Under orders to crack down on illegal tour guides, Tourist Police officers arrested Pindiurin at 10.30am while he was showing two tourists around in Karon.
Pindiurin was not able to produce a work permit when questioned by the officer
He then admitted he had sold the couple a tour package on November 3 and had picked them up today at Jiraporn Hill Resort in Patong.
Officers searched Pindiurin and found several invoices for tour packages from various companies, as well as tourist maps and price lists for tours conducted in Russian.
Pindiurin also had in his possession an iPad, US$900 and B13,000 in cash.
Pindiurin initially faced charges of working without a work permit but the guide made his situation worse when he offered police a B40,000 bribe to drop the case.
Officers led Pindiurin to believe they would accept the bribe and allowed a midday appointment to be set up for an accomplice of Pindiurin's to bring the bribe money to the police station, where the event would be captured on security cameras.
The accomplice, who has not been named, arrived as arranged.
Police seized the bribe money and slammed Pindiurin with an additional charge of bribery.