Ari Salinger's clothes, food and medicine were taken from him in jail and he was left to sleep naked on a concrete floor without access to water. Photo: Supplied

 

by Matthew Scott

A New Zealand man arrested for drug possession in Thailand last year spent this week in a Patong jail without reliable access to food, prescription medication or clothing

 

The 45-year-old son of a renowned New Zealand climate scientist has spent the past three nights in a Thai jail with limited access to food and clothing, and no idea of when he can get out.

 

Ari Michael Salinger, son of Dr Jim Salinger, was arrested last September in Phuket after police found two ecstasy tablets on his person. 

 

He was remanded on bail with his passport held by the courts until Monday of this week, when he pleaded guilty to drug possession. He was sentenced with a small fine and expected to be on his way to the Immigrant Detention Center to await deportation.

 

Full story: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/kiwi-locked-up-in-thailand-with-no-clothes-food-or-water

 

-- © Copyright NEWSROOM NZ 2023-05-12

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

spent this week in a Patong jail without reliable access to food, prescription medication or clothing

Absolutely disgraceful treatment for possession of just 2 tablets clearly for personal use (although illegal) and not a dealer who would have been treated better , SHAME on you BIB .

 

1 minute ago, keith101 said:

Absolutely disgraceful treatment for possession of just 2 tablets clearly for personal use (although illegal) and not a dealer who would have been treated better , SHAME on you BIB .

 

If you carry drugs around then you face the consequences if caught.  He's lucky he wasn't in Singapore or Saudi.

Anyone who goes to Patong for a week ends up without reliable access to food, prescription medication or clothing ????

Take drugs, face the consequences

The Third World Thai legal system 

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

left to sleep naked on a concrete floor without access to water.

 

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

has spent the past three nights in a Thai jail with limited access to food and clothing,

which is it ? terrible writing.

Kiwi locked up in Thailand with no clothes, food or water

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

without reliable access to food, prescription medication or clothing

 

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

 with limited access to food and clothing,

Which one ?

Just now, keith101 said:

Absolutely disgraceful treatment for possession of just 2 tablets clearly for personal use (although illegal) and not a dealer who would have been treated better , SHAME on you BIB .

I completely agree with you. But wondering what would have been your reaction if the person was a Chinese or Indian, considering all the Chinese and Indian bashing in this forum? 

There are reasons why Thailand has long been known as a place to avoid illegal drugs. Disappointing to see the way this fellow has been treated but at the same time, Thailand is not a place to do anything with illegal drugs, irrespective of the quantity. The "price" you pay can be extremely harsh as this Kiwi has found out.

oh well ... I like it.  Need more news like this.  Might act as a deterrent to dopers to stay away.

I think it's quite widely known how crude and harsh Thai jails can be.To then proceed with ANY type of illegal substance then you get exactly what you deserve.

Nationality is irrelevant.

No sympathy and ignorance is no defence. (imho)

 

 

 

27 minutes ago, steven100 said:

If you carry drugs around then you face the consequences if caught.  He's lucky he wasn't in Singapore or Saudi.

 

So you are content that he was treated appropriately while under lock and key?

 

Are you content that anyone found guilty of any crime in Thailand might well be treated in a similar way?

 

Or are you just responding with your usual "Pavlovian" sophistication?

 

 

 

16 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

 

 

 

So you are content that he was treated appropriately while under lock and key?

 

Are you content that anyone found guilty of any crime in Thailand might well be treated in a similar way?

 

Or are you just responding with your usual "Pavlovian" sophistication?

 

 

 

if you can't do the time ... don't do the crime.   He's been caught with drugs,  while we know his treatment is harsh, he won't be put up at the Sheraton that's for sure.

Shame Thailand, Shame...don't pretend you are a good country, not even for tourists and for your own people who are in crowded jails .... and now treatment like this to foreigners??? Shame.. He is not a serial killer and even than

Kiwi tourist pleads guilty to ecstasy possession in Phuket, Thailand
by leah

 

 

A tourist from New Zealand pleaded guilty to drug possession at a court in Phuket, southern Thailand, on Monday.

 

In September, police arrested 45 year old Ari Michael Salinger after finding two ecstasy tablets on his person. He was released on bail and his passport was confiscated while awaiting trial.

 

On Monday, the court sentenced Salinger to a “small fine” after he pleaded guilty, reports Newsroom. He expected to be transferred to the Immigrant Detention Centre to await deportation, but he was instead detained at Patong Provincial Police Station.

 

Salinger’s father Dr Jim Salinger, a renowned New Zealand climate scientist, said that his son’s clothes, food, and medicine were taken away upon his detention on Monday. He was left to sleep naked on a concrete floor for three nights, said Dr Jim.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/crime/kiwi-tourist-pleads-guilty-to-ecstasy-possession-in-phuket-thailand

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-05-12

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

The Catcher in the Rye

Seems a bit extreme for posession of 2 yokes. Maybe his overstay is the main issue now. Could be more to this story though as the piece below may suggest that he has been in trouble in other countries

 

"Salinger had dealt with the embassies in Cairo and Dubai and the past and found them very helpful.

"It's only the shocking difference in help between them and the Bangkok"

He'll be posting on here soon enough about applying for the right extension.....

 

"According to the New Zealand Embassy in Thailand, the court advised Salinger he would need to submit a request to retrieve his passport for a visa extension"

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Salinger’s father Dr Jim Salinger, a renowned New Zealand climate scientist, said that his son’s clothes, food, and medicine were taken away upon his detention on Monday. He was left to sleep naked on a concrete floor for three nights, said Dr Jim.

It is this which is utterly horrific....    the subhuman treatment and removal of prescription medication is more criminal than carrying two ecstasy tablets.

 

 

 

3 hours ago, steven100 said:

if you can't do the time ... don't do the crime.   He's been caught with drugs,  while we know his treatment is harsh, he won't be put up at the Sheraton that's for sure.

A comment as equally devoid of humanity as those treating this man in such a manner. 

 

 

1 hour ago, Upnotover said:

He'll be posting on here soon enough about applying for the right extension.....

 

"According to the New Zealand Embassy in Thailand, the court advised Salinger he would need to submit a request to retrieve his passport for a visa extension"

He can't find a pen!

He pleaded guilty so probably not. I'm surprised he didn't or wasn't provided the opportunity to buy his way out of trouble last September. I can only assume he didn't have access to upwards of 100k baht tea money. 

5 hours ago, keith101 said:

Absolutely disgraceful treatment for possession of just 2 tablets clearly for personal use (although illegal) and not a dealer who would have been treated better , SHAME on you BIB .

 

<deleted> your with drugs you suffer the consequences ????

22 minutes ago, torturedsole said:

He pleaded guilty so probably not.  

 

I'm surprised he didn't or wasn't provided the opportunity to buy his way out of trouble last September. I can only assume he didn't have access to upwards of 100k baht tea money. 

Everyone (most) is forced to plead guilty... they are under great pressure to plead guilty.

 

It could be argued that any plea extracted by Thai police is done so under extreme physical duress, particularly if he was stripped and had medication refused... 

“It just two tablets, plead guilty and we’ll give you your clothes and medication back”...... 

 

That said - the BiB here are not known for planting drugs (never heard of such a story - not a viable one anyway)... So I believe he had 2x ecstasy tablets....  

 

So.... while the crime is utterly insignificant (2 tablets), he was still caught with 2 tablets.. which is illegal. 

The issue is his detention for such a minor crime and then the subhuman treatment in detention... 

 

 

 

 

 

5 hours ago, steven100 said:

If you carry drugs around then you face the consequences if caught.  He's lucky he wasn't in Singapore or Saudi.

Agree

Just now, Tookta said:

<deleted> your with drugs you suffer the consequences ????

The consequences in this case are a contravention of basic human rights.

 

He was stripped naked and not provided food, water and refused his prescription medication. 

 

The issue is not his guilt it is the ‘illegal’ manner in which he was treated while in custody. 

 

 

2 minutes ago, Tookta said:

5 hours ago, steven100 said:

If you carry drugs around then you face the consequences if caught.  He's lucky he wasn't in Singapore or Saudi.

Agree

What if he’d have died because he didn’t have access to his prescription medication ????

 

The consequences as you put are beyond extreme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

he's wearing clothes in the picture though.

5 hours ago, steven100 said:

If you carry drugs around then you face the consequences if caught.  He's lucky he wasn't in Singapore or Saudi.

He wasn't he was in Thailand?