Deportation for weed possession

[GoldmundBKK]

My friend is currently in jail awaiting deportation.

 

1g of weed found on her, got out on bail. Then she reported to court every 12 days. Now after the final court visit she was fined and put in jail to wait for deportation. They (police and other relevant parties) are saying she could wait in jail for weeks. 

 

She’s a frail young woman, diagnosed with bipolar disorder and being locked up in a stinky cell is devastating for her emotionally and mentally. 

 

60000 was asked by people who pull the strings to shorten her waiting time. But even if paid she still has to be locked for at least 3-5 days locally and then further money-push will be required to shorten her stay in Bangkok.

 

Does it really usually take weeks to get on the plane even though she has money to buy her plane ticket immediately?

 

Also, is there any way to expedite the process legally because she’s bipolar?

 

Or appeal the deportation order?

 

Or at least bail her out while they’re doing the paperwork?

 

Finally, does one have to go to IDC in Bangkok or can also be deported straight from the local airport?

 

Thank you. 

[Pravda]

Not long ago this would have been a lot worse for outcome. 

[AlexRich]

12 minutes ago, Pravda said:

Not long ago this would have been a lot worse for outcome. 

 

I was thinking the same thing ... deportation is a blessing. What was she thinking having drugs on her in Thailand? That's something you leave at your home country.

 

 

[Ron jeremy]

The fine from a few years ago was $40 k, and no lengthy cell waiting times. For 1 gram she should have paid the piper . And avoided court, 

[geronimo]

2 hours ago, Ron jeremy said:

The fine from a few years ago was $40 k, and no lengthy cell waiting times. For 1 gram she should have paid the piper . And avoided court, 

friend of mine was fined 500 baht for having one joint, which is the going rate for such a small amount.

[Curt1591]

13 minutes ago, geronimo said:

friend of mine was fined 500 baht for having one joint, which is the going rate for such a small amount.

Can we assume your friend was fined at the scene of the crime?

[geronimo]

1 minute ago, Curt1591 said:

Can we assume your friend was fined at the scene of the crime?

No he spent a night in the cells and went to court in the morning, but that was 15 yrs ago

 

[malt25]

1 hour ago, geronimo said:

No he spent a night in the cells and went to court in the morning, but that was 15 yrs ago

 

Ah ! so relevant to this post then.

[norfolkandchance]

Bi Bi.

[Tayaout]

I think wait time at IDC goes from 2-3 weeks to a couple months. It depends how much help you get from outside, how fast your consulate is and that the airline is not reticent to deport a criminal. I would try to deal the "express" service at 10-20K. She will appreciate if you can bring her bottled water and food. 

[Vacuum]

1 gram of weed!  Crime of the century.

[Nyezhov]

41 minutes ago, Tayaout said:

She will appreciate if you can bring her bottled water and food. 

yeah. I like crab fried rice for future reference.

 

And Purra. 

[Skallywag]

7 hours ago, GoldmundBKK said:

1g of weed found on her

Are police allowed to rifle through your pockets?  

Just curious how the authorities "found" this?

Why was she searched?  

[ezzra]

When dealing with crooked officials one never knows which way the case will swing, this is why it would be prudent to involve a Thai person to act as a go between and as a witness as should things will go sideway, asking the embassy to help is another good idea...

[transam]

1 minute ago, ezzra said:

When dealing with crooked officials one never knows which way the case will swing, this is why it would be prudent to involve a Thai person to act as a go between and as a witness as should things will go sideway, asking the embassy to help is another good idea...

A Thai bloke I know has just paid 220,000bht for either failing a drug test or having some dope, not sure which, to stay out of clink. At the station there were a few others waiting to hand over lots of cash, families cash...

[crazykopite]

She is very lucky a few years back it would of been at least 5 years in prison. Do the crime Do the time ! Fingers crossed she will be deported by the end of the week.

[CLW]

Certainly your friend got fleeced, scammed and betrayed from every involved person and every possible way.

Drug amounts like this are usually sorted out under the table at the local police station.

I'll assume there is more about your friend that led to such drastic measures and high amounts to be paid.

Why didn't she take a lawyer at first?

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[jackdd]

1 minute ago, CLW said:

Why didn't she take a lawyer at first?

This would just add one more person who will fleece her

[CLW]

By the way a few months ago I read the quote from now health minister Anutin that no person should go to jail anymore for possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal (medicinal) use which in case of your friend with a psychological disorder a good lawyer can turn the case around.

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[CLW]

This would just add one more person who will fleece her

Eventually yes. But could also the opposite and she's a free woman now, still living in Thailand.

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[Tropposurfer]

Sorry to hear of this. I hope she gets home ASAP.

being imprisoned is horrible. Being in a Thai jail is doubly so.

Using any drugs outside of medical supervision (these will interfere with and confuse the effects of prescribed drugs), added to her suffering from bi polar disorder is a recipe for disaster. Taking system depressants when your already depressed is a bad choice.

The impacts of recreational drug use e.g. cannabis at the worst end of the scale could see the onset of schizoid features. Being already diagnosed with a serious depressive disorder increases the possibility of serious psychotic experiences if other drugs are used, especially hydroponically grown weed (high THC content) ...

then she’ll really be in trouble!!!

visit her as much as you can, help her anchor and know you’ll see her a lot before she leaves, and to focus on being home in the near future. Take her some good food and vitamins, high dose fish oil helps with mood management too.

When she gets home encourage her to seek counselling support and look at her drug use (no matter how benign she says this is).

[bkk6060]

8 hours ago, transam said:

A Thai bloke I know has just paid 220,000bht for either failing a drug test or having some dope, not sure which, to stay out of clink. At the station there were a few others waiting to hand over lots of cash, families cash...

Sure.

Where was this?

[IvorLott]

8 hours ago, Skallywag said:

Are police allowed to rifle through your pockets?  

Just curious how the authorities "found" this?

Why was she searched?  

Random searches/urine tests of foreigners in the Sukhumwit area (especially around the Asoke intersection area) was very common a few years ago, to the extent this outrage made the international press. I had a business contact overlooking the area, and we would watch the villains at it every day; the vermin would even drag folks from taxis.

Don't underestimate what the Thai police can or can't do, they are a law unto themselves.

[transam]

31 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Sure.

Where was this?

None of your business......If you don't believe it, tough....

[BobBKK]

2 hours ago, crazykopite said:

She is very lucky a few years back it would of been at least 5 years in prison. Do the crime Do the time ! Fingers crossed she will be deported by the end of the week.

Much of the world do not view it as a crime. Give this poor lass a break it's NOT a crime resulting in jail in any decent society. Poor girl.

 

[IvorLott]

3 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

Much of the world do not view it as a crime. Give this poor lass a break it's NOT a crime resulting in jail in any decent society.

 

I agree utterly, however it IS a crime in backward Thailand which is why she is in bother. I dread to think what situation she'd be in were it Malaysia or Indonesia.

Thai leaders do tend to like to ape their Western counterparts, so hopefully one day they'll catch up with the more civilised states of the world...

[BobBKK]

Just now, IvorLott said:

 

I agree utterly, however it IS a crime in backward Thailand which is why she is in bother. I dread to think what situation she'd be in were it Malaysia or Indonesia.

It's so utterly distressing for her and so unfair I just hope she's ok. You are right they are backward here and fixed it to stay that way.

[Survivor9]

She is lucky, assuming you don't know the penalty for drugs in Thailand. Tell her to sit in prison and wait to get of the plane. She should consider herself lucky everyday they still have her scheduled to be deported. 

[digger70]

17 hours ago, GoldmundBKK said:

1g of weed found on her, got out on bail. Then she reported to court every 12 days. Now after the final court visit she was fined and put in jail to wait for deportation. They (police and other relevant parties) are saying she could wait in jail for weeks. 

 

I would say, don't do drugs and be in possession of drugs than you would be ok , No sympathy, self inflicted problem.

[Ebumbu]

And yet, actual narcotics are available over the counter at your local pharmacy. At least they are where I live. Do whatever you can to get out of Thailand.