It’s interesting to read the letter sent to you (in your latest edition) by ‘The Samui Team' (though we’re not sure who they are exactly). They seem to be taking the article personally for some reasons despite the fact that they were not even mentioned, or even alluded to in the article (and not even in the original article by the Thailand Times).

I didn't get to read the actual article that appeared in the Samui Express, however I can tell you as a matter of fact, the person who provided the information to the Thailand Times was actually standing next to the young man at the Thai/Malaysian immigration post when his fake visa stamps were discovered by immigration staff!

The story was verified with the visa trip organizers as well as with other 'trippers' who were there when the incident occurred so we can say with 100% certainty that the information in the Thailand Times article is NOT 'fake'. The visa trip was completed by all except the young man, who, as the article in the Thailand Times states, was arrested and detained by immigration staff. I don’t know what happened to the young man after that. The young man actually informed the trip organizer upon arrival at the border that his passport contained 'fake' visa stamps but he decided to 'take a chance' in crossing the border to apply for a new visa.

The Thailand Times makes every effort to verify the authenticity of all information it uses for publication. If there is any doubt about a story's facts, we DO NOT publish it. The information in this particular article was verified as true by numerous sources, and the Thailand Times stands by its story 100 percent. -- Editor, Thailand Times