping was nothing more than a desperate ploy concocted by Ian’s friends, facing financial woes in Thailand, to try to extort money from his family. The names of those arrested were not released to the media.

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Parachutes from Pattaya Condo to his death

A 33-year-old British man tragically lost his life when the parachute he was using malfunctioned after jumping from a condominium complex in Pattaya.

The tragedy took place on Saturday, January 27th, at an unspecified condominium complex in the Naklua sub-district of the Banglamung district, Chonburi province. Pattaya police and emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene following a report received around 7:30 PM.

There, authorities found the lifeless body of a 33-year-old British national (name withheld pending family permission) sprawled on the ground near the condominium’s exit. The victim had suffered fatal injuries while clutching a blue parachute, which the police suspected he had deployed in a failed attempt to slow his descent. Authorities covered the body with a white sheet before transporting him to a nearby hospital.

During an interview with the condominium clerk, 33-year-old Mr. Kanet, it was revealed that the victim and his friends had gained unauthorized access to the premises, parking their car outside before scaling the building for a daring parachute descent. The entire incident was captured on video by a friend on the ground and another on the rooftop. Neither the victim nor his friends were residents at the condo nor had they sought permission from the condo management to perform the stunt, said Kanet.

Tragically, the parachute malfunctioned, causing the victim to collide with a tree before plummeting to the ground. Mr. Kanet confirmed that the deceased had attempted similar clandestine parachute jumps from the complex on multiple previous occasions.

[Marc in Calif]

7 hours ago, reader said:

A 33-year-old British man tragically lost his life when the parachute he was using malfunctioned after jumping from a condominium complex in Pattaya.

Tragically, the parachute malfunctioned, causing the victim to collide with a tree before plummeting to the ground. Mr. Kanet confirmed that the deceased had attempted similar clandestine parachute jumps from the complex on multiple previous occasions.

This is a "tragedy" only in the sense of Greek drama:

Hubris is a frequent theme throughout Greek mythology, often being portrayed as a hero's fatal flaw or tragic flaw, which is the cause of his downfall. The Greeks valued living for honor, and acting in a way that was perceived to be against the divine order or against fate was seen as being dishonorable.

Hubris (/ˈhjuːbrɪs/; from Ancient Greek ὕβρις (húbris) 'pride, insolence, outrage') describes a personality quality of extreme or excessive pride or dangerous overconfidence and complacency, often in combination with (or synonymous with) arrogance.