The arrest of Norwegian woman part of bigger picture

[webfact]

It was announced on 8 March 2024 that the Norwegian woman Ms. Unni had been arrested for operating as a taxi driver in Koh Phangan. Later on the same day information was released that the woman did not intend to work as a taxi driver, but was dropping off foreigners who had been guests at the company where she was the manager.

 

She was arrested by a combination of Immigration, Tourist, and Local police.  According to Surat Thani Immigration Chief, Pol Col Naruewat Phutthaviro, Ms. Unni had the name ‘Phangan Paragon Resort & Spa’ on her car.

 

Ms. Unni faced charges for transporting passengers in her car, and she admitted to the charges.

 

by Lærke Kobberup

 

Full story: ScandAsia 2024-03-12

 

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[flyingtlger]

36 minutes ago, webfact said:

She was arrested by a combination of Immigration, Tourist, and Local police.

A double whammy!!!

[arithai12]

Which "bigger picture" is not mentioned but there is some sort of context at the end of the original article. First,was she really literally arrested as being put in prison, or just charged? Second, the law is clear: even if she is the manager of a company and thus with regular work permit, she cannot perform different duties inside that company. Example, if a foreigner is the owner or manager of a restaurant, he is not allowed to serve customers. This might look absurd for us used to different systems, but it's the Thai system, take it or leave it. If she was doing that just that one time because the designated company driver was not available, then maybe she can seek leniency.

[thesetat]

2 hours ago, arithai12 said:

Which "bigger picture

read the whole OP from the source. The fact that it hits worldwide news if enough to show the seriousness of it. Then there is this clip below to show the picture getting bigger. 

 

Phuket administration has also agreed to set up a center to deal with illegal alien businesses. This is a result of many complaints by Thai business operators who claim that many foreigners have set up businesses using their Thai spouses or other Thai nationals as nominees. There are more than 200 companies with foreigners holding a 49% stake operating in Phuket.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

A double whammy!!!

Actually a "Tri-hit"

[norfolkandchance]

3 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

A double whammy!!!

I demand a recount. Also the number of first replies you make on threads.

[ikke1959]

A need for updating the labour laws, as it is now the 21st century... ion fact what is the problem if you have guests and you bring them to the airport and you have a workpermit... Maybe they should write in her contract that it is a part of her job to do that, but in fact most Western people are used to do more than their job. That is common in the Western world, always go the extra mile, but here in conservative Thailand they don't understand as a lot of people don't even can do their job. Laziness and no problem are normal here 

[Olmate]

4 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

A need for updating the labour laws, as it is now the 21st century... ion fact what is the problem if you have guests and you bring them to the airport and you have a workpermit... Maybe they should write in her contract that it is a part of her job to do that, but in fact most Western people are used to do more than their job. That is common in the Western world, always go the extra mile, but here in conservative Thailand they don't understand as a lot of people don't even can do their job. Laziness and no problem are normal here 

Do tell, why in the world would you be so desparate to drive someone to the bloody airport that you would include it in your contact? 

[Ben Zioner]

3 hours ago, arithai12 said:

Which "bigger picture" is not mentioned but there is some sort of context at the end of the original article. First,was she really literally arrested as being put in prison, or just charged? Second, the law is clear: even if she is the manager of a company and thus with regular work permit, she cannot perform different duties inside that company. Example, if a foreigner is the owner or manager of a restaurant, he is not allowed to serve customers. This might look absurd for us used to different systems, but it's the Thai system, take it or leave it. If she was doing that just that one time because the designated company driver was not available, then maybe she can seek leniency.

Welcome back to the middle ages. But if you can't see that this is a witch hunt in motion, you need professional help. Next step will be all westerners must wear a badge with a cross.

 

This women deserve a verbal warning from law enforcement nothing more.

[ikke1959]

19 minutes ago, Olmate said:

Do tell, why in the world would you be so desparate to drive someone to the bloody airport that you would include it in your contact? 

Just see what this woman has to deal with now.. If it is written in the contract she doesn't violate the labour laws of Thailand... Thailand is not the normal world

[OneMoreFarang]

Imagine the authorities would put the same effort into fighting the local mafia.

Or are they not doing that because they are part of it?

[Olmate]

16 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Just see what this woman has to deal with now.. If it is written in the contract she doesn't violate the labour laws of Thailand... Thailand is not the normal world

So include the whole lotfrom mowing lawns to cleaning the dunny, see where that leads. There's a popular very visible restraunt in Pratumnak, a so called "'duty manager?" ferang is forever waiting table, delivering take-away nearby. etc. Is he a dish bitch too? Looks poor for a hi end tourist venue and its obvious the thai staff dont like it.

[herfiehandbag]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

She was arrested by a combination of Immigration, Tourist, and Local police.  

Who apparently needed to dress up as military commandos to arrest a woman giving someone a lift!

 

Dangerous these Norwegian blondes, where is the key to the dressing up box!

 

As for the bigger picture here, well maybe the Phangan Paragon Resort & Spa is a very successful popular business, lucrative enough to have garnered the attention of some one with great influence, who may wish to take control of it, at firesale prices? Who knows! Odder things have been known to happen!

[stoner]

1 hour ago, thesetat said:

Phuket administration has also agreed to set up a center to deal with illegal alien businesses. This is a result of many complaints by Thai business operators who claim that many foreigners have set up businesses using their Thai spouses or other Thai nationals as nominees. There are more than 200 companies with foreigners holding a 49% stake operating in Phuket.

 

good thing this official is contradicting themself.

 

there is a huge difference between illegal alien businesses and 200 companies with foreigners holding 49 %. i guess that part eluded the official. 

 

so thai people can cry wolf all they want. those 200 companies he is referring to are allowed by the thai government. according to their own laws. 

[brianthainess]

Just Crazy. 

[crazykopite]

1 hour ago, Olmate said:

Do tell, why in the world would you be so desparate to drive someone to the bloody airport that you would include it in your contact? 

Lots of hotels in Bangkok offer such a service 

[crazykopite]

I see many foreigners dropping people off at the ferry port it seems she was caught out due to vehicle having the resort sign plastered on it  

[herfiehandbag]

15 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

I see many foreigners dropping people off at the ferry port it seems she was caught out due to vehicle having the resort sign plastered on it  

Caught out, or specifically targeted?

[Hakuna Matata]

Oh, those Norwegians!

[freeworld]

7 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Caught out, or specifically targeted?

Probably seen then monitored and after repeated offences, targeted.

[ThaiFelix]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

She was arrested by a combination of Immigration, Tourist, and Local police.

Was swat busy that day arresting overstayers?

[Olmate]

1 hour ago, crazykopite said:

Lots of hotels in Bangkok offer such a service 

Seriously? The  hotels General Manager is the default duty driver? Thats unreal😄

[Olmate]

1 hour ago, crazykopite said:

I see many foreigners dropping people off at the ferry port it seems she was caught out due to vehicle having the resort sign plastered on it  

No, she was caught out due to her being the ferang resort manager, not the thai airport transfer driver.! 

[Tropicalevo]

Interesting concept here.

We organise transfers for our guests but there is the occasional time when a taxi is not available.

So we take them to the airport, hospital, wherever - we do not charge them. It is usually an emergency.

If I happen to be driving........

[phetphet]

Don't step on the Taxi Mafia's toes. They even shoot one another.

[Tropicalevo]

34 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Interesting concept here.

We organise transfers for our guests but there is the occasional time when a taxi is not available.

So we take them to the airport, hospital, wherever - we do not charge them. It is usually an emergency.

If I happen to be driving........

A follow on from this is that we cannot get a mini van when there is a cruise ship in and again on 13th April. They stay at home when there is water throwing and bedlam.

[sirineou]

Quote

The arrest of Norwegian woman part of bigger picture

Looks like a normal size picture to me 

[impulse]

4 hours ago, stoner said:

good thing this official is contradicting themself.

 

there is a huge difference between illegal alien businesses and 200 companies with foreigners holding 49 %. i guess that part eluded the official. 

 

so thai people can cry wolf all they want. those 200 companies he is referring to are allowed by the thai government. according to their own laws. 

 

I think that the spirit of that law is that the Thai 51% have a controlling interest and are actually in control.  Not passive "nominees" in name only, with the foreigners putting up the money and being in control.  Like where the Thai 51% puts up none of the money, have no say in the operation, and reap little or none of the profits.  That's what they want to crack down on.

[stoner]

11 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I think that the spirit of that law is that the Thai 51% have a controlling interest and are actually in control.  Not passive "nominees" in name only, with the foreigners putting up the money and being in control.  Like where the Thai 51% puts up none of the money, have no say in the operation, and reap little or none of the profits.  That's what they want to crack down on.

 

they should make new laws or pipe down then. reap what you sow and all that. 

[Hanuman2547]

She is lucky it's only this considering how many farangs are dealt with on "Death Island".