Was it that Belgium was a bit slow to put this jail-breaker into the international database for criminals on the run or maybe Thai Immigration's bio-metric computers just didn't pick him up but hey, no worries, he helps make-up the tourist numbers!

21 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

If he was clever , he would be in prison to start with.

Would an edit have been in order? Perhaps you meant 'If he was clever, he wouldn't be in prison to start with?'

If English is NOT your first language ( I think you're German?), don't worry about it....you do very well.

30 minutes ago, BRUFC said:

Would an edit have been in order? Perhaps you meant 'If he was clever, he wouldn't be in prison to start with?'

If English is NOT your first language ( I think you're German?), don't worry about it....you do very well.

As a native speaker, one who usually scans what is written and comprehends what's written by inference - - "wouldn't" was automatically read.