Popular Post buick Posted February 24, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2018 41 minutes ago, simoh1490 said: The quick, expensive way out or the slower cheap option is what it boils down to. i think this sums it up. i have a feeling the quick, expensive option may have passed if he is already in a cell. from what i know, the money needs to be paid to the police within hours if you want to be released as if nothing happened. and the police don't offer this option to you, you have to ask 'how much do i have to pay to go home now'. then you call a friend, they bring the money and you go home (in some cases, i've heard of the 'arrested' being able to go to the ATM themselves). it is good that he has at least one friend on the island. he may need food delivered to his cell by his friend. i had a friend in a similar circumstance (locked up in bangkok over the thai new year for drugs) and his friends brought him food and shared with others in the cell. that made him the #1 guy in the cell. he was eventually released on bail and was allowed to leave the country but he had to come back for the court case if he wanted to be able to return to thailand in the future. he lived in hong kong and made at least two trips back for the court case. he also had a lawyer. but as i recall, his airfare and hotel costs were higher than the amount he had to pay as a fine and attorney fees. since he was locked up over the thai new year, he was in the cell for 6 days. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simoh1490 Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 I'm a little concerned that posters are giving legal advice here which may or may not be appropriate. The way laws are interpreted here varies from location to location and it's not clear to me that anyone who is recommending that he pays has actually been in the same identical situation. Before deciding on an approach the OP needs to consider those things. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum2 Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share Posted February 24, 2018 Just had this from his friend but still not sure if they have paid any money over yet.... I think they’re taking this pretty seriously and he’s not looking like he’ll get his passport back but will let you know, they say he has to wait until midday to see the interpreter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum2 Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share Posted February 24, 2018 Just now, simoh1490 said: Before deciding on an approach the OP needs to consider those things. Op? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simoh1490 Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 2 minutes ago, Mum2 said: Op? Sorry, OP=Original Poster, you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum2 Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share Posted February 24, 2018 5 minutes ago, buick said: i think this sums it up. i have a feeling the quick, expensive option may have passed if he is already in a cell. from what i know, the money needs to be paid to the police within hours if you want to be released as if nothing happened. and the police don't offer this option to you, you have to ask 'how much do i have to pay to go home now'. then you call a friend, they bring the money and you go home (in some cases, i've heard of the 'arrested' being able to go to the ATM themselves). it is good that he has at least one friend on the island. he may need food delivered to his cell by his friend. i had a friend in a similar circumstance (locked up in bangkok over the thai new year for drugs) and his friends brought him food and shared with others in the cell. that made him the #1 guy in the cell. he was eventually released on bail and was allowed to leave the country but he had to come back for the court case if he wanted to be able to return to thailand in the future. he lived in hong kong and made at least two trips back for the court case. he also had a lawyer. but as i recall, his airfare and hotel costs were higher than the amount he had to pay as a fine and attorney fees. since he was locked up over the thai new year, he was in the cell for 6 days. They took his friend to get the cash straight away but because she panicked and tried to get the full amount in one his account got locked so it took a while to sort. They did however keep allowing him his phone in order to contact his bank and unlock his account etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poohy Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 2 minutes ago, simoh1490 said: I'm a little concerned that posters are giving legal advice here which may or may not be appropriate. The way laws are interpreted here varies from location to location and it's not clear to me that anyone who is recommending that he pays has actually been in the same identical situation. Before deciding on an approach the OP needs to consider those things. Not identical but happened to a member of my staff in 2004 on KPG 25K asked paid he spent 1 night in cell i paid and he walked 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post phuketrichard Posted February 24, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2018 3 minutes ago, simoh1490 said: I'm a little concerned that posters are giving legal advice here which may or may not be appropriate. The way laws are interpreted here varies from location to location and it's not clear to me that anyone who is recommending that he pays has actually been in the same identical situation. Before deciding on an approach the OP needs to consider those things. and some of us live here, know how it works and HAVE been or know someone that has been, in exactly the same situation>>> pay Up as soon as u can, once the courts, embassy, lawyers are involved, he will spend time in Jail, might have to remain in Thailand, ( and be on an overstay), do jail time with a small fine.... Is it all worth it?? 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum2 Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share Posted February 24, 2018 My son has the money but they keep saying he needs to wait until the interpreter gets there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poohy Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 25 minutes ago, phuketrichard said: shift change,,,,as soon as he sees an officer tell him to speak softly and nice to him and say he is ready to pay... DONT sign anything as soon as he is released leave town IMHO shift change /interpreter follow advice above! passport in exchange for cash sign NOTHING Leave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post phuketrichard Posted February 24, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2018 2 minutes ago, Mum2 said: My son has the money but they keep saying he needs to wait until the interpreter gets there? good, they understand he wants to pay and thats what matters, tell him hang tight, be polite, smile and say he is sorry. as soon as he has paid, go get his things and leave the island if he cant change his ticket and fly right home, get a room and stay low key. no drinking, NO talking about this to anyone........ hopefully there wont be a next time... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simoh1490 Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 3 minutes ago, phuketrichard said: and some of us live here, know how it works and HAVE been or know someone that has been, in exactly the same situation>>> pay Up as soon as u can, once the courts, embassy, lawyers are involved, he will spend time in Jail, might have to remain in Thailand, ( and be on an overstay), do jail time with a small fine.... Is it all worth it?? I've lived here for 16 years Richard and I've never been in this situation nor have I ever known anyone who has. But like many people, I've read all the stories that are third, fourth or fifth hand, so before giving legal advice with a seeming assured outcome I'm going to defer to the Embassy staff. I hope like everyone else that he gets his passport back if he pays the 49k but that's far from certain. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanuk711 Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 Every ones giving advice no ones asking ...WHERE....WHAT ISLAND. ?? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 (edited) 20 minutes ago, Mum2 said: They took his friend to get the cash straight away but because she panicked and tried to get the full amount in one his account got locked so it took a while to sort. They did however keep allowing him his phone in order to contact his bank and unlock his account etc that is good to know. he may not be past the pay and get out quick stage yet. i'm aware of a situation where the police in bangkok allowed the 'detainee' to use a phone charger (from a police officer, his battery was out) in order to keep calling around to secure the money needed to get out. in that case, it was 50,000thb and he was releases after a few hours (woke up a few friends who collected the money around 3am). i hope he is out soon. in any case, i don't think he'll be jailed for a significant amount of time. i could be wrong, not sure how it works in samui (or whatever island he is on). but many people have taken the longer, cheaper method in this circumstance in bangkok. i don't recall hearing about a jail sentence in any of the discussions i've had on the topic. i spend alot of time on the beer drinking circuit in bangkok and hear these stories all the time (plus had a friend in the situation as mentioned earlier). Edited February 24, 2018 by buick 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornishcarlos Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 5 minutes ago, Mum2 said: My son has the money but they keep saying he needs to wait until the interpreter gets there? That's good news but I would really try and split the "ransom" in 2 portions. 1 upfront,the other when he's out and got his passport back. Then tell him to get the 1st ferry out of there and don't look back... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post cornishcarlos Posted February 24, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2018 1 minute ago, simoh1490 said: so before giving legal advice No-one is giving legal advice. Posters are advising on how to pay a bribe to get out of a situation that was probably manufactured by the police. Legal advice would be relating to the law !! This situation has no relation to any law, apart from the islands wild west RTP.. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simoh1490 Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 1 minute ago, cornishcarlos said: No-one is giving legal advice. Posters are advising on how to pay a bribe to get out of a situation that was probably manufactured by the police. Legal advice would be relating to the law !! This situation has no relation to any law, apart from the islands wild west RTP.. Terminology....! Legal advice, resolution of a legal issue, it's pedantic to debate the difference in this context, I think the point I made is crystal clear in that the outcome being recommended is not guaranteed, I personally think it;s best to present it as an option rather than an instruction since none of us are lawyers. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum2 Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share Posted February 24, 2018 9 minutes ago, sanuk711 said: Every ones giving advice no ones asking ...WHERE....WHAT ISLAND. ?? Koh Tao 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post cornishcarlos Posted February 24, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2018 1 minute ago, simoh1490 said: Terminology....! Legal advice, resolution of a legal issue, it's pedantic to debate the difference in this context, I think the point I made is crystal clear in that the outcome being recommended is not guaranteed, I personally think it;s best to present it as an option rather than an instruction since none of us are lawyers. Again, no-one is giving the Op any "instructions" but merely offering advice. In Thailand, where the cops are concerned, nothing is guaranteed.. Relying on the embassy would be bad advice, unless the lad has a few weeks to kill. It's not pedantic to point out that this is not a legal issue yet, it's a shake down. Once it gets to the charges laid and court stage, then it's a legal issue. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post cornishcarlos Posted February 24, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2018 1 minute ago, Mum2 said: Koh Tao People still go there ??? Silly boy... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Freckle Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 2 minutes ago, Mum2 said: Koh Tao Surprise, surprise 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum2 Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share Posted February 24, 2018 I know!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 koh tao has the reputation of the most corrupt island in the country as far as i know. i would assume they want the money and aren't concerned with 'justice'. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post phuketrichard Posted February 24, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2018 as above, the fewer people involved the easier it is to pay and leave..Kho Tao police do this all the time... sure u can stand up for ur rights, ( say in jail till court pay for a lawyer, pay for bail, be released on bail and forced to remain in Thailand till ur court date, end up on overstay, ( cause u dont have a passport and cant get an extension) etc etc but why??? 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum2 Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share Posted February 24, 2018 3 minutes ago, Sandy Freckle said: Surprise, surprise Does this mean the advice changes? The interpreter is there and they are waiting to pay - his friend doesn’t think they are budging on giving him his passport back though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panaeolus Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 If he pays they keep the money, give him his passport and the case never happened. I was asked 36,000 to "avoid court". After hours of slow haggling we shook hands at 10,000 and the sea wind was racing through my hair again. Inviting the interpreter sounds bad to me. Unless its just one of the english speaking officers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 i'd offer to pay another 25,000thb to get the passport and go home. assuming he can access the money via the friend(s). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Freckle Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 Surprise, surprise it happened in Koh Tao. Pardon me..., all the useful comments are above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beautifulthailand99 Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 More recent advice on the same issue. Good luck hope he's out soon suitably chastened and wiser. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum2 Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share Posted February 24, 2018 (edited) I can get the money to him but they are taking his finger prints and say they won’t budge on the passport and he has to go to court. I have suggested offering more money to get the passport but not sure that is the best option. Like the guy said earlier I think the time has passed for the quick option. Thank you all for your help Edited February 24, 2018 by Mum2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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