Mr Meeseeks

If he were a Thai person acting in this manner, what would the outcome be do you think?

I think her social status definitely has a bearing on what is going on. I mentioned it to illustrate how quickly rumour and hearsay are believed without question in cases like this.

Of that there is no doubt whatsoever according to my Thai colleague.

I should clarify. I have seen similar cases (more than a few actually), where a foreigner with a successful business has been removed from the country, under threat of physical violence, criminal charges or even being killed if they return, and then had their assets stolen from them. The most recent case I know of, was down to the most trusted Thai manager conspiring with local mafia to drag a wealthy foreign company owner through the courts, creating a situation in which he could not return without facing a completely uncertain scenario of arrest and criminal and civil court cases. The manager and co-conspirator then proceeded to strip the company of assets, including the owner's personal property, including a pool villa, condos and vehicles. Bit of a dim bulb he was. Believe he still has his company though, but a few million dollars out of pocket. A similar situation could be unfolding before our very eyes. 😉

I reckon someone is trying to nick his lucrative business and assets off him. Don't think kicking people off sitting on the steps was part of it, but it has certainly presented someone with a golden opportunity. Knowing how Thais operate at that level, it would not surprise me that this is the reason we are seeing such a concerted media campaign against him. The Swiss murderer was not wealthy in comparison and is already deprived of his meagre assets after such a horrific crime, one would imagine.

Isn't forming a mob outside a person's home to pressure authorities to take action over and above what the law demands in such a situation, a form of bullying? Intimidation perhaps? Answers on a postcard.

He is acting exactly like a hi-so Thai with his pathetic excuses, arrogance, and refusal to apologise. I wonder where he learned that behaviour? 😆

You seem to be revelling in his downfall and you don't even know him.

Yet, he set up a sanctuary for elephants and employs many locals. He also gave the finger to an ambulance driver, also a fact. We don't know the intricate details of the incident, as we have only heard one side of the story from the ambulance driver, who is facing charges of violating the computer crimes act. Waving guns around, mistreating locals, and all the other stuff is only rumour, probably part of the overall smear campaign now ongoing against him.

The woman he kicked is a student not a qualified doctor. There is absolutely no evidence of him waving guns around. More made up nonsense for the simple-minded to believe without question and regurgitate. You need to get your facts straight.

All supposition with a bit of ad hominem chucked in for good measure.

The young woman that was kicked has a father with media connections, nationally and locally. He is also a political activist, so he is familiar with getting people organised to protest at short notice.

How many immigration officials needed to change a lightbulb? I mean, to be photographed with an arrested foreigner?

The elephant sanctuary is 100% legal and he had permits for all the animals. Doesn't sound as if they are rented to me. Regardless, they still need to be paid for and kept. What will happen to them now? Who will pay to feed and take care of them? What will happen to his staff also? They will all be out of work and receiving no salary. All the people calling for his deportation won't stick a single Baht in to help. Doubt any of this even occurred to them in their faux outrage.

Yours too maybe, as you are also a foreigner.

The court case has already been decided? From what I saw, the video is inconclusive about the kick. Foul language and a foot being used for sure, but not much of a kick as alleged.

Ironically, it is the ambulance driver facing charges for posting the video and making comments online in violation of the computer crimes act. The Swiss guy has apologised for his behaviour when he was summoned to the police station.

IMO, we are not being told the full truth of what happened during that incident. There is definitely a very minor road rage incident, but we only have one side of the story. The Swiss guy apologised, but the ambulance driver is the one being charged under the computer crimes act for posting the story online.

Beat me to it

So local mafia = the law. Interesting choice of words there.

I wonder if Swiss guy is deported, or made to leave the island in fear of his life, who will look after and pay for 15 elephants? Going to get expensive, however I suspect the elephants will be the biggest losers here. The country's national animal indeed.

So the elephant sanctuary is 100% legal. That will annoy many on here.

What is says on your visa is what you are. A non-immigrant.

I am reliably informed that this guy used to be a volunteer policeman in Pattaya.

It is the usual xenophobic and nationalist sensationalism that is used to bait and trigger weak-minded fools, not only in Thailand but in our home countries too. Here it reaches ridiculous extremities, as we are dealing with a largely under-educated and nationalist population that laps this stuff up. The Doctor's father has been mobilising his media connections, and he has played a blinder. The Swiss guy and his wife were just following the Thai way, surrounding themselves with and using local influential people to protect themselves and conduct business. This is how it is done in Thailand. You can't really blame him for this, or name-dropping his contacts when he got in a bit of bother, as that is how it works. Swiss guy is now receiving a lesson that these influential connections are just mealy-mouthed cowards that are, in fact, of no real use at all when the chips are down. A harsh lesson in Thai culture for him and his wife.