riverhigh

"This action is part of a broader crackdown on visa violations and criminal activity on the island"

From the article it appears that it is easier to get rid of petty criminals on visa violations than to go through a lengthy and costly police investigation. Nothing really to do with them forgeting to renew/extend their visas (smile) but more with what they are actually doing here.

Not the brightest. Carrying a gun and selling a class 2 narcotic drug in a 3rd world country where the jails are horrendous. Considering his age of 42, one would expect that he would have learnt some life lessons by now. Obviously not. Fine, jail long time and deport. 

Are you getting bored with these perpetual announcements by TAT of  moving  from "volume"  to "value" tourism? I am! It's like continually telling your friends you are going to outer space without ever saying how you are going to do it. By the way did I ever tell you I was going to outerspace? Now where did I put my stash of drugs?

Foreigner? Thai? Stick? Machete? I don't care, get him off the road!  If foreigner jail, fine and deport

3 minutes ago, rtco said:

They may cut the original in half but when this has happened to me, I merely put a stop on the original card and then go into the bank the next day, tell them the machine swallowed my card and for 100 baht, they promptly issue a new one. Easy peasy.

Not so "Easy Peasy" if the ATM card is from a foreign bank miles away from Thailand. Need back up cards just in case. Most probably a young guy with only one card.  

I see a GoFundMe in the making. Let me me help write up the first  "cut and paste" draft:

" A  (fill in blank) family is urgently seeking financial support to bring their loved one back home after a tragic motorcycle accident in Thailand. In a desperate bid, they aim to raise (fill in blank) to cover the costs of repatriation and medical expenses. To help the (fill in blank) family during this critical time, donations can be made on their GoFundMe page. Every contribution brings them one step closer to bringing (fill in blank) home safely,"

This self-absorbed piece of sh&t knew exactly what he was doing. Send a message from the toilet where there is no surveillance. Hope they find the culprit and jail hm for a long time. The high costs incurred from these escapades will be eventually passed down to the consumers.

1 hour ago, lordgrinz said:

Work on issues in this order:

 

1) Wrong way drivers

2) Stop sign and Red light runners

3) Dangerous and Illegal lane changes

4) Driving through Zebra crossing when pedestrians are inside of them.

5) Speeding

 

Then worry about helmets.

I take it you are not a fan of the helmet wearing brigade. People just don't understand the imprtance of hair integrity, right? No one should be forced to wear a helmet after going the hair salon.

Googled "epilepsy alcohol" and this is what came up.

"Should I drink alcohol when I have epilepsy? Drinking small amounts of alcohol is unlikely to make you have more seizures. But heavy drinking over a short space of time (binge drinking) can make you more likely to have a seizure."

Young, impulsive, epilepsy, alcohol, no travel insurance .... what could go wrong?   Being 29 years old, and old enough to know better, he decided to abandon his friends at the club for better pastures.  One commentator posted on one of the UK articles that his nan has money. If true then  the family should consider taking out a loan.  As for myself, I don't want to pay for someone else's  mistakes and likewise I don't expect other people to pay for my mistakes which unfortunately are many.

I haven't owned a vehicle in 18 years. Public transit,  bolt and walking are my preferred modes of transport. Liberation from the stresses of vehicle ownership and never looking back. True, there is the convenience and, to some, the status of owning a fancy car but if a person of the opposite sex values prized possessions  ... keeping on walking. You are meant for someone else not me. Just saying.

3 minutes ago, novacova said:

Why do poor people go to a foreign country and run out of money? They should never be allowed to cross a border in the first place.

13 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

No a very good digital nomad if he's skint after 5 weeks, why can't he work while waiting..  they have the internet where he is.... looks like he just exposed himself and lying for the visa.

1 hour ago, Pompeygeezer said:

Oh what a surprise! Immigration changing requirements.  making it up as they go along as per usual.    Although DTV applicants claiming they're spending too much on hotels and are broke while they're waiting for the process is nonsense.  they have to be earning big money to get a DTV and have a load in the bank. 

There is always a first time! Most of  the Asean News forum community are on the same page. No one is getting fooled that a lot of these so-called highly skilled nomads are lying on their visas. Embasies are getting flooded with applicants seeing this visa as an easy way to work in Thailand illegally.  

"Police have reportedly engaged with the man before, taking him to his embassy, but he refused consular help, resulting in his continued street dwelling. His behaviour towards those offering help has been described as inappropriate, deterring further personal intervention from some individuals."

Little sympathy for this obnoxious repeat offender taking advantage of people's good nature. Does nothing and expects the universe to provide. Doesn't surprise me in the least that the Thai authorities don't want anything to do with him. Too much expense, too much paper work. Better to let this individual die. No loss to the world, It's his choice. 

In an escalating border dispute with Cambodia, Thailand's military has declared readiness for a "high-level operation" to counter any breach of its sovereignty.

Does "readiness for a "high-level operation"" mean in military speak "hurry up and wait". Wake me up when this life and death situation is over. 

The spill, resulting from a pipeline leak connected to the vessel, began at 12:54 a.m. and continued for approximately 30 minutes. The total volume of oil spilled is estimated at 10 cubic metres (10,000 litres).

Where did they buy the pipeline? Lazad clearance sale?  One week warranty? 

7 minutes ago, Expat Tom said:

Welcome to the Land of Smiles. AND, the authorities wonder why tourists are not flocking 

to Thailand???? I have lived here as an expat for 15 years. My exit plan is ready. I used to own condos here but sold them and now rent. Everything that I have in Thailand falls into one of two categories:

1) it will fit into two checked suitcases and one carry on -or-

2) I can leave it behind with out too much financial loss or heart break.

Hmmm .... are things really that bad in Thailand or are we getting a little conerned about getting old in a country without medical isnurance and not able to speak the language. Or for Brits it may be a simple problem of their pension cheques being  frozen in time without cost of living increases, not a Thai problem.  Most retirees lead a sedentary lifestyle and don't go out late at night, in unfamiliar areas, and expose themselves to unforeseen dangers. Just saying.

English text and a house design spray painted on a Thai historical site. What was this Foreigner thinking about when he did this ? This question is based on the assumption he was thinking at all which I doubt very much.  Total self-absorbed narcisslstic loser.  Fine, jail and deport him with a life-time ban. 

No doubt in my mind that our 59 year-old Brian is short a few slices of a loaf. Just look at his photo, does he own a comb? Joking aside, everything reported in this article points to an unstable individual unable to make logical decisions. 

Give me a break!  Give me a break! Kerry must have been completely wasted not being able to navigate these steps. I've seen retiress 20 years older than our nanny-state kerry navigate these steps with ease. What's there to investigate????

Sign of the times. As China is now the undisputed economic power house in the region, it comes to no surprise that South East Asian countries are fighting for this lucrative market. Go to the Ratchadamari Big C or Siam Pharmacy in Bangkok and both places are swarming with Chinese tourists buying stuff to take home. 10,000+ baht purchases the norm. Unfortunately as a westerner this makes us less important. 

"This unfortunate episode underscores the perils of online bookings, reminding travellers to exercise heightened caution and conduct thorough checks before proceeding with any transactions. For the Loaders, the holiday was both a nightmare and a valuable lesson in diligence."

I strongly disagree with the statement "valuable lesson in diligence".  The whole purpose of using an online booking agent is that they do the due dilligence so you don't. The only due dilligence required by the Loaders family was to select a reputable online booking agent which they did. I had a similar situation with Booking.com where i took a taxi to the accomaodation which haad been closed for some time. As a standard practice, I had purchased a sim card at the airport. I immediately reported my situation to booking.com and started looking for an accomodattion close by on their site. I found a place cheaper than the one I originally booked and carted my stuff on foot. I had to fend off all the vulture taxi drivers who wanted to be my best friend (smile). It was a few days before I was contacted by bookig.com and to be honest I can't remember what the outcome was.  I believe they gave me a 10% discount on my next booking,. Considering I paid next to nothing on the original room,  from my calculations 10% of nothing is nothing... 555. The main difference between me and the Loaders family  was that I was travelling alone "cheaply" and  without kids .... big difference.

Jail and  interrogate  by all means necessary until he informs  on his associates. Forget the BS that machines were his. No financial institution would ever allow an ATM leasing company to tamper with their machines. With all the equipment in his room and he had the audacity to think that the police were dumb enough to beleive he was just opening the ATM machine.  Zero sympathy for this hardened criminal. He knew exactly what he was doing and needs to be made an example of with a lenghty jail senetence.