- UK tourist arrested in Thailand for faking kidnapping and extortion.
- Used staged photos and videos with three accomplices.
- All four arrested for illegal activities, including firearms and drugs.
The elaborate scheme involved Day's collaboration with three accomplices: Darren Cheeseman, 57, from the UK, Damien Roche, 50, from France, and Ben Cooper, 36, from New Zealand. After Day's desperate family received distressing FaceTime calls showing him apparently being attacked and injured, they promptly reported the situation to British authorities.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Sorasak Saengcha, leading the investigation at the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), revealed that Day used iMessage and FaceTime to communicate with his family. He sent staged images of himself being assaulted and battered, with his friends wearing masks and acting as if they were gangsters in videos.
"He staged the kidnap and asked his family to send money. They were worried and contacted police in the UK. Interpol was informed. Interpol contacted Thai police, and we traced the man. But when we arrived, they were having a party," said Saengcha.
Upon arriving at the scene, Thai authorities discovered that the alarming situation was nothing more than a ruse, as the group was engaged in illegal activities and even held a party at the time of the police intervention.
Police Major General Montree Theskhan, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, stated that the four men were arrested on charges of jointly possessing unauthorized firearms, ammunition, and drugs. He emphasized the swift action taken due to concerns for Day's safety and noted that the British tourist would now face prosecution for his deceptive actions.
In addition to the charges related to the fake kidnapping, the men had overstayed their visas, and authorities plan to deport them once legal proceedings are completed. As of now, all four individuals remain in police custody in Thailand.
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