Tourist guide nabbed for passing phoney bill

CHALONG: After arresting Viroj Chookrue, a Thai photographer, on counterfeiting charges three days ago, Chalong police arrested the man who they suspect gave the money to him. Porramet Thongton, a 28-year-old tourist guide, was arrested yesterday on counterfeiting charges after Viroj told police that Porramet had given him a phoney $50 bill. Pol Capt Sanae Panmee of Chalong Police Station told the Gazette that a bank officer at the Siam Commercial Bank discovered the counterfeit bill when Viroj went to the counter to exchange it for Thai baht. “During interrogation, Viroj said that a tour guide named Porrament had given him the U.S. bill as payment for his work during a photo session for a group of tourists at Rawai Beach,” Capt Sanae said. Chalong police tried to locate Porramet and finally arrested him at Phuket International Airport yesterday while he was escorting the same tourist group to their departure flight. Capt Sanae said Porramet denied the charges, claiming that he had received two $50 bills from a tourist, although he had already “forgotten what the tourist looked like.” Porramet was released on bail and is currently awaiting trial.