Ladyboy snares Australian defence secrets
By John Le Fevre
BANGKOK (Thaivisa.com): -- An award winning navy commander is under investigation by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) after his laptop computer was stolen by a ladyboy he befriended at Bangkok€™s infamous Nana Plaza.
According to police, Lieutenant Commander Peter de Maskens, a qualified helicopter pilot who received the Order of Australia Medal in January, went for a night out at the popular Bangkok entertainment spot before returning to his room at the Banyan Tree Hotel with his guest at about 2,40am last Saturday.
De Maskens told Thai police he blacked out inside the hotel room and did not wake up until 7am. When he finally awoke he found his Defence Department laptop, containing classified files, cash, a mobile telephone, two bags, an iPod, his passport and his credit cards had all gone, along with his guest.
Normally unregistered guests at the hotel, which is used regularly by the nearby Australian embassy, have to hand over an ID card before entering a guest's room, but last Friday night the rules were apparently relaxed €“ though no official explanation was given why this occurred.
While the ADF acknowledged an investigation into a potential breach of national security was being conducted, it also played down the threat, saying the data in the laptop was of a low classification and was password-protected.
The ADF said the officer was in Thailand on official Defence business with the Royal Thai Navy, but that the incident occurred during his off-duty time.
Because no identity card was taken by the hotel Thai police from the Thungmahamek police station have requested the hotels CCTV recording in an attempt to identify the person responsible.
Meanwhile De Maskens is reported to have told colleagues that he thought his guest was a woman.
By John Le Fevre
BANGKOK (Thaivisa.com): -- An award winning navy commander is under investigation by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) after his laptop computer was stolen by a ladyboy he befriended at Bangkok€™s infamous Nana Plaza.
According to police, Lieutenant Commander Peter de Maskens, a qualified helicopter pilot who received the Order of Australia Medal in January, went for a night out at the popular Bangkok entertainment spot before returning to his room at the Banyan Tree Hotel with his guest at about 2,40am last Saturday.
De Maskens told Thai police he blacked out inside the hotel room and did not wake up until 7am. When he finally awoke he found his Defence Department laptop, containing classified files, cash, a mobile telephone, two bags, an iPod, his passport and his credit cards had all gone, along with his guest.
Normally unregistered guests at the hotel, which is used regularly by the nearby Australian embassy, have to hand over an ID card before entering a guest's room, but last Friday night the rules were apparently relaxed €“ though no official explanation was given why this occurred.
While the ADF acknowledged an investigation into a potential breach of national security was being conducted, it also played down the threat, saying the data in the laptop was of a low classification and was password-protected.
The ADF said the officer was in Thailand on official Defence business with the Royal Thai Navy, but that the incident occurred during his off-duty time.
Because no identity card was taken by the hotel Thai police from the Thungmahamek police station have requested the hotels CCTV recording in an attempt to identify the person responsible.
Meanwhile De Maskens is reported to have told colleagues that he thought his guest was a woman.
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