Israeli man arrested for trying to exchange fake dollars in Pattaya
Police arrested an Israeli man after he tried to exchange fake US dollars at an exchange shop in Soi Bua Khao, Pattaya, yesterday, January 30.
Staff at a currency exchange shop filed a complaint with Pattaya Tourist Police, reporting that the Israeli man, later identified as 56 year old Rami Ayash, had visited the shop to exchange US dollars for Thai baht. He brought in 24 banknotes, each worth US$50, and attempted to exchange them for 40,488 baht.
However, the staff suspected the banknotes were counterfeit due to their unusual texture and the fact that the colour of the US$50 number printed on the bill.
According to the staff, the fake banknotes had a smoother texture than genuine ones. Additionally, the US$50 number, which should not change from gold to green, changed. All of the banknotes presented by the Israeli man displayed these counterfeit characteristics.
Officers subsequently summoned Ayash for questioning. He admitted to exchanging the currency at the shop but claimed he was unaware that the banknotes were counterfeit. He stated that he had received the bills in Israel before travelling to Thailand.
Despite his claim of innocence, police charged Ayash under Section 244 of the Criminal Law: possessing or using counterfeit currency. The penalty for this offence is imprisonment for one to 15 years and a fine of between 20,000 and 30,000 baht.
Two other foreign suspects, Nepalese nationals, were arrested in Pattaya two weeks ago for possessing counterfeit US dollar banknotes.
They were found producing the fake currency in their rented accommodation in the area. The two Nepalese men had also entered Thailand illegally via the border near Cambodia.
Four weeks ago, a Thai lottery vendor in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok fell victim to a counterfeit banknote scam. She told the media that a male customer had purchased lottery tickets worth 2,400 baht and paid with three 1,000-baht banknotes.
After handing over the tickets and giving the man 600 baht in change, she later realised that all three 1,000-baht banknotes were fake.
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