Two Israelis were arrested for allegedly using counterfeit U.S. dollars to buy drinks at a South Pattaya nightclub.
Uri Yehezkel Barak, 24, and Eliyahu Hay Sofer, 25, were taken into custody after being detained by staff at the Lima Lima bar near Bali Hai Pier Sept. 16. Police said they found nearly 180,000 baht in fake greenbacks in their possession.
Uri Yehezkel Barak is taking full responsibility for the fake banknotes.
Lima Lima’s manager became suspicious about the currency after tipping waiters $100 for their 340 baht bar tab.
Police said Barak took full responsibility for the fake banknotes and said Sofer has not involved. Police later released him.
Barak said he bought the bogus $100 bills in Vietnam for about 66 cents each. While police added that Barak claimed he didn’t know the dollars were fake, he did tell police he had another counterfeit $80,000 in his hotel room.
