The two men, both from Sydney, were arrested in a department store in suburban Min Buri on Monday in possession of fake credit cards and counterfeit money, police said.

Immigration police detained the pair after store owners reported they were behaving suspiciously.

John Husein Lerovski, 46, and Vasilos Laskaris, 50, were presented at a press conference at Suan Phlu immigration detention centre, where police displayed 10 fake credit cards and other items reportedly found in their possession. Lerovski was born in the former Yugoslavia, but now has an Australian passport. And Laskaris, is a Greek Australian. 

Immigration police chief Suwat Tumrongsiskul said materials for counterfeiting money were discovered when police went to the men's apartment near the shopping mall where they were detained in the north of

the capital.

The two men were guarded in their comments to the media yesterday - apologising initially to HM the King of Thailand and the country for any misdeeds they had done. But when asked if that meant they admitted to committing criminal offences, their response was muted.

Journalists were told the counterfeit US dollars came

from an African man who reportedly owed money to one of the men.

Police have charged the two with using fake credit cards, but details of any other possible charges - and whether they will get bail - are unclear at this stage.

There was also a light-hearted moment at the conference. Asked where they had obtained a fake FBI and Interpol police identification cards, the men replied that they had bought them on "Khao San Road for Bt500".

This prompted laughter from journalists, police and chuckles from the accused. Fake student and other ID cards have been sold openly on the popular backpacker strip for many years.

A spokesman for the Australian embassy said they were aware of the arrests and would be providing the men with the usual consular assistance.

Jim Pollard

The Nation