An Iraqi travel agent has been arrested for allegedly running a gang of three Algerians to burglarize hotel rooms throughout Pattaya.
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 say that alleged ringleader Kojr Qader Salih Salih confessed to the charges.
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.
