Swiss Barber Arrested for Illegal Work and Taunting Thai Police

[BobBKK]

No mercy - deport him

[Gecko123]

With all the customers who abandoned barber shops during Covid, many shops have probably yet to get back to their pre-pandemic incomes. A foreign barber -  charging way above market prices, to boot - would understandably be more than a lot of those guys could take, and it should come as no surprise that local barbers wasted no time reporting him to the police. 

[MalcolmB]

42 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

One cannot even count the number of Thai people that would be lining up for a 500 to 4,000 baht haircut.

Sounds like he was dual pricing. Ripping off tourists.

 

Swiss again, following in the footsteps of the Dr kicker and the supermarket attacker.

No up there with us Brits or the Russians, but certainly up there for a bronze medal.

[smew]

Great police work, now can BiB catch the island killer and release the poor Burmese boys. 

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, BestB said:

Perfect example of Thai utter stupidity.

those who go to local barbers for 100-150 baht would not have gone to him and those who went to him paying 500-4000 would not be going to local 100 baht barber.

 

so who was he hurting ? In addition him being a company some taxes were being paid where as local shop pays 0 and never paid more than 0

There are Thai barbers who charge the same amount as he is doing.

[VBF]

46 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

This man was tearing apart the very fabric of Thai society by working without a permit for his specified job. One cannot even count the number of Thai people that would be lining up for a 500 to 4,000 baht haircut.

 

If this kind of thing were to continue society could have a meltdown, and it's very foundations could crumble. 

Quite hair-raising, in fact 😊

[VBF]

Double posted - sorry!

[MalcolmB]

3 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

those who went to him paying 500-4000 would not be going to local 100 baht barber.

They will be now. 
They have no choice.

[happydreamer]

Degenerate Island.  How surprisingly shocking

[Bruce Aussie Chiang Mai]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy: Khaosod.co.th

 

In an audacious and unexpected turn of events, a Swiss barber named Oliver E. was apprehended by Thai authorities on Koh Phangan Island. He had been operating a barbershop and taking jobs from locals while openly challenging the police to "catch me if you can."

 

Leading up to the arrest, Police Lieutenant General Saksasira Puekarm, commander of the Tourist Police, instructed Police Lieutenant Colonel Winich Boonchit, commander of Tourist Police Division 5, Subdivision 2, Division 3, alongside Koh Phangan tourist police and local administrative officers, to detain the 51-year-old Swiss national. The action took place at Oliver Twist Hair, situated in Baan Tai, Koh Phangan, Surat Thani.

 

Authorities had received numerous reports about a foreigner illegally performing barber services on the island. Investigations revealed a Facebook page under the name "Oliver Twist Hair," where Oliver promoted his haircuts and facilitated bookings via WhatsApp.

 

Picture courtesy: Khaosod.co.th

 

Speaking candidly, Oliver acknowledged his role, stating that while he had permission to work as the managing director for Oliver Twist Art Co., Ltd., his activities as a barber at Oliver Twist Fashion extended beyond the authorised scope.

 

 

The barbershop, in operation for nine years, charged between 500 and 4,000 baht for haircuts, depending on the style.

 

Upon detention, Thai officials informed Oliver of his charges, noting that he was "a foreigner working outside the scope allowed (barber)." He was then escorted to Koh Phangan Police Station for further legal proceedings.

 

This incident sheds light on the stringent regulations surrounding employment for foreigners in Thailand, aiming to protect local job markets.

 

As the situation unfolds, it poses questions about the challenges expatriates face in navigating local laws and the consequences of flouting them.

 

-- 2024-06-26

 

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What a joke, 7 of them lined up for a haircut. 😀

[terryofcrete]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Leading up to the arrest, Police Lieutenant General Saksasira Puekarm, commander of the Tourist Police, instructed Police Lieutenant Colonel Winich Boonchit, commander of Tourist Police Division 5, Subdivision 2, Division 3, alongside Koh Phangan tourist police and local administrative officers, to detain the 51-year-old Swiss national

"The Police" would actually suffice, but gotta pay attention to detail as a good journalist knows ! LOL

[TravelMate1]

Deport him. Getting tired of these bonehead farang who are so selfish to make life more difficult for Thais and give the Thai people bad impressions of the rest of us. Deport him. Will teach others like him to think again when being a-holes.

[foreverlomsak]

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

 

The police were not very diligent in this case then.

and will have to find somewhere else to get their haircuts.

 

[NanLaew]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

As the situation unfolds, it poses questions about the challenges expatriates face in navigating local laws and the consequences of flouting them.

 

As the situation unfolds, it poses the questions about how on earth Oliver was twisting the labour laws for nine years, all in plain sight? Has there been a recent change of police chief or what?

[ryandb]

well he's not bright but honestly getting a good haircut from a Thai is so tedious I got the clippers and learned how to do a fade myself during covid

 

4000 baht isn't crazy either, you are probably talking about full hair and bread treatments with bleaching or something involved or perhaps he does womens hair too and then that can be fairly cheap for them

[eddie61]

1 hour ago, Sydebolle said:

a) hair dressing/barber shop operation is indeed a "Thai only" profession as so stipulated in the "Alien Business Law"
b) the average Khon Thai will never ever pay 500 - 4,000 Baht for a hair cut
c) since the guy has been in business for that long, it can only be assumed that some zealous barbers in the +/- 100 Baht league went to alarm the authorities who, in turn, started the hunting of the dirty farang. 
d) instead of pissing around like cowards, the local figari thailandesi might want to study, why a farang gets that much more money for a hair cut than the usual "bowl on head and cut around" league 

I do not feel sorry for the Swiss guy, he knew exactly what he was in for. It is a special kind of stupidity to "provoke" the Figaro congregation on the island - serves him right! Unless he has an otherwise clean record he will be requested for the little brown manillas 😉 

Manilla will decide the case

[Davedub]

I wonder if this is the best use of police resources?

[shackleton]

Reminds me of my German barber Herr Cutts he was caught as well doing a Thai persons job 

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

One cannot even count the number of Thai people that would be lining up for a 500 to 4,000 baht haircut.

Which would be unnecessary.

The Swiss barber has shown there has been over nine years a sustainable market in the area for such high haircut prices, likely by foreigners and maybe wealthy Thais. Less fortunate Thais and budget conscious foreigners may otherwise opt for much cheaper haircuts involving less style. No reason why a Thai barber/hair stylist can't serve what the public wants through experience and training, and what the Swiss managing director can do to see such services are delivered by talented Thai barbers/hair stylists. 

 

[IndomitableSpirit]

He could have done it privately, an on call or house visit kind of thing. Many are doing it that way. They are good and professional level but don't charge like they put gold on your hair.

[bob smith]

Koh Phangan police must have too much time on their hands at the minute!

 

they are only busy once a month..

 

bob.

[theblether]

Do you know the interesting thing here? Thais are very much into live and let live. "Not my house" is a living motto. 

 

100% the police knew he was operating a barbers shop and didn't care until he got smart, giving them no choice. 

 

He was stupid to taunt them. But the number of sanctimonious people calling for deportation on this forum is scandalous. If you are just trolling, fine. If you think the guy genuinely should be deported for cutting hair, get your head examined. 

 

Sad, sad sanctimonious people. 

 

ps - I'm not a soft touch. Those involved in genuine criminal activity and assault cases need to go. Barbers? Give it a rest. 

[andygrr]

1 hour ago, Sydebolle said:

a) hair dressing/barber shop operation is indeed a "Thai only" profession as so stipulated in the "Alien Business Law"
b) the average Khon Thai will never ever pay 500 - 4,000 Baht for a hair cut
c) since the guy has been in business for that long, it can only be assumed that some zealous barbers in the +/- 100 Baht league went to alarm the authorities who, in turn, started the hunting of the dirty farang. 
d) instead of pissing around like cowards, the local figari thailandesi might want to study, why a farang gets that much more money for a hair cut than the usual "bowl on head and cut around" league 

I do not feel sorry for the Swiss guy, he knew exactly what he was in for. It is a special kind of stupidity to "provoke" the Figaro congregation on the island - serves him right! Unless he has an otherwise clean record he will be requested for the little brown manillas 😉 

If you look at the website for Oliver Twist hair you will see he does hair colouring in vibrant colours, this can get expensive so 4,000 is not expensive. Thai's in Bangkok will pay a lot more.

[BestB]

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

There are Thai barbers who charge the same amount as he is doing.

How many ? Give me exact breakdown for each location since you are an expert on most things 

[Cabradelmar]

Taunting his way right out of the country... Stupid is as stupid does.

[khunjeff]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

He had been operating a barbershop and taking jobs from locals while openly challenging the police to "catch me if you can."

 

1) He was certainly in violation of labor laws, but no, he wasn't taking jobs from anyone. If he was able to charge high prices for nine years, even surviving through the pandemic, I think it's clear that there was a demand for his specific talents. 

 

2) The claims that he was "taunting" or "challenging" the police are not backed up anywhere in these articles - or are the "journalists" just implying that openly running an illegal enterprise constituted a challenge to authorities? 

[mfd101]

I enjoy my 5-weekly visit to the barber here in Prasat. My b/f keeps the barber and any other customers falling about with his jokes, while I get shorn.

 

100฿ including tip.

[Oliver Holzerfilled]

Guys that look like this should get an electronic monitor strapped to their  ankle by the police before they even leave the airport.  Don't like it?  Go holiday in Cambodia where you belong!

[PremiumLane]

11 minutes ago, Oliver Holzerfilled said:

Guys that look like this should get an electronic monitor strapped to their  ankle by the police before they even leave the airport.  Don't like it?  Go holiday in Cambodia where you belong!

 

OK, grandad, calm down. Did you forget your meds today?

[Andycoops]

Put the scum in the Hilton IDC for a few weeks and then kick his arse all the way back to yodel land.