OPINION

Boss docs 'smell test'

Re: "Cops get 'Boss' docs translated", (BP, July 19).

Five years after he allegedly ran over and killed a cop, before taking off and trying to get someone else to take the blame, police say they are waiting for documentation translation to effect extradition proceedings against the Red Bull scion, Boss.

Who do the police think they are kidding? What documents? What translation? Why is this needed? Why wasn't it initiated months, if not years ago?

And most importantly, who is paying whom to keep this case dragging on beyond the expiry date of the charges against him, now only a few weeks away?

None of this passes the "smell test".

I note the news story, "Mercedes-Benz killer gets jail, bailed", (Online, July 19).

I guess he was convicted because he was not driving a Ferrari and was not rich enough to thumb his nose at the justice system, or was not rich enough to live in London, England.

Otherwise he'd be a free man enjoying his life without the threat of jail or other.

Re: "Cops get 'Boss' docs translated," (BP, July 19).

I don't believe what they say, until Boss is jailed with a comprehensively heavy punishment.

The police need time to translate documents. My question is what language are the documents written in? The only answer I could come up with is Klingon.

Today I purchased goods to the value of 6,316 baht at HomePro. I paid by credit card and received the usual paper confirmation which I signed, showing in large numerals 6,316 baht. On arrival back home I examined the receipt and found in small (very small) print that an exchange rate of 41.82 to one British pound had been applied by Bangkok Bank, acting as an agent of Mastercard. Underneath the exchange rate they wrote that my account was being debited £151.03, in small but slightly larger numerals than the exchange rate.

This exchange rate was well below very recent rates applied to my credit card use and I think it would be fair to say it was a rip-off. There was some more small print on the receipt stating that "I had chosen not to use the Mastercard currency conversion method", which suggests that I was given the option, which I was not.

In my lengthy experience of dealing with companies, I have found that those relying on the small print to justify their actions know that in some way it is an underhand way of doing business. I was shocked that Bangkok Bank, a bank of high repute, was using such a practice.

My warning to all foreign users of plastic to settle bills: Read the small print.

Re: "Israel is now the key to peace in the Middle East", (Opinion, July 19).

It is refreshing in a way that the media should allocate space for such a controversial opinion, but nobody outside the closest circles of Israeli PM Netanyahu would agree to any of this right-wing rhetoric which the Israeli public has been fed day in and day out for the past two decades, ever since the messianic right-wing parties have been in power.

The writer was an adviser and aide to a real statesman, Menachem Begin, who had the courage and stamina to give up land to Egypt in return for a peace treaty that has lasted ever since 1979 when it was signed. But trying to suggest that Mr Netanyahu has the same leadership qualities is preposterous. The current Israeli PM is a small-time politician whose only raison d'etre is survival; indeed, all he wants to achieve is staying in power. He is no peace visionary and has none of the DNA it takes to fill in an obvious void in the Middle East arena. He has no government without the support of extremists and religious zealots who, albeit Jewish, would not look out of place in any of the countries surrounding Israel. Unfortunately, the hope that has spurred the writing of this article is futile and at present unachievable.

postbag@bangkokpost.co.th