Theerarak Suthathiwong
An Iraqi travel agent has been arrested for allegedly running a gang
of three Algerians to burglarize hotel rooms throughout Pattaya.
Police
say that alleged ringleader Kojr Qader Salih Salih confessed to the charges.
Police arrested Kojr Qader Salih Salih, 42, at his Pattaya home, along with
Algerians Sofiane Rim, 27, Zine Eddine Hadjam, 31, and Sobear Asow, 39,
Sept. 22. Officers recovered an Apple iPad, nine mobile phones, two digital
cameras and fake passports.
Police said Salih, a former Iraqi soldier, confessed to the charges, saying
he’d relocated to Pattaya 12 years ago and had operated a tour company that
recently had fallen on hard times. To make ends meet, he formed the burglary
gang using the Algerians.
Salih reportedly told police that, using fake passports, the Algerians would
rent rooms in small hotels and guest houses, then steal the master pass code
to open room safes and steal the contents. Credit cards recovered would be
used to purchase expensive department store items, he said.
