Please help!!! For example, where to submit the complaint, etc.
If you would like to help, pls contact me: [email protected]

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I was invited to give presentation at an international Conference held on 22-23 June, 2009 in Rome, Italy.

On June 22, at about 22:15 (I had thought it was 21:40, but I finally found the last photo I took was on 22:05 and walked several minutes since then, so I guessed the time should be about 22:15), I was on my way to Hotel Palladium Palace (my hotel). I was then around the Barberini Square after long walks from the Pantheon. Then I met a Brazil man (he told me he is Brazilian) about 50-year-old in that area (Barberini Square). He asked me to show him the way. I didn't remember where and I told him I don't know the address because I am a stranger there too. But we talked (on the weather, population, family, he is a business man in coffee industry, only such things) for several minutes. Finally, he told me whether I could help with his map (not like my tourist map) to find him a place he would like to go to. In order to help, I walked and talked with him for about 10-15 minutes. He asked me where is my hotel. I told him it is only 3 minutes from the Termini station. He then told me that he is also living in a hotel only 1-2 minutes’ walk from the same station and will leave Rome tomorrow at about 8:00 am. He asked me whether I have had dinner. I told I did not have. He then suggested we can have Pizza, drinks and continue the talk. I just smiled and did not answer.

Finally, he found the place (I didn't know or remember the place because I did not care at all). When I was wondering how could I get back to the Barberini Square where I met the Brazail man, the man said to the entrance of that place that I am his friend and he said we were together. So I was led into this place (I guessed it was about 22:40). We then sat down near the entrance. There is a tea table between us. I found there is no guest in the place except the Brazil man and me. And I also found 4-5 girls sitting in another side of the place and it seems to me that this place is not for foods like Pizza at all!!! The Brazil man then told the waiter (about 30-year-old) to have food for his friend (i.e., me), I told the waiter that I am not hungry and do not need any food. The Brazil man then said we will have some drinks. After that, he told the waiter I am his friend, then he pointed to me then pointed to himself, and then with a hand gesture of "OK". I interpreted this as a signal that he would like to invite me for a drink. The Brazil man asked me whether I would like some Whisky. I told him I don't drink because I am sensitive to Alcohol. He then said it is ok and said beer should be ok for me. I think a glass beer would not cost the Brazil too much, so I agreed to have a glass of beer. He also ordered a drink for himself (I don't know what it is as I am sensitive to Alcohol and do not drink alcohol at all) and we continue the talk.

When his drink and my beer came, within one minute, two girls (i.e., the girls among those 4-5 sitting in the sofa) came to us and sat beside us. One girl sat beside me and the other one sat beside the Brazil man. In fact, I did not invite any girl at all!!! At the beginning, both girls are polite, and we four talked for a few minutes. But still I was confused and was very cautious about the situation and the place. After several minutes talking and observation, I suspected that both girls are bad girls (i.e., I think they are prostitutes). Though I don't like that, for safety consideration (I knew that Italy is notorious for Mafia), I did not ask the girl beside me to leave and I began to worry about my situation in that place, especially when I found there is no any other guests in the place). Though we did not ask to do so, the waiter came back with two glasses for the girls, then with a bottle of drink wrapped with a white cloth. The waiter opened the bottle and said to the Brazil man "drink for the lady". The Brazil man nodded and the waiter filled the glass of the girl sitting beside the Brazil man. The waiter said to me the same sentence, and I nodded (once again for safety consideration). During the talk with the girl, I repeatedly told her I got married and I love my wife and we have a 5-year-old son and we are waiting for another baby (my wife now has 6-month pregnancy). The girl asked me to free my Camera off my neck and put it on the sofa. She then invited me to dance (afterwards, she invited me to dance for another 2-3 times) and drank a lot. She drank quickly. During her time staying or dancing with me, the girl began to seduce me and I told her I am shy and I don't like that and gave direct signals that I am reluctant to have any body-touch. But for safety consideration, I did not show my indignation to protect myself. I only talked about my family, my job, my travel, etc. The girl asked me when I would leave. I told her I will get up early tomorrow because I would like to go for a tour for the Vatican and my flight to London will be on 11:00 (in fact, my flight is on 12:00. Since I would like to leave this place ASAP in a safety way, I told them my flight is on 11:00 instead). The girl told me that I still have time, and told me she wants to go with me to my hotel. Once again, I told the girl I can’t do that, otherwise I will feel really guilty because I have a very good family and wife. Afterwards, the girl expressed such things for several time, and every time I don't agree directly but in a polite way to protect myself.

At about 23:10, I told the Brazil man that I need to go as I have to get up early tomorrow for the Vatican tour and to catch my plane. The Brazil man said it is ok and then the waiter came with two bills: one for me, the other one for the Brazil man.
I was a little surprised that I instead of the Brazil man have to pay myself. I was very very surprised that I was forced to pay €960, 00 (The bill seems to be in Italian. I don't read or speak Italian and I know nothing about the drink except a glass of beer), I didn't want to pay for anyone else. I even don't know what kind of drink and how much the girl consumed. Once again for safety, I paid with my HSBC VISA Debit card. The waiter asked me to show my ID such as passport or driving license. To protect myself in that terrible situation, I told them I do not have any ID card on me now (Because I think the transaction will become illegal if I fail to show them my ID). The waiter accepted my card and I paid €960, 00 without showing my ID.

I was about to leave, the girl once again invited me for a dance. When we came back from the dancing, I found that the waiter once again came with a bottle of drink and asked to fill the glass of the girl. The Brazil man told the waiter not to come again and it should be the last time. The talk continues, the girl once again asked me to take her to my hotel even just for pure massage, I told her I don't like that. She finally admitted that I am a good husband. During my stay there, the girl always asked for tips, so I gave her money for 3 times in 5 minutes. Each time I gave her €20, 00. She asked for more, I told her that I did not enough money. Though she always told me I can touch her with money, I directly shown my reluctance and I did not touch her.

Once again, at about 11:30, I told the Brazil man that I really need to go because I will have a call with my wife afterwards. So the Brazil man told the waiter and he said they will call me a free taxi to my hotel. The waiter came with another two bills: one for me, the other one for the Brazil man. This time, my bill is €490, 00. The Brazil man also told me that he will stay for a while. So finally, I was allowed to leave and I found that the waiter did not call me a taxi. Instead, there is no any taxi outside at all, and a man was asked to drive me to the hotel. This is NOT a taxi. It is very strange that the driver did not know my hotel well, and it finally took him 25 minutes or so to find my hotel for me (it is strange because afterwards the manager in my hotel confirmed me that it is only about 3km away). This 25 minutes added more confusion about where I was previously. Once again for safety, I gave the driver €20, 00 Euros and leave the car at about 50 meters away from my hotel.

To sum up, I consumed one beer in the place (and from the behavior and talk of the Brazil man, I have thought he would pay my beer). I was cautious, frighten of my situation in that place. I did not touch the girl sitting beside me. I did not bring the girl to my hotel. But I was forced to pay €960 + €490 + 3* €20 + €20 = €1530, 00 for just ONE BEER!!! This is definitely a fraud. The only thing I was considering during my stay there is to escape from the place safely ASAP.

When I came back to my hotel and told the reception the story, the reception there told me to call the police immediately. Afterwards, some guys (the reception, the manager of the hotel, and a translator—a friend of the reception. These 3 people are very nice and they always try to help. I must say thank you guys) there helped me to talk to the police. I did not sleep that night, and visited 3 police stations in Rome (time: 12:50 am ~ 12:10 pm, 23, June, 2009).
The first one is where the translator lead me to, I can’t remember where;
the second one is just 50 meters away from my hotel and the manager of the hotel asked a lady to come with me; The polices in this two stations don't speak English (does it mean that a foreign can’t even report to the polices in Rome???), so I have to have the translator and a lady from the hotel to come with me to ask the police to go to the place I was previously in and asked the money back and let me have the cover of the law because I've been trapped and forced to pay, with rude manners. I still don't remember where I was and it is strange because I drank just one small beer. BUT the polices in both station do not help, and I don't know why. Later, the translator told me that the first police station said I need to write some details. So we came to a place and write down the details. This time, the policeman in the first station told the translator that I have to type the details. They do not accept the handwritten one (ooh, what a fun!). The policeman there did not even take a look at my handwritten declaration!!! So we came back to the hotel and I write the details using my computer. This time, the manager (he is busy that time) in the hotel asked a lady to come with me to the second police station (because the police there do not speak English, so I have to ask for help from the hotel). The second police station doesn't help too. I don't the reason why!!!

Because I need to fly at 12:20 to London that day, the manager in the hotel wrote something in Italian together with my declaration and told me to go for the airport immediately and give them to the police office there. Finally, I leave the hotel at 10:50 and gave it to the criminal police office (the third police station I visited in Rome) in the Fiumicino (Rome) airport. BUT they do not help or do anything to my situation. I asked them to keep my copies of the declaration and contact the manager in my hotel afterwards because it was 12:00 already, and I have to catch my plane. But they told me that they can’t help and would not keep my declaration copies of my situation. So I can do nothing but return to London.

I asked the polices in the 3 police stations in Rome to go to the place where I was trapped. They do not help and they even do not show any sympathy!

I am good person with good job. I do not smoke or drink. I had never gone to places like night club or even bar.
I have very good bank records. I have a very good family.
I travel a lot, mostly to give international academic presentations in various countries. I don't expect such terrible things happened to me in Rome.

My hotel in Rome:
Hotel Palladium Palace
Via Gioberti, 36-00185 ROMA
Tel. 06.44.66.917 – 06.44.66.918
Fax 06.44.66.937
C.F. – P.IVA 08994241001

The following two transactions in Rome are in Italian (I can’t read or write Italian):

The first one:
CARTASI
AIIC 4
RAINBOW SRL
VIA EMILIA 98
IMPORTO: €960, 00
Time: 22/06/2009, 23:15

The second one:
CARTASI
AIIC 4
RAINBOW SRL
VIA EMILIA 98
IMPORTO: €490, 00
Time: 22/06/2009, 23:45
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Here I declare that all what reported above is sure and under my control.

I would like to write to some authorities about my terrible stay in Rome, and I would definitely complain about the police stations I visited there.
The only word that I can use to explain why all these 3 police stations in Rome do not want to help is 'RACISM' or the polices there must have some links with the place I got trapped. I would ask them to apologize to me for not being any help for the crime and let the crime continue.