Phuket Governor Addresses Rumors in Swiss Expat Alleged Assault Case

[webfact]

 

PHUKET-In a recent development concerning the high-profile assault case involving a local doctor and a Swiss Expat, Phuket Governor Mr. Sophon Suwannarat has issued a clarifying statement. The update comes amid circulating rumors that an individual had attempted to influence the case’s outcome through financial means.

 

Governor Sophon firmly stated, “The accusation of assaulting the doctor is currently under judicial review. We can categorically confirm that there have been no attempts by any party to aid Mr. David, the suspect and Swiss expat, in this matter, nor has there been any offer of money to the doctor to dismiss the case, contrary to the rumors.

 

Our officials are committed to their duties and will uphold transparency throughout the legal process. Consistent updates on the case will be provided to the Ministry of the Interior and Anutin Charnvirakul himself, the Minister of the Interior and Deputy Prime Minister.”

 

By Goongnang Suksawat

 

Full story: THE PHUKET EXPRESS 2024-04-12

 

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[flyingtlger]

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

Our officials are committed to their duties and will uphold transparency throughout the legal process....

But for the right price.......

[zakalwe]

So much spotlight on this case.

 

I'm surprised David's elephant sanctuary is still operating.

[ChrisY1]

Ok...so now the Governor is involved as well as top cops.....all they need now is a bent lawyer.

A familiar tale.

[stevenl]

How would the governor know if a representative of David tried to pay her off?

 

Too late anyway for that.

[Tropicalevo]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The accusation of assaulting the doctor is currently under judicial review. We can categorically confirm that there have been no attempts by any party to aid Mr. David,

No point in any judicial review.

He has been tried, found guilty and sentenced by the online court of public opinion.

[Mr Meeseeks]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Consistent updates on the case will be provided to the Ministry of the Interior and Anutin Charnvirakul himself, the Minister of the Interior and Deputy Prime Minister.”

 

 

Keeping the farang hater in chief well appraised of the persecution progress.

[webfact]

Phuket governor confirms Swiss expat’s visa appeal will be heard

 

PHOTO: Facebook/Urs Fehr

The governor of Phuket has confirmed that an appeal on behalf of Urs Fehr will be heard, to determine whether or not his visa remains cancelled.

 

The Swiss national’s visa was revoked by Thailand’s Interior Minister, Anutin Charvirakul, after he allegedly kicked a female Thai doctor who was sitting on steps leading to his rented Cape Yamu villa. The steps were later judged to have been illegally built as they were on a public beach and have now been demolished, although they had been constructed before the Swiss man’s rental of the property.

 

For his part, Fehr claims he didn’t intentionally kick the doctor but slipped while making his way down the steps. His defence fell on deaf ears however, with the Immigration Bureau deciding to revoke his visa under instruction from the Interior Minister.

 

Full story: PhuketGO 2024-04-12

 

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[motdaeng]

I found this article (2021) about this guy ... 

a few things sounds very fishy ...

 

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/boredom-in-switzerland-leads-to-an-elephant-refuge-in-thailand/47207918

[Ohyesuare]

3 hours ago, stevenl said:

How would the governor know if a representative of David tried to pay her off?

 

Too late anyway for that.

 

Because the representative would have to have some connection to someone in the governor's office in order to offer any settlement in exchange for dropping the charges against him due to the high profile of the case and the top officials involved. Even if she were inclined to accept any settlement, the prosecution against him and revocation of his visa would still continue I think since Anutin has said he will personally veto any attempts.

[Ohyesuare]

13 minutes ago, motdaeng said:

I found this article (2021) about this guy ... 

a few things sounds very fishy ...

 

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/boredom-in-switzerland-leads-to-an-elephant-refuge-in-thailand/47207918

 

I read this article when I first heard about the case, interesting to see that they have now amended it and added the updates about his alleged crimes and prosecution in Thailand. 

[chickenslegs]

12 minutes ago, motdaeng said:

I found this article (2021) about this guy ... 

a few things sounds very fishy ...

 

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/boredom-in-switzerland-leads-to-an-elephant-refuge-in-thailand/47207918

Fishy indeed.

"He finally opened the sanctuary with five pachyderms but it cost him all his savings. 

Slowly, the park is making a profit through half-day tours where visitors pay 2,500 Baht to bathe with elephants and get their photos taken. The money is immediately invested in the rescue of new animals."

If he spent all his savings, and all income from the "sanctuary" is reinvested in it, where does the money for a luxury villa and expensive cars come from?

[SpanishExpat]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Phuket governor confirms Swiss expat’s visa appeal will be heard

 

PHOTO: Facebook/Urs Fehr

The governor of Phuket has confirmed that an appeal on behalf of Urs Fehr will be heard, to determine whether or not his visa remains cancelled.

 

The Swiss national’s visa was revoked by Thailand’s Interior Minister, Anutin Charvirakul, after he allegedly kicked a female Thai doctor who was sitting on steps leading to his rented Cape Yamu villa. The steps were later judged to have been illegally built as they were on a public beach and have now been demolished, although they had been constructed before the Swiss man’s rental of the property.

 

For his part, Fehr claims he didn’t intentionally kick the doctor but slipped while making his way down the steps. His defence fell on deaf ears however, with the Immigration Bureau deciding to revoke his visa under instruction from the Interior Minister.

 

Full story: PhuketGO 2024-04-12

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

Well , good the times are over when that scammer obviously used the Foundation money to fly First class. Because the picture of him was taken in Emirates First Class

[Scouse123]

It's fairly obvious the guy is a fly by night, but let's see how he gets on with his appeal.

 

I don't hold out too much hope, too many do-gooders and MPs, politicians involved now for point scoring.

 

He had a good thing going, but he couldn't keep his head low and fly under the radar, he constantly had to play the big I am.

[Excogitator]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Fehr claims he didn’t intentionally kick the doctor but slipped while making his way down the steps.

Right.. Pull the other one.

 

This case has a glaring spotlight on it now, with nowhere out for this snitbag...

[Bangkok Barry]

6 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

Ok...so now the Governor is involved as well as top cops.....all they need now is a bent lawyer.

A familiar tale.

 

And if it had been a Thai that kicked her none of those would have been involved as she would probably not have demanded that he be charged. Certainly, it would not have involved the Governor.

[damo1967]

I can only hope this guy's days in Thailand are numbered.

A coward.. a woman basher.. a weak bully.. a poor excuse for a man.  He does not belong in Thailand.

 

I can see many protests if this POS is allowed to remain in Thailand.

 

A bully will never pick on or fight some-one of equal strength or greater strength.  This is what this coward did.. kicked a Thai lady innocently sitting on some steps minding her own business.

I have said this before:- "Would he have kicked a man in the back?  Would he have kicked a man with a 'muay thai' shirt on?  OF COURSE NOT... He needs to be removed permanently from Thailand.  (not even going to mention the 'ambulance' video).. a POS that needs to go!

 

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, zakalwe said:

So much spotlight on this case.

 

I'm surprised David's elephant sanctuary is still operating.

I'm surprised he's still in the country

[damo1967]

7 minutes ago, Excogitator said:

Right.. Pull the other one.

 

This case has a glaring spotlight on it now, with nowhere out for this snitbag...

He slipped, and his leg raised 2 feet?  haha.. i hate this POS..  send him away NOW!  Just get rid of him.

[Cabradelmar]

Due process. The only bad outcome would be if he keeps his visa. Good riddance 🤞

[Scouse123]

2 hours ago, Ohyesuare said:

 

I read this article when I first heard about the case, interesting to see that they have now amended it and added the updates about his alleged crimes and prosecution in Thailand. 

 

 

Yeah,

 

and a few glaring errors, he talks about the prices of elephants and pouring all his life savings in etc

 

He owned only ONE, the rest were rented.

 

The guy and his noble stories bear just a passing resemblance to the truth.

 

He's been living large on the back of donations to the ' Foundation ' with his cars, flights and expensive rental accommodation.

 

I  am old school and have been a business guy from an early age, and we never, as a rule, squander our cash on such things.

 

We live frugally, to build a strong business, guys who behave like this know little about business and the money is ' easy come, easy go ' when it hasn't been worked for.

[spidermike007]

At first they said that for sure his visa will be revoked, now they seem to be equivocating. I guess some money, and perhaps some lawyers have gotten involved, and the spineless creatures at the top have wavered, and are now demonstrating their moral bankruptcy. 

[LudwigK]

money offer: 

now more and more [not only in this case!!] is the major question WHO IS PUBLISHING FAKE NEWS??

[wensiensheng]

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

No point in any judicial review.

He has been tried, found guilty and sentenced by the online court of public opinion.

Yeah, sometimes you are just swimming against the current. He would do better to draw a line under his time in Thailand and move somewhere where rule of law, not law of social media, prevails

[Negita43]

5 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

He would do better to draw a line under his time in Thailand and move somewhere where rule of law, not law of social media, prevails

Where exactly would that be - whilst not passing comment on this particular case - Mob rule by "Social Media" seems to be prevalent everywhere in the world"

[NemoH]

I believe there are numerous wealth transfers just for this case… only time will tell..

[BigStar]

30 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

I  am old school and have been a business guy from an early age, and we never, as a rule, squander our cash on such things.

 

Have you met bob smith yet?

 

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, motdaeng said:

I found this article (2021) about this guy ... 

a few things sounds very fishy ...

Such as...?

[BigStar]

31 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

At first they said that for sure his visa will be revoked, now they seem to be equivocating.

 

No, just said he has the legal right of appeal. If not, his supporters here would squawk about the injustice. However, it's basically been pre-denied. According the article, quoting the source-that-must-not-be-named, Anutin has also posted on his Facebook page, urging Sophon to reject any lobbying attempts on behalf of the Swiss expat.

 

Doubling down, not equivocating.

 

 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

If he spent all his savings, and all income from the "sanctuary" is reinvested in it, where does the money for a luxury villa and expensive cars come from?

The article suggests that the park started seven years ago so perhaps seven years of successful operation provides his income?  Perhaps the money for the villa and his cars was allocated before his savings were exhausted, perhaps the cars are financed?