Tug-of-love Edinburgh dad jailed in Thailand is freed

[webfact]

Tug-of-love Edinburgh dad jailed in Thailand is freed

 

Jodie Smith with son Joleon.

 

An Edinburgh dad has been released from a Thai prison 43 days after trying to rescue his “kidnapped” son.

 

Jodie Smith, 41, from South Queensferry, called relieved mum Lidia Smith, 67, to say: “I’m out. They’ve let me go.”

 

The loving dad, who has been behind bars in Thailand since he was charged in February, will now fly home with ten-year-old son Joleon.

 

Jodie’s estranged wife Jintra Jummaimuang Smith, 31, who is accused of fleeing Scotland with their boy, settled the custody row and secured his release.

 

Full story: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/south-queensferry/tug-of-love-edinburgh-dad-jailed-in-thailand-is-freed-1-4720614

 

-- Edinburgh News 2018-04-09

[akirasan]

Tug of love sounds like the name of a shonky karaoke bar 

Edited April 9, 2018 by akirasan

[darksidedog]

A happy ending to a very emotional story. Good luck mate, to you, your kid and your family.

[robblok]

Is the other guy who facilitated the kidnapping out already ?

[sammieuk1]

Ever thought J is not lucky for you including Jail safe Journey.

[rkidlad]

Very sad but a happy ending. I know two guys who had kids here and they both went through hell to get custody of their kids. Ultimately, it was always about money. As soon as they got the relevant paperwork signed, they were out of Thailand like a bat out of hell. Must be pretty traumatizing for a kid to think his mum doesn't love him and she only wanted the money. 

[Scouse123]

So now this guy has a new fiancee and will get his son back to the U.K. which is great and his life is hunky dory.

 

However, why should the UK now have to accept his ex Thai partner, who caused all this mess, who is neither use nor ornament to the United Kingdom, no doubt with no qualities or special skills to offer the United Kingdom except for the fact she is his ex-wife, who took the child from his home in the UK in the first place?

 

And why is he defending her merely because ' they have come to an arrangement ' part of which is a trade-off, she gets him out of jail and this then includes helping her to get back into the U.K?

 

I hope the authorities reject any visa application she makes, unless she has cunningly already obtained settlement status, or arrests her when she lands in the UK for abduction.

 

So now the UK. will no doubt have to feed, clothe and house a sponger from Thailand?

 

She can hardly live with him when he has a new partner.

 

Maybe, just maybe, this is why the U.K. makes it difficult for some nationalities to acquire visas without scrutinizing them first.!

 

Let's face it, the Thais would not allow us to do this if the roles were reversed. All they, the Thai government, want from us is our $$$.

 

They certainly would not be interested in our wellbeing or suffering if we had a child here, but couldn't manage to scrape together the requirements to secure a visa or extension of stay for Thailand.

[Baerboxer]

12 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

So now this guy has a new fiancee and will get his son back to the U.K. which is great and his life is hunky dory.

 

However, why should the UK now have to accept his ex Thai partner, who caused all this mess, who is neither use nor ornament to the United Kingdom, no doubt with no qualities or special skills to offer the United Kingdom except for the fact she is his ex-wife, who took the child from his home in the UK in the first place?

 

And why is he defending her merely because ' they have come to an arrangement ' part of which is a trade-off, she gets him out of jail and this then includes helping her to get back into the U.K?

 

I hope the authorities reject any visa application she makes, unless she has cunningly already obtained settlement status, or arrests her when she lands in the UK for abduction.

 

So now the UK. will no doubt have to feed, clothe and house a sponger from Thailand?

 

She can hardly live with him when he has a new partner.

 

Maybe, just maybe, this is why the U.K. makes it difficult for some nationalities to acquire visas without scrutinizing them first.!

 

Let's face it, the Thais would not allow us to do this if the roles were reversed. All they, the Thai government, want from us is our $$$.

 

They certainly would not be interested in our wellbeing or suffering if we had a child here, but couldn't manage to scrape together the requirements to secure a visa or extension of stay for Thailand.

 

We really don't know the full story and the little details. But IIRC she had a job and new boyfriend in the UK. 

[YouYouYou]

Regardless of what  "settled" actually means, this is a relief for the dad and his boy after what has been a traumatic  time for both. Well done dad, great news, and it's all behind you now.

[Media1]

1 hour ago, Baerboxer said:

 

We really don't know the full story and the little details. But IIRC she had a job and new boyfriend in the UK. 

For Queen and Country 

[JLCrab]

2 hours ago, YouYouYou said:

Regardless of what  "settled" actually means, this is a relief for the dad and his boy after what has been a traumatic  time for both. Well done dad, great news, and it's all behind you now.

Well done? IMHO 'well done' would have been, once the father had located the boy, to have worked out arrangements with the Thai mother rather than he and Mr. Felton doing a snatch-&-grab and then heading for the BKK airport. Then they may have avoided abduction and trespassing charges and free room and board for 40+ days courtesy of the Kingdom.

[Wake Up]

3 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

So now this guy has a new fiancee and will get his son back to the U.K. which is great and his life is hunky dory.

 

However, why should the UK now have to accept his ex Thai partner, who caused all this mess, who is neither use nor ornament to the United Kingdom, no doubt with no qualities or special skills to offer the United Kingdom except for the fact she is his ex-wife, who took the child from his home in the UK in the first place?

 

And why is he defending her merely because ' they have come to an arrangement ' part of which is a trade-off, she gets him out of jail and this then includes helping her to get back into the U.K?

 

I hope the authorities reject any visa application she makes, unless she has cunningly already obtained settlement status, or arrests her when she lands in the UK for abduction.

 

So now the UK. will no doubt have to feed, clothe and house a sponger from Thailand?

 

She can hardly live with him when he has a new partner.

 

Maybe, just maybe, this is why the U.K. makes it difficult for some nationalities to acquire visas without scrutinizing them first.!

 

Let's face it, the Thais would not allow us to do this if the roles were reversed. All they, the Thai government, want from us is our $$$.

 

They certainly would not be interested in our wellbeing or suffering if we had a child here, but couldn't manage to scrape together the requirements to secure a visa or extension of stay for Thailand.

The boy needs a mom and dad. How hard is that to accept regardless of her being thai or ...... IMO the Dad, mom and grandmother are acting selfishly by fighting over the boy and trying to illegally take him and desparaging each other.  That is is terrible message for a child when it is dad/ grandma versus mom. 

 

This is is a flight where the kid is the prize and no one IMO cares about the kid as long as they win because they “love”him. Poor kid I hope he has a great family law judge that can make this whole group go to counseling and follow the rules of decency and do what is best for the kid. 

 

Throw another baby into the mix with a fiancé and IMO this kid has a low chance of a quality life because his dad and grandma care more about themselves than the kid. The mom may also but it does not appear so and I hope truly they all get family counseling and realize the important thing for a child is his parents and grandparent actions to put the young kid’s interests and well being first and learn to not compete with each other for the “love” of the kid. Peace. 

[Miss Pickle]

What a lovely end to this Story.Scotland is waiting to welcome you both Back Home.

[Tony125]

On 4/9/2018 at 4:07 PM, Baerboxer said:

 

We really don't know the full story and the little details. But IIRC she had a job and new boyfriend in the UK. 

It has been reported before that she  "had "   a  job but that was before she took off for 5 months and stayed in Thailand.