Scot convicted of having child porn dies at Thai resort

A FORMER rock group manager and travel agent convicted of possessing child pornography has died at his home in Thailand.

Martin Frutin, originally from Giffnock and who owned one of Scotland's largest independent travel agencies, died in the resort of Pattaya.

He had left the UK after being found guilty of possessing indecent images of young boys. He was fined 500 in 1996.

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Reports from Thailand said Frutin, 69, died with his Scottish nephew and Thai 'adopted son' by his side.

Frutin was the son of a Glasgow cinema manager and in 1962 won the European Cha-cha, Jive and Twist Championships with his dance partner June Miller, from Pollok.

Then he went into the music business and managed Scottish groups, including Frankie Miller and the Delljacks, before branching into the travel industry.

After moving to Thailand in the 1990s Frutin was suspected of having contributed to local police funds but was never prosecuted. From that moment on he rose to become a prominent member of Pattaya society.

For the last year before he took ill, he had teamed up with Danish businessman Nils Colov and joined Mr Colov's television channel, Pattaya People, where he presented his own show giving "tourists tips".

Frutin drove a red Rolls Royce and built a mansion that had four home cinemas and a swimming pool, which he could slide into from his second floor bedroom.

He became known as Somsak-Martin, and found that his child porn conviction was of little hindrance to him becoming a television host in Thailand.

A close friend in Thailand confirmed his death, saying: "Martin died close to midnight after a long illness."

No arrangements had been made, he said, but it is understood that Frutin will be cremated at the Jewish cemetery in Bangkok.

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