Thai trio 'in US$1m note scam'

Three Thai visitors tried to open a bank account with 10 US$1 banknotes that had been altered to make them read as US$1 million notes, a court heard yesterday.

Suriya Apirakkhamolporn, 32, Wichai Aneklaphakit, 41, and Popis Mongkol, 45, tried to use the notes to open an account with HSBC, the District Court heard.

The men each deny charges of using a false instrument and passing counterfeit banknotes.

Wichai and the two co-accused arrived in Hong Kong on August 9 last year. They were helped in their aim of opening an account at an HSBC branch in Yuen Long by a friend of Wichai's, Angknana Kokkitroekchai, and by Yip Choi-ming, who speaks Cantonese and Thai, prosecutor Pamela Cheng said. Neither Mr Yip nor Ms Angknana have been charged with an offence.

Bank employee Chong Lai-ying approached the manager, Chung Suk-mui, when Suriya presented what he said were 10 US$1 million banknotes.

While Ms Chong talked to the group, Ms Chung asked to make a copy of one of the altered notes, the prosecutor said.