webfact Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Frenchman who damaged coral to be fined minimum B100k, authorities say By The Phuket News Mr G. outside Chalong Police station. He faces fines of at least 100,000 baht for the damage he inflicted on the coral at Patok Bay. Photo: DMCR PHUKET: It has been confirmed that a fine of at least 100,000 baht will be charged to the 67-year-old Frenchman, Jean Girard, who damaged coral when he dropped anchor at Patok Bay on the northwest side of Racha Yai Island on Mar 6. Marine and Coastal Resources officials concluded their analysis of the damaged coral yesterday (Mar 17) and confirmed they will be sharing their findings with Chalong police who will include the information in their final report before submitting to Phuket Provincial court on Friday (Mar 20). “We discovered the damaged coral to measure approximately one square metre which equates to about B20,000 in costs,” commented Somnuek Boonyai, Chief of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Region 6 office of the Preservation of Marine Life Section. Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/frenchman-who-damaged-coral-to-be-fined-minimum-b100k-authorities-say-75331.php -- © Copyright Phuket News 2020-03-18 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post CNXexpat Posted March 18, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 18, 2020 What an idiot. Let him pay. I am curious if Thais would have to pay the same when they destroy corals - fishermen by example... 8 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post twocatsmac Posted March 18, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 18, 2020 Good and make him take a bath too. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post richard_smith237 Posted March 18, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 18, 2020 oh the faux outrage and the hypocrisy that surfaces at the mere sniff of money as Thailand continues to litter its streets, waterways, beaches and pollutes its air with seasonal burning of fields. This is quite obviously unequal treatment, has a Thai ever faced the same charges? This man’s anchor has damaged some coral, ok, fine him - but do so within the same boundaries a Thai would be fined for the same event. 18 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colabamumbai Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 He should tell them he has a virus, they will back off. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post cornishcarlos Posted March 19, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 19, 2020 11 minutes ago, Colabamumbai said: He should tell them he has a virus, they will back off. There is no virus in Thailand... Try another excuse ???? 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post samjaidee Posted March 19, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 19, 2020 “We discovered the damaged coral to measure approximately one square metre which equates to about B20,000 in costs,” What are the costs? Are they going to replace it? Is that the value of one square metre of coral to the tourist industry? They do come up with some serious <deleted> sometimes. 9 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketDog Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 16 hours ago, twocatsmac said: Good and make him take a bath too. Oh, he's taking a bath alright, and with scalding water. Probably get a good shellacking after that. I always recommend the new urethane coatings as they weather better than shellac, albeit more expensive. ???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tifino Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 so some stranger approaches the island by boat... are there some sort of floating signs out there, to thwart against any approach? is there some sort of marinated version of an 'airport NOTAM' against anchors maybe? I reckon this all a smokescreen; because they chucked a hissy fit that he was doing a cheapskate, and not Docking at the pier/marina to avoid specified Dock fees ???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post curious297 Posted March 19, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted March 19, 2020 This is a new law that is supposed to come into effect last July: "Starting in July, the government will ban fishing, fish feeding, anchoring on coral reefs, construction on the beach, and walking on the seabed on the island." "People found violating the bans can face up to one year in prison and a fine of 100,000 baht ($A4154)" I guess this french guy is one of the first to be fined under this less than 1 year old Law. By my reckoning, whether he damage 1m2 or the whole reef, he received the maximum fine. I did find a previous 2018 story where a Thai tour operator received a fine however, the penalty was nowhere near the amount this foreigner was charged, read here: For those to lazy to click and read, in summary: It was said that: "Conviction could result in a jail term of two years and a fine of Bt500,000" "Marine park officials fined the owner of the boat Bt1,000, Atthapong said, but Nipon refused to identify the foreigner in charge, so police scrutinised his documentation and found he had no business licence." Maybe he should have just collected and sold corals instead, seems it is a much cheaper penalty than damaging them: In another story...... "PHUKET: Police last night arrested a market trader for selling pieces of dead coral as ornaments fitted to leather bands, “He faces a fine of up to 40,000 baht or up to four years in prison." Is it a fair playing ground? Decide for yourself. Seems like the dual prices for foreigner Vs Thai to visit national parks is in effect here. I am very curious where this penalty will end up, will they use this money to replace the 20K estimated valued damaged corals? I think we all know the answer to that one ???? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tifino Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 (edited) next thing they'll be throwing chunks of coral everywhere - just to try to catch more... it'll end up like trying to drive down a Russian street, hoping someone doesn't jump out in from of you scam Do they even have available Charts, so people get o know where Not to anchor? Like the following civilised example Edited March 19, 2020 by tifino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 2 hours ago, tifino said: so some stranger approaches the island by boat... are there some sort of floating signs out there, to thwart against any approach? is there some sort of marinated version of an 'airport NOTAM' against anchors maybe? I reckon this all a smokescreen; because they chucked a hissy fit that he was doing a cheapskate, and not Docking at the pier/marina to avoid specified Dock fees ???? You really have no clue. There is no pier/marina there, only mooring buoys, which all boats use. It is quite obvious to anyone who is on occasion at sea that those are mooring lines, so no anchoring allowed. And there are of course signs closer to the beach. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeyrobot Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 Remember the Russian lady that got locked up and fined 100,000 for feeding the fish bread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now