Fugitive British National Arrested in Thailand over £7m Fraud Case

[webfact]

 

The Surat Thani Immigration Bureau arrested Zak Smith, a British national, who was hiding in Thailand while evading a fraud case involving damages of £7 million.

 

Under the command of regional and provincial police chiefs, investigations were carried out to apprehend foreigners staying beyond their visa limit or illegally residing in the Kingdom. This was particularly focused on popular tourist spots like Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao as part of the mission to "clean the house."

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

The breakthrough in the case occurred on July 8, when authorities discovered that Smith had overstayed his visa and was residing in Koh Samui. Once located, he was found living with his Thai girlfriend in a rental home, reported Siam Rath.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Smith, aged 30, had been part of a group of six people who illegally streamed Premier League football and other TV shows in the UK, resulting in damages to the copyright owner of approximately £7 million or 315 million Thai Baht over the past five years. Five of the accused had been sentenced to 30 years imprisonment each, but Smith, the sixth defendant, had fled to Thailand.

 

Smith was found to have overstayed his visa by 16 days. After proceedings, he will be returned to the UK, blacklisted from reentering Thailand, and further action will be coordinated with the UK police.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

The Surat Thani Immigration Bureau encourages the public to report any crimes or unlawful activities by foreigners at their hotline 1178 or call 0993039889.

 

Top Picture: Siam Rath

 

#news

 

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[sammieuk1]

They think its all over ..it is now final whistle Zak's booted out and the Sky's the limit ???? 

[sidjameson]

35 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

The Surat Thani Immigration Bureau arrested Zak Smith, a British national, who was hiding in Thailand while evading a fraud case involving damages of £7 million.

 

For a man with allegedly £7 million in his pocket you'd think he'd be able to afford to pay for his gf to dye her roots. 

[ezzra]

50 minutes ago, webfact said:

. Five of the accused had been sentenced to 30 years imprisonment each

Wow, 30 years for streaming TV shows? not that i feel sorry for the guy, but murderess an rapists  gets lesser sentences that this, very out of proportion in my opinion.

[turgid]

25 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Wow, 30 years for streaming TV shows? not that i feel sorry for the guy, but murderess an rapists  gets lesser sentences that this, very out of proportion in my opinion.

It's not true. The  ring leader got 11 the rest got 4-6.  It made a better story to add them all up to 30.

[peter zwart]

26 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Wow, 30 years for streaming TV shows? not that i feel sorry for the guy, but murderess an rapists  gets lesser sentences that this, very out of proportion in my opinion.

Yep, if you touch the money of the big companies. As we know, big companies dont give a Sjeit about human beings. And as these Corporate States control the governments they decide what is real crime. Funny world isnt it?

Quote

 

 

[JayClay]

45 minutes ago, sidjameson said:

For a man with allegedly £7 million in his pocket you'd think he'd be able to afford to pay for his gf to dye her roots. 

Damages of 7 million, doesn't mean he actually made 7 million baht. That is the figure the copyright holders suggest they have lost assuming that every customer of his would have paid full price for an equivalent package from a legitimate rights holder.

[2baht]

Games up, Smithy!

[Hamus Yaigh]

And to think everyone was espousing the benefits of Flawless on this forum back in the day.

[ChipButty]

They didnt get 30 years each, and he's only 16 days O/S more to this story as usual, I bet his girlfriend is gutted she thought she had won the lottery, 

[IamNoone88]

30 years ..... you get less for murder. The UK is a country in decline.

[homeseeker]

In Asia you can often get away with murder, but stream football matches without a license= they will get you!

 

[MrJ2U]

Ouch.

 

 

[MrJ2U]

3 minutes ago, homeseeker said:

In Asia you can often get away with murder, but stream football matches without a license= they will get you!

 

He streamed it while in the UK.

 

Tough rules there in the UK regarding streaming/selling Android boxes.

 

Everyone does it here in Thailand.  

 

I think I better put the internet under my wife's name. 

[madmitch]

7 minutes ago, IamNoone88 said:

30 years ..... you get less for murder. The UK is a country in decline.

It's a good idea to read previous comments before making posts. 30 years combined for the entire gang 

[spidermike007]

These broadcasting companies, Amazon, Prime, and the cable companies are real sharks, and locking someone up for ages, for infringement of a copyright means nothing to them. It is heinous. And they get law enforcement, the FBI, and other over reaching three letter agencies to do their bidding. Just like the recent shutdown of Z Library, one of the best sites for book downloads around. Fortunately the clever sites are always finding new hosts, or new nations with which to host their sites, staying one step ahead of the real governmental predators. 

 

Does not sound like anyone was harmed here, other than depriving a mega corporation of a crumb or two.

 

Thankfully streaming and downloads are no big deal here. At least not yet. My guess is that the FBI (fidelity only to big corporations, not brave at all, and very little integrity) have already approached Thailand, and were politely told to take a walk, and take their nonsense elsewhere.

 

 

[KannikaP]

7 hours ago, sidjameson said:

For a man with allegedly £7 million in his pocket you'd think he'd be able to afford to pay for his gf to dye her roots. 

That is classed as blonde highlights these days.

[Almer]

7 hours ago, turgid said:

It's not true. The  ring leader got 11 the rest got 4-6.  It made a better story to add them all up to 30.

Crup story telling again

[off road pat]

7 hours ago, ezzra said:

Wow, 30 years for streaming TV shows? not that i feel sorry for the guy, but murderess an rapists  gets lesser sentences that this, very out of proportion in my opinion.

My thoughts exactly,...Something is very rotten in British justice !!! 

[blackcab]

30 years in total. The ringleader got 11 years, with lesser sentences for the others.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/30/streaming-gang-jailed-for-selling-cut-price-premier-league-subscriptions

[Taboo2]

He did a poor job of disappearing...next time, go up river and hide out....  55555

[schvonsky1]

8 hours ago, ezzra said:

Wow, 30 years for streaming TV shows? not that i feel sorry for the guy, but murderess an rapists  gets lesser sentences that this, very out of proportion in my opinion.

So so correct murder someone out in 6 to 10 years he should of done his homework paid some one off well before ????

[DjSilver]

He was obviously set up by Thais.

[2008bangkok]

8 hours ago, ezzra said:

Wow, 30 years for streaming TV shows? not that i feel sorry for the guy, but murderess an rapists  gets lesser sentences that this, very out of proportion in my opinion.

Not that IV bothered checking but I would imagine that they all got 30 years together not each and the media run with that.

That's way to extreme sentence.

[Frankie baby]

You go to an open prison for this offence in the UK. He'll be better off their than in Koh Samui. Plus his football streaming will be paid for legally, by the public. Unfortunately he'll be out on parole in no time, needs to keep his streaming ties in play so can resume. We've all gotta make a living.   

   

[PETERTHEEATER]

57 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

That is classed as blonde highlights these days.

I prefer the lilac shorts......

[norfolkandchance]

8 hours ago, ezzra said:

Wow, 30 years for streaming TV shows? not that i feel sorry for the guy, but murderess an rapists  gets lesser sentences that this, very out of proportion in my opinion.

30 year's divided by 5 I expect.

[BritScot]

9 hours ago, ezzra said:

Wow, 30 years for streaming TV shows? not that i feel sorry for the guy, but murderess an rapists  gets lesser sentences that this, very out of proportion in my opinion.

Had to look this up as sounded so ridiculous: They got 11 years each and not 30 years each "bad reporting". Quite sophisticated operation they were selling devices that enabled the viewer to watch pay TV free. I doughty they will spend more than a couple of years inside a prison.

[ujayujay]

8 hours ago, JayClay said:

Damages of 7 million, doesn't mean he actually made 7 million baht. That is the figure the copyright holders suggest they have lost assuming that every customer of his would have paid full price for an equivalent package from a legitimate rights holder.

Genius don't know the difference between THB and £ 

[JayClay]

2 minutes ago, ujayujay said:

Genius don't know the difference between THB and £ 

???? 7 million pounds, then.

 

Whatever the unit of measurement, the principle is the same.