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Published 12:25 22 Jul 2026 GMT
A New Zealand mother has spoken about the emotional ordeal of seeing her teenage son arrested in Thailand as he prepared to return home from a holiday with a friend.
18-year-old Loukas Rainger was detained by immigration officials at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on July 16, according to his mother, Natasha Rainger.
The teenager had spent a month traveling around Thailand with his best friend and was about to board his flight back to New Zealand when he was arrested over allegations of 'theft in an airport'.
Authorities accuse Loukas of picking up a woman's wristwatch, reportedly worth between $80 and $100, from a security tray at Surat Thani Airport around two weeks prior.
According to legal documents seen by Stuff, the item is described as a "Swatch women's wristwatch with a silver coloured steel band." The alleged offence carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Natasha has since reunited with her son and says he has "denied all charges." She told the outlet that Loukas explained the watch "was on the airport tray with his belongings so he just picked it up too."
Defending her son, she said: "He's inexperienced, young. He'd been on a long boat trip just right before, and had been really sick. He should have left it, or handed it in, but that doesn't deserve years in a Thai prison."
Ultimately, Loukas was stopped by immigration officers at the airport, who reportedly informed him "there was a warrant out for his arrest" before taking him into custody in Bangkok, where he was held.
He was later transferred to Surat Thani for questioning and has since been released on bail, according to a Give A Little fundraising page created by his aunt, Melissa Pronk.
Natasha admitted she feared the worst before finally seeing her son again, saying she "wonder[ed] if [she was] ever going to see [her] son again."
Recalling their reunion, she told Stuff: "I started to feel really low [...] Everyone keeps messaging asking me what's happened."
She added: "Finally, he just walked into my arms and his first words were, 'Oh Mom, Mom what are you doing here?'" Natasha said she "didn't know whether to laugh or cry," explaining it almost felt as though the traumatic events of the previous few days had never happened.
According to Natasha, the woman who originally made the complaint now wants the case dropped. However, she says the family has still been given a court hearing in September and has been warned that "[Loukas] could face five years in prison."
She said the situation remains overwhelming, adding: "This is just still too hard to digest for the moment."
Despite the seriousness of the charge, New Zealand lawyer Craig Tuck believes the case is unlikely to result in such a severe punishment.
Tuck, who owns LawAid International, said he has "confidence" that "reasonable justice" will "prevail." He added: "I don't think any judge in Thailand would ever pursue what's alleged and a charge a penalty of five years in prison for a watch under $100."
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Published 15:56 15 Nov 2022 GMT
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Published 13:28 21 Jul 2026 GMT
An 18-year-old could spend years in a Thai prison after allegedly taking a $100 watch from an airport security tray.
Loukas Rainger, from Tauranga, New Zealand, had spent a month travelling through Thailand with a friend and was preparing to fly home via Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on July 16 when Thai immigration officers stopped him before his flight.
According to his mother, Natasha Rainger, officials informed her son that "there was a warrant out for his arrest," per NZ Herald.
Speaking to Stuff, the mom said her son had picked up the watch around two weeks earlier while passing through security at Surat Thani Airport.
Loukas later told her he was left "completely confused" by the arrest and insisted he had no idea he had committed an offence.
According to Natasha, her son explained that the watch had been sitting in the same airport security tray as his belongings.
"That watch…he told me it was on the airport tray with his belongings… so he just picked it up too," she said.
Court documents obtained by the outlet reportedly state that the watch was a "Swatch women's wristwatch with a silver coloured steel band," believed to be worth between $80 and $100 on eBay.
Legal documents allege a woman travelling through Surat Thani Airport on July 3 removed her watch during security screening before accidentally leaving it behind in the inspection tray.
The case summary states: "At approximately 8.58am it was discovered that a foreign male identified as Loukas Rainger had taken the watch with him."
After the woman reported the missing watch, police gathered evidence before obtaining an arrest warrant on July 10.
Because the allegation involves an airport, Loukas has been charged with "theft at an airport," which his lawyer says is treated far more seriously than an ordinary theft offence.
"It is more serious than theft because it happened at an airport," said Werabhat Hemthansarp, managing partner of Phuket-based Lawyer Republic, who is representing the teenager.
Per legal documents, the charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, along with a fine ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 Thai baht.
Natasha said police retrieved Loukas' checked baggage before it reached the aircraft and held him overnight in a Bangkok police station. She said he was then transported back to Surat Thani by train.
"The next day he spent 12 hours handcuffed to a chair while being taken on a train from Bangkok back down to Surat Thani, where he was taken to a police station and only then interviewed," she told Stuff.
Legal documents reportedly state that Loukas denied the charges during questioning.
His initial bail application was rejected because he did not have the appropriate visa.
To qualify for bail, the court required proof of accommodation in Thailand for three months while the case progresses.
Natasha, who is already in Bangkok after undergoing surgery, said her own visa is due to expire in mid-August.
"I haven't rested or slept since this happened… I'm exhausted, I'm on auto-mode," she said.
Her husband, Mark Rainger, has remained in New Zealand to care for Loukas' younger brother.
Hemthansarp said he had begun the process of changing Loukas' visa so he could remain legally in Thailand while awaiting the outcome of the case.
He also confirmed he was arranging compensation for the owner of the watch.
"I have been told the watch was around $80 -$100 on Ebay, and the watch has been returned to her, and she has also received an apology from Loukas in prison," Hemthansarp said. "I have been told that she accepts the apology and will accept $1000 in compensation, which I said I would pay."
Natasha also said her son had apologized to the woman from prison and that "she accepted the apology and will accept the $1000".
She maintained that Loukas had never intended to steal the watch.
"He didn't maliciously steal it or intend to steal someone's belongings, he didn't think, he's inexperienced, young," she said. "He'd been on a long boat trip just right before, and had been really sick. He should have left it or handed it in but that doesn't deserve years in a Thai prison."
The family said the situation has left them "completely overwhelmed and in disbelief".
"I'm honestly [at the point where I] would give my life to get him out of there," the mom added.
Loukas, who recently finished school and had planned to begin an electrical apprenticeship after his overseas trip, has since been released on bail after his family paid 100,000 Thai baht.
However, she said the legal battle is far from over. "The only thing that matters right now is seeing my son walk through the gates ... we'll take it from there."
Until the case is resolved, Natasha and Loukas must remain on Ko Samui and report to the local police station every two weeks.
Published 09:27 22 Jul 2026 GMT
A teenager accused of taking a watch from an airport security tray in Thailand looks "unrecognizable" after spending nearly a week behind bars.
Loukas Rainger, 18, from Tauranga, New Zealand, was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on July 16 as he prepared to fly home after spending a month travelling through the Southeast Asian country with a friend.
Thai immigration officers stopped him before his flight, informing him there was a warrant out for his arrest linked to an incident that allegedly took place around two weeks earlier at Surat Thani Airport.
Authorities allege Rainger picked up a Swatch women's wristwatch with a silver-colored steel band, valued at around $80 to $100 on eBay, after it had been accidentally left behind by another passenger during airport security screening.
According to legal documents, the woman removed the watch while passing through security on July 3 but forgot to collect it from the inspection tray.
The case summary states: "At approximately 8.58am it was discovered that a foreign male identified as Loukas Rainger had taken the watch with him."
Police later gathered evidence before obtaining an arrest warrant on July 10.
Rainger's family insists he never intended to steal the watch.
His mother, Natasha Rainger, previously told Stuff that her son was left "completely confused" after being arrested.
She said Loukas explained that the watch had been sitting in the same security tray as his belongings.
"That watch…he told me it was on the airport tray with his belongings… so he just picked it up too," she said.
Legal documents reportedly state that Rainger denied all charges during police questioning.
Natasha also defended her son's actions, saying: "He didn't maliciously steal it or intend to steal someone's belongings, he didn't think, he's inexperienced, young.
"He'd been on a long boat trip just right before, and had been really sick. He should have left it or handed it in but that doesn't deserve years in a Thai prison," she added.
As the alleged offence took place inside an airport, Rainger has been charged with "theft at an airport," a charge treated more seriously under Thai law than ordinary theft.
Werabhat Hemthansarp, managing partner of Phuket-based Lawyer Republic, who is representing the teenager, explained: "It is more serious than theft because it happened at an airport."
Court documents show that the offence carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison as well as a fine of between 20,000 and 100,000 Thai baht.
After his arrest, Natasha said police removed her son's checked luggage from the aircraft before holding him overnight at a Bangkok police station.
"The next day he spent 12 hours handcuffed to a chair while being taken on a train from Bangkok back down to Surat Thani, where he was taken to a police station and only then interviewed," she told Stuff.
His first bail application was rejected because he did not have the correct visa, while the court also required proof that he had accommodation in Thailand for three months while awaiting legal proceedings.
After six days in custody, Rainger was granted bail on July 21 after his family paid 100,000 Thai baht.
Natasha said the reunion with her son was emotional, revealing he had lost around 10kg during his time in prison and had his head shaved.
"I have never ever in my life been so happy to just see my son, I can't stop looking at him," she said.
"He just walked into my arms and his first words were, 'Oh mum, mum, what are you doing here?' I didn't know whether to laugh or cry - it was like nothing of the last days ever happened."
She added that being unable to see him while he was in custody had been "like torture".
Although he has now been released, Rainger must remain in Thailand while the legal process continues and is required to report to the local police station every two weeks.
Natasha shared that the pair will stay on Ko Samui until the case is resolved.
Rainger's aunt, Melissa Pronk, has launched a GiveALittle campaign to help cover the family's flights, accommodation and living costs while they remain in Thailand.
In an update shared on the page, she wrote: "We are so pleased to hear that Loukas was reunited with his mum at late last night in Surat Thani on 21/07. It has been a big ordeal for both of them, and they are recovering today in the accommodation they have found for the next few months."
"Next steps are preparing for visa extensions, lawyer fees, and court appearances every 2 weeks until the first hearing in September," she added.
Hemthansarp also said he has been working to change Rainger's visa so he can remain legally in Thailand while awaiting trial.
The lawyer confirmed he was also arranging compensation for the watch's owner.
"I have been told the watch was around $80 -$100 on Ebay, and the watch has been returned to her, and she has also received an apology from Loukas in prison," Hemthansarp said. "I have been told that she accepts the apology and will accept $1000 in compensation, which I said I would pay."
Published 15:18 28 Jun 2025 GMT
A six-year-old British child has reportedly been arrested at an airport alongside a group of adults after 30lbs of drugs was allegedly found in their suitcase.
The child was one of eight arrested after landing at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport in Plaine Magnien in Mauritius on Sunday, June 22, as customs officers discovered a staggering 161 kilograms (355 lbs) of cannabis concealed throughout several suitcases.
An eye-watering 14 kilograms (30 lbs) alone were hidden in the young boy’s bag, while another 17 kilograms (37 lbs) were found in luggage belonging to another traveler.
The discovery was made as part of a joint operation between the Customs Anti-Narcotics Section (CANS) and the Anti-Drug & Smuggling Unit (ADSU) at the airport, with stunned customs officers also uncovering eleven numbered Apple AirTags among the baggage, suggesting links to an organized crime gang smuggling drugs from Europe into Mauritius.
Authorities described the use of the child as a drug mule as “inhumane,” according to The Sun.
The boy has since returned to the UK after his father flew to Mauritius to collect him on Wednesday, June 25.
The six arrested British adults, all from Cambridgeshire, have been named as Laura Kappen, 28, a bar worker from Orton Goldhay; Shannon Holness, 29, a caterer from Bretton; Shona Campbell, 33, a cleaner from Standground; Lily Watson, a caterer from Peterborough; and Patrick Wilsdon, 21, a window fitter from Peterborough.
Also arrested was 38-year-old Romanian national Florian Lisman, a machine operator living in Huntingdon.
On Monday, June 23, just a day after arriving from London Gatwick, the seven adults appeared in court in Mahébourg and remain in custody as investigations continue.
Shocked relatives in the UK have spoken out, expressing disbelief at the arrests. Carly Wilsdon, mother of suspect Patrick Wilsdon, told The Sun that her son was “vulnerable” and had only traveled abroad once before, suggesting he may have been lured by the promise of a “free holiday” to Mauritius.
“He wouldn't have known what he was doing because he wouldn't get involved in drugs,” she said. “The person who told them about this free holiday is one of his circle of friends but now he has disappeared.”
Experts have previously warned that British citizens are often lured into acting as drug mules under the “lucrative offer” of a free holiday abroad in exchange for smuggling drugs or “mysterious packages” across borders, leading to a string of high-profile arrests overseas.
The case in Mauritius comes shortly after several similar incidents involving British nationals. In May, former air stewardess Charlotte May Lee, 21, was arrested in Sri Lanka after £1.15 million worth of cannabis was allegedly found in her luggage, per the Daily Mail.
Teenager Bella May Culley, 18, was detained in Georgia for allegedly smuggling cannabis after disappearing in Thailand. She faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
A Foreign Office spokesperson has confirmed: “We are supporting several British nationals who are detained in Mauritius and are in contact with the local authorities.”
A mother from Highland, New York has been arrested after her 1o-year-old son got a permanent ink tattoo, allegedly with her permission.
The 33-year-old mother, Crystal Thomas, was arrested in October after her son's school nurse called the police after the boy went seeking Vaseline for his tattoo, according to The New York Times.
The tattoo is reported to be large block letters of the child's name on his forearm, and local authorities are claiming that it was done with permission from his mom.
The boy's mother explained to The New York Times that the incident was a misunderstanding and that she believed he was asking to get a temporary tattoo.
"No little child should be getting tattooed," Crystal explained. She went on to say that she was in favor of age restrictions surrounding tattoos.
Per the Town of Lloyd Police, the mother was been charged with endangering the welfare of a child but has been released on an appearance ticket and ordered to return to court on October 20.
The unlicensed tattoo artist, 20-year-old Austin Smith, was also arrested and charged with dealing unlawfully with a child. This can carry a sentence of up to one year in prison.
The artist stated: "It's the worst mistake I've made in my life. At the time, I thought if you got your parents' permission, you could get a tattoo".
Some states do not have a minimum age to get a tattoo as long as the parent has given permission. But the minimum age in the state of New York is 18, even with parental consent.
The boy stated to The Times that he was inspired to get the large forearm tattoo due to his favorite teacher having the same. However, the novelty has soon worn off.
He now believes the blame lies with the tattoo artist. "He should have said no," the 10-year-old said.
It is not yet reported as to whether the boy will be seeking for a removal of the tattoo, though it may be tricky due to his age. He might yet get to keep the ink as a reminder of the ordeal.
Published 17:37 22 Jun 2022 GMT
A mom-of-22 who had has revealed that she "can't stand the silence" after her husband was arrested for money laundering.
Russian woman Kristina Ozturk, 24, lived with her 57-year-old husband Galip Ozturk in the Georgian republic of Adjara before his arrest on May 31.
As well as Ozturk giving birth to one of her children, she and her husband have spent more than $260,000 on surrogates between March 2020 and July 2021, welcoming another 21 children into their family.
The couple has also spent a further $124,000 a year on 16 live-in nannies who care for their large family.
However, their plans to grow their family even further have been put on hold after Ozturk was arrested following a police raid in Georgia.
As reported by Bloomberg, the businessman - who owns the bus company Metro Turizm - was detained on charges related to money laundering and falsifying documents.
Per News.com.au, this isn't the first time Ozturk was caught by law enforcement. In 2018, he fled to Georgia after being sentenced to life imprisonment for a 1996 murder of a man named Kuvvet Köseoğlu in his home country of Turkey.
Since her husband's arrest, the mother-of-22 has been outspoken in sharing her struggles on social media, writing she "can't stand" Ozturk's absence.
In an emotional statement shared to her 225,000 followers on Instagram on June 8, Kristina wrote: "The feeling of loneliness does not leave me even with such a large number of close people around."
"I'm used to my husband always being at home, always around. Since Galip has been working exclusively from home for the last few years, we spent time together constantly during the day," Kristina added. "At night, when the children were put to bed, we chatted incessantly."
"Now it's more difficult than ever for me, I can't stand silence, I can't stand his absence, I can't sleep and wake up alone, I can't see his empty workplace... I can't see his smile, I can't hear his voice, I can't feel his embrace," she added.
The couple met in the Georgian city of Batumi when Kristina was a single mother-of-one and was on vacationing there from Russia.
Per Daily Mail, Kristina said it was love at first sight when she met her husband and described him as her "mentor, guide, and fairytale prince all rolled into one".
The pair's first child Mustafa was born on March 10, 2020, while their most recent and 21st child, Judy, is just three-months-old.
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