72. Understanding Thai people
When Lek came back 24 hours later, not saying where he had been in the meantime, Lek had decided to tell Larson about Noi’s lottery. Larson was a farang and therefore he could not be expected to understand much, Lek thought, but Lek would try to explain to the Swede how life was for Thai people.
Lek told Larson about the mysterious letter, about the win and about how he had tried to warn Noi about the lottery.
- Let me guess, said Larson. Noi went to the loan sharks to borrow 12 000 baht?
- 22 000. 12 000 to pay money khun Pui. 10 000 play lottery.
- Oh dear, said Larson.
- Him pay interen only 50 percen per mon.
- 50 percent per month? That’s criminal!
- Is normal. Is mafia.
- And of course Noi didn’t win again?
- Him call Pui. Pui give number lottery. But no win.
- How did Pui explain this?
- Pui no say. Telephone finit. Can not call to him.
- His job was done, said Larson. What a scoundrel. I understand it was a scam, but I don’t understand how it works. How could Pui know the winning numbers in the first lottery?
- I not know, said Lek. No understand. Maybe Pui work offit lottery.
- I doubt that, said Larson. There must be some other trick involved. But now Noi is hiding from his creditors? He could never pay back any of the money?
- Mon number one him pay. Him pay interen.
- He paid? How much was that? 50 percent of 22 000 is 11 000 baht. Where did he get that?
- I give money him, said Lek.
- You? Where did you get 11 000 from?
- I borrow, said Lek. Same Noi. Him brother me. I must to help him.
This is insane, thought Larson. They borrow from one loan shark to pay another? Where will it end?
- Don’t tell me that you did this the second month too? asked Larson.
- No, said Lek. Mon number two no pay. Money no have. Mafia angry Noi. Him scare. Him run away.
It was the worst mess Larson had heard about. If it wasn’t such a serious matter Larson would laugh about this harebrained scheme. But Larson had a feeling that the mafia types in Bangkok were not to be taken lightly.
Larson was curious how the scam worked. He asked Bjorn.
- I understand it is a scam, said Bjorn. Everything leads up to this Pui getting his 12 000 and running off with it.
- But how could Pui know the winning numbers the first time? That’s the beauty of it. I can see how that would impress a simple mind. I am impressed too. How do they do it?
- I don’t know, said Bjorn. I can’t see how they did that. You should ask Robert. Maybe he has heard of this scam.
Larson called Robert Miller.
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