Youve Been Arrested, Now What?

[AlexLah]

Ok I will type up what happened after and will post in the coming days.

Why so long, because I want to make sure that what I tell you is what really happened.

Yes it was a few years ago so I have to check if what I tell is what really happened.

Yes it is really bizarre so I have to make sure that I tell you the right sequence of events.

This event has been published in the Phuket Gazette as I have seen a copy of it, but it said Foreigners nabbed in Anti drug raid.

Alex

[toasted]

AlexLah - You're quite the tease , aren't you?

[DanBlack]

Knock off the dramatics and tell your story

[jts-khorat]

First and most important advise: always, always try to solve a case without going to the station, right there on the street. The police hates paperwork, it will cost you half your day otherwise and is a hassle to everybody involved.

In case of a car accident that is not serious, only get police involved if the insurance wants it; they will tell you happily enough, but also they hate unnecessary paperwork (you should never save on your car insurance though to make this effective).

I gave her a medium straight right to the chin and got out of there

My advice at least here on Phuket: do NEVER EVER hit a person or cause bodily harm, even if completely in the right; if there is even the tiniest bit of blood it is not even up to the person to press charges, the police might make it #automatically# a criminal case.

This means fingerprinting, up to 24 hours in jail, a police rap, a possible court case with deportation. Definitely a big thing if you have a business here etc.

What it really means (in a case of 'wrong time wrong place', not obviously being guilty as hel_l), the police will certainly suggest that this would involve a mountain of paperwork and there are so many cases that they might spend their time much more effective throwing somebody else in jail.

At least in Phuket, police has become quite greedy in such matters, knowing they have you by the balls; still, you can play your lawyer card, but if the amount suggested is not too unreasonable I would just pay up and let it go (as the lawyer and all the hassle the police will make you go through because of 'lost income' will be definitely costing you more, if you factor stress in it).

In such a case it might be very helpful for repeat situations to have the phone number of this 'reasonable' police person right in your mobile.

That cuts also down on the hours you will spend in the police station: from all stories I heard, 'cutting through the crap' and suggesting payment right away in such instances might produce not the intended result.

If police does not know you already, factor in a few hours of sitting quietly without aircon somewhere until the police officer has gone through other paperwork; he will watch you (or might even make bored small talk with you over those hours) if you start to get aggressive and put the price just higher in the end; patience, a constant smile and a general 'we are all in this as friends and understand the game'-attitude will make it all go away that much easier.

As one person put it right in the beginning of the thread, immediately forget that you are innocent, even if you are; if it has progressed from the street to actually the police station and the finger is still pointed on you, it is payup time and you have lost the game or you will have at least considerable headache to make it all go away.

As also somebody posted, the longer you draw it out and the more (and higher-level) police will be involved the faster bribes increase.

If a case goes from Phuket to Bangkok, the last station before the court, this might be a factor of 10 easily. So I heard, but never tried it myself :-)

[gburns57au]

I gave her a medium straight right to the chin and got out of there

My advice at least here on Phuket: do NEVER EVER hit a person or cause bodily harm, even if completely in the right; if there is even the tiniest bit of blood it is not even up to the person to press charges, the police might make it #automatically# a criminal case.

This means fingerprinting, up to 24 hours in jail, a police rap, a possible court case with deportation. Definitely a big thing if you have a business here etc.

You have a right to self defence, even in Thailand.....I dont make a practice out of hitting women, but in this case it was "use of force as a last resort" If you had of seen the bruises and teeth marks on me then you understand why I took that course. You can see my avatar...I am not exactly Arnie Sharwzneggar.

[jts-khorat]

You have a right to self defence, even in Thailand.....I dont make a practice out of hitting women, but in this case it was "use of force as a last resort" If you had of seen the bruises and teeth marks on me then you understand why I took that course. You can see my avatar...I am not exactly Arnie Sharwzneggar.

Quite certainly you have the right for self defense (and, in the heat of the moment I might have reacted not so different form you).

But still, from all circumstances as told, you entered her room illegally, attacked her with visible results and your witnesses were weak at best. She also could blame you on theft afterwards, with your word pretty much against hers.

Having gotten away without paying up serious money was pure luck -- had the girl be a little bit cleverer you might have ended up #much# worse.

[gburns57au]

You have a right to self defence, even in Thailand.....I dont make a practice out of hitting women, but in this case it was "use of force as a last resort" If you had of seen the bruises and teeth marks on me then you understand why I took that course. You can see my avatar...I am not exactly Arnie Sharwzneggar.

Quite certainly you have the right for self defense (and, in the heat of the moment I might have reacted not so different form you).

But still, from all circumstances as told, you entered her room illegally, attacked her with visible results and your witnesses were weak at best. She also could blame you on theft afterwards, with your word pretty much against hers.

Having gotten away without paying up serious money was pure luck -- had the girl be a little bit cleverer you might have ended up #much# worse.

She had no visible signs of an assault...I didnt hit her that hard...just enough to set her back on her bum and stop her attack on me so I could exit, Whereas I had a cut to my chin from where she hit me with the plastic container as well as several bite marks also bruises on my arms.

It was word against word at that stage...I had the bank slip which showed that I had withdrew money earlier that night, She had a receipt from a gold shop that she was allowed to go and get unescorted to say she had pawned gold for that exact amount earlier in the night. If the police had of searched her room they would have found the $20 Aus note that was in the wallet, I didnt think of that at at the time. She also said that I had dropped the wallet in her room when I went there for sexual services, so according to her I wasnt illegally in her room.

In the end, I didnt want to sit in a police station all day, this started at about 2:30am and I left the police station at 11 am. The situation was not going anywhere fast...so a quick fix and a lesson learnt.

[AlexLah]

Ok I promised you all to continue my story about how a minor incident can turn into a disaster while being in Thailand as a foreigner in this case.

Be prepared to read and learn about false allegations, bribery, torture, spiked drinks, false testimonies, embassies not willing to help, poisoned food, and intravenous truth serum being given against ones will.

Ok the first part of the story ended here:

No I said I will not do that, and then it all started.....

One of the officers hit me right in my solar plexus, yes the place where all nerves end.

Not being prepared for that I went down and gasping for air.

I was then put back on a chair and a towel was wrapped around my head and water was poured over it. For your info this not feels good in fact I felt like I was going to die.

Why is this happening to me I was thinking, I did not do something wrong.

This procedure was repeated multiple times sorry cannot remember how many but in the end they stopped it.

You very strong one officer said to me, I was just happy they gave me a moment of rest as I was guided to some kind of waiting room...

After a while an officer came to me, really very friendly guy, gave me a cigarette and some water. He started the converstation with the question what I was doing in Thailand.

I was planning a few days of relaxing on the beach and some dancing and making new friends I told him.

You in wrong place he told me, very bad people there, sell drugs and steal money.

I was just asked to join a birthday party, this is my second time in Thailand I told him.

I do not speak Thai I do not know many people in Asia . What I have to do I asked him.

Call your embassy he told me and he gave me the number.

Story continues…..

[AlexLah]

To all of you. My story might sound unbelievebale but it really happened to me.

Go to that bar and they can confirm.

Alex

[Rionoir]

at the first opportunity you offer to pay a "fine" BEFORE you get anywhere near a Police Station

This is what my Thai friends have told me too... of course we were talking about something simple like a ticket or whatever, but they said just say how sorry you are, be polite, and ask if you are able to pay your "fine" right away etc... don't just take out your wallet and ask "phom dong jai taorai..." lol sorry I stink at roman writing of thai haha...

[bangkoksingapore]

Alex,

I just want to say that I think not posting more then 50 words at a time makes it all the more interesting.

[Jersey_UK]

Alex,

I just want to say that I think not posting more then 50 words at a time makes it all the more interesting.

It's just a shame that the first part was on a previous page, and I can't remember what it said a couple of days ago.

I will wait for the mini series on cable.

[frenchFARANGbkk]

Alex,

I just want to say that I think not posting more then 50 words at a time makes it all the more interesting.

No I think it becomes boring and I feel like stupid waiting for the next drama.

[AlexLah]

Better if I write the whole story and then post?

I was thinking of keeping this fred active and on the first page while everyday posting a bit of the story....

Not sure what to do now...

[gburns57au]

Better if I write the whole story and then post?

I was thinking of keeping this fred active and on the first page while everyday posting a bit of the story....

Not sure what to do now...

Just post the F***ing story......

[Sanpatong]

If you responded to police asking for your story in a similar way then I'm beginning to understand why they would want to smack you around.

Edited August 8, 2007 by Sanpatong

[Sanpatong]

What if you are NOT GUILTY,don't have high class influential friends,the local cops aren't your drinking buddies or hang around your house with you.You don't live in Bangkok or another large city with a 7000Bath lawyer on speed dial.What if your retired on 40,000Baht a month,its the 25th and the next check won't be deposited until the 1st of the month.You live in the sticks,30kilometre from the nearest sizable town. What do you do then?

Firstly I would welcome the opportunity to get to know this aspect of Thai life as well, sorting out a situation at the police station. After all I managed to avoid being taken to a police station for, what, 15 years or so, so I would welcome the opportunity to show off how well adapted I am to Thailand to be able to sort it out. And then obviously 'sort it out' in way not similar to a newbie tourist who's gagging to throw baht at cops because he/she once rented Brokedown Palace on DVD.

So quite possibly if a cop hints at a bribe and especially if it's a ludicrous one (anything over 5000 baht for an alleged crime) and ESPECIALLY if I didn't actually commit a crime/offense (which would be likely) then I plan to sort it out at the police station. And it will not involve calling 7000 baht/hour lawyers. That's the 'wealthy expat' version of gagging to throw baht at something for no reason other than that they're shitting their pants at the thought of having to deal with a situation in an adult manner.

I would make it clear how experienced I am in Thailand, and see no issue at all in posting bail and going to court. I actually hope they want me to sign a statement in Thai because it provides an opportunity to read it semi-out-loud to show I read Thai. It'll all be conducted in a confident, semi bored manner, and I feel bad only because of lost time and having to ring my employer and my wife and bother them with this nonsense, but if they want to, so be it.

Chances are that unless they actually have a very good actual case, they will understand that pursuing it will constitute 'actual work' and most likely drop it with a warning or small face-saving fine for something or another.

Edited August 8, 2007 by Sanpatong

[mellow1]

What if you are NOT GUILTY,don't have high class influential friends,the local cops aren't your drinking buddies or hang around your house with you.You don't live in Bangkok or another large city with a 7000Bath lawyer on speed dial.What if your retired on 40,000Baht a month,its the 25th and the next check won't be deposited until the 1st of the month.You live in the sticks,30kilometre from the nearest sizable town. What do you do then?

Firstly I would welcome the opportunity to get to know this aspect of Thai life as well, sorting out a situation at the police station. After all I managed to avoid being taken to a police station for, what, 15 years or so, so I would welcome the opportunity to show off how well adapted I am to Thailand to be able to sort it out. And then obviously 'sort it out' in way not similar to a newbie tourist who's gagging to throw baht at cops because he/she once rented Brokedown Palace on DVD.

So quite possibly if a cop hints at a bribe and especially if it's a ludicrous one (anything over 5000 baht for an alleged crime) and ESPECIALLY if I didn't actually commit a crime/offense (which would be likely) then I plan to sort it out at the police station. And it will not involve calling 7000 baht/hour lawyers. That's the 'wealthy expat' version of gagging to throw baht at something for no reason other than that they're shitting their pants at the thought of having to deal with a situation in an adult manner.

I would make it clear how experienced I am in Thailand, and see no issue at all in posting bail and going to court. I actually hope they want me to sign a statement in Thai because it provides an opportunity to read it semi-out-loud to show I read Thai. It'll all be conducted in a confident, semi bored manner, and I feel bad only because of lost time and having to ring my employer and my wife and bother them with this nonsense, but if they want to, so be it.

Chances are that unless they actually have a very good actual case, they will understand that pursuing it will constitute 'actual work' and most likely drop it with a warning or small face-saving fine for something or another.

Finally someone with some self respect,who will try and stand up for themselves.

It's the ones who quickly drop their pants and bend over,who give Farangs their bad name,and encourage this type of thing.

[AlexLah]

As I said before it is a good question and take my experience as an example please.

No or litlle experience in SE Asia and the culture.

Just there for a holiday, coming from the West (Holland where life is like living in a paradise).

Very surprised/happy to see so many Thai Farang couples walking hand in hand, no idea about bargirls and such.

Can you (so called experienced Farang) place yourself in this mindset?

Yes please flame me for being naive at that time and believing in the good side of people (I still do).

This question is about what you do when arrested in Thailand or any country and you do not know what to do or who to call.

[bangkoksingapore]

What if you are NOT GUILTY,don't have high class influential friends,the local cops aren't your drinking buddies or hang around your house with you.You don't live in Bangkok or another large city with a 7000Bath lawyer on speed dial.What if your retired on 40,000Baht a month,its the 25th and the next check won't be deposited until the 1st of the month.You live in the sticks,30kilometre from the nearest sizable town. What do you do then?

Firstly I would welcome the opportunity to get to know this aspect of Thai life as well, sorting out a situation at the police station. After all I managed to avoid being taken to a police station for, what, 15 years or so, so I would welcome the opportunity to show off how well adapted I am to Thailand to be able to sort it out. And then obviously 'sort it out' in way not similar to a newbie tourist who's gagging to throw baht at cops because he/she once rented Brokedown Palace on DVD.

So quite possibly if a cop hints at a bribe and especially if it's a ludicrous one (anything over 5000 baht for an alleged crime) and ESPECIALLY if I didn't actually commit a crime/offense (which would be likely) then I plan to sort it out at the police station. And it will not involve calling 7000 baht/hour lawyers. That's the 'wealthy expat' version of gagging to throw baht at something for no reason other than that they're shitting their pants at the thought of having to deal with a situation in an adult manner.

I would make it clear how experienced I am in Thailand, and see no issue at all in posting bail and going to court. I actually hope they want me to sign a statement in Thai because it provides an opportunity to read it semi-out-loud to show I read Thai. It'll all be conducted in a confident, semi bored manner, and I feel bad only because of lost time and having to ring my employer and my wife and bother them with this nonsense, but if they want to, so be it.

Chances are that unless they actually have a very good actual case, they will understand that pursuing it will constitute 'actual work' and most likely drop it with a warning or small face-saving fine for something or another.

Wow, you are a super farang! You really know how to handle business in Thailand! Much better then the rest of these guys who cannot read Thai and who wouldnt be looking forward to the chance to be arrested to show just how good they are at handling busniess in Thailand!

[AlexLah]

Yep just another foreigner that think he knows it all after living a few years in Thailand.

Gimme a break, OK?

This is about people that do not know about bribery and such, like me before.

Is that understood?

[Morty]

Yep just another foreigner that think he knows it all after living a few years in Thailand.

Gimme a break, OK?

This is about people that do not know about bribery and such, like me before.

Is that understood?

Alex, I loved yor story, but don't be a prune, writhe up the ###### thing and release our tensions

Post the whole story Man!

the suspension is killing me.

Morty

waining with bathed breath

[November Rain]

What if you are NOT GUILTY,don't have high class influential friends,the local cops aren't your drinking buddies or hang around your house with you.You don't live in Bangkok or another large city with a 7000Bath lawyer on speed dial.What if your retired on 40,000Baht a month,its the 25th and the next check won't be deposited until the 1st of the month.You live in the sticks,30kilometre from the nearest sizable town. What do you do then?

Firstly I would welcome the opportunity to get to know this aspect of Thai life as well, sorting out a situation at the police station. After all I managed to avoid being taken to a police station for, what, 15 years or so, so I would welcome the opportunity to show off how well adapted I am to Thailand to be able to sort it out. And then obviously 'sort it out' in way not similar to a newbie tourist who's gagging to throw baht at cops because he/she once rented Brokedown Palace on DVD.

So quite possibly if a cop hints at a bribe and especially if it's a ludicrous one (anything over 5000 baht for an alleged crime) and ESPECIALLY if I didn't actually commit a crime/offense (which would be likely) then I plan to sort it out at the police station. And it will not involve calling 7000 baht/hour lawyers. That's the 'wealthy expat' version of gagging to throw baht at something for no reason other than that they're shitting their pants at the thought of having to deal with a situation in an adult manner.

I would make it clear how experienced I am in Thailand, and see no issue at all in posting bail and going to court. I actually hope they want me to sign a statement in Thai because it provides an opportunity to read it semi-out-loud to show I read Thai. It'll all be conducted in a confident, semi bored manner, and I feel bad only because of lost time and having to ring my employer and my wife and bother them with this nonsense, but if they want to, so be it.

Chances are that unless they actually have a very good actual case, they will understand that pursuing it will constitute 'actual work' and most likely drop it with a warning or small face-saving fine for something or another.

Finally someone with some self respect,who will try and stand up for themselves.

It's the ones who quickly drop their pants and bend over,who give Farangs their bad name,and encourage this type of thing.

Hmmm. It's easier to have some "self respect" and "try and stand up for" yourself when you speak & read Thai fluently. Let's face it, most members (and viewing guests) don't. For some of us, it might be the best recourse to drop our "pants and bend over". As with many things in Thailand, the system is different from the West, and if it is ever changed, it will only be changed by the Thais, not by us. Do you really think, mellow, that we figure so highly in the scheme of things here, that the system will be changed for us, if we only stand up for ourselves? I don't. Most of us are transient, in the grand scheme of things, and while, like most Westerners, I find corruption abhorrent, I really don't think things are going to change because I hold that view. However, by kicking back at authority, I just might (not having the skills of the previous poster) make things worse for me.

BTW, Alex, what's the rest of that story?

[mellow1]

Yep just another foreigner that think he knows it all after living a few years in Thailand.

Gimme a break, OK?

This is about people that do not know about bribery and such, like me before.

Is that understood?

I guess you have to pick your fights.Sometimes paying a bribe is the best,easiest,way to go.Other times,minor issues,close to home,being retired,plenty of time,no job to show up for.Let them fight,do the,paperwork,go to court.

When I used to go to Bangkok,I would always get stopped,for whatever,in the city.200 here,200there,or go to traffic court for a make believe infraction.Driving 5 hrs one way to get to a kangaroo court to be found guilty,not being able to take your child to school or to pick them up.Cost of the gas.Getting pissed off for getting screwed,etc..It's not worth it.

Luckily,I've only had such minor issues to deal with,and I hope it stays that way.But yes, sometimes a bribe is the way to go.

But that is due to the state of the justice system available in the LOS.

[jts-khorat]

Firstly I would welcome the opportunity to get to know this aspect of Thai life as well, sorting out a situation at the police station. After all I managed to avoid being taken to a police station for, what, 15 years or so, so I would welcome the opportunity to show off how well adapted I am to Thailand to be able to sort it out.

...

I would make it clear how experienced I am in Thailand, and see no issue at all in posting bail and going to court. I actually hope they want me to sign a statement in Thai because it provides an opportunity to read it semi-out-loud to show I read Thai. It'll all be conducted in a confident, semi bored manner, and I feel bad only because of lost time and having to ring my employer and my wife and bother them with this nonsense, but if they want to, so be it.

Chances are that unless they actually have a very good actual case, they will understand that pursuing it will constitute 'actual work' and most likely drop it with a warning or small face-saving fine for something or another.

Ahh, Sanpatong, how experienced you are, we are all in great awe. Unluckily, Farang who read and write Thai are -- by now -- like water in the ocean, so frequent; at least here in Phuket. They are rather a nuisance to the local police because they do seem to know everything and they actually do create work instead fo just going with the flow. On top of it most of them are incredible boring.

All this means is that police would -- for a rather serious infraction where you do not have a real good case -- just put you into that nice little holding cell right on the second floor of Patong Police Station until you see the error in your world-wise ways or until you call your expensive lawyer; as they know the cost of such (or are best buddies with the cheaper lawyers and they will skim you together) they will, like all bureaucracy in the 3rd world, always have the last laugh.

Maybe it is different in Chiang Mai though, who knows. Enlighten us, we are breathless to hear.

[sonnyJ]

So Alex, where's the finale of your story?

[AlexLah]

Ok, the finale of my story I will post tommorow.

In my previous post you can already find some good tips on what to do when arrested.

I am posting my experience so you can learn something from it, yes also for those 'very experienced foreigners' that claim they can get away with any offence by giving a few hundred Bath, that is just <deleted>.

Take care all,

Alex

[thaihome]

What if you are NOT GUILTY,don't have high class influential friends,the local cops aren't your drinking buddies or hang around your house with you.You don't live in Bangkok or another large city with a 7000Bath lawyer on speed dial.What if your retired on 40,000Baht a month,its the 25th and the next check won't be deposited until the 1st of the month.You live in the sticks,30kilometre from the nearest sizable town. What do you do then?

Not live in a third world country?

TH

[Furbie]

What if you are NOT GUILTY,don't have high class influential friends,the local cops aren't your drinking buddies or hang around your house with you.You don't live in Bangkok or another large city with a 7000Bath lawyer on speed dial.What if your retired on 40,000Baht a month,its the 25th and the next check won't be deposited until the 1st of the month.You live in the sticks,30kilometre from the nearest sizable town. What do you do then?

Firstly I would welcome the opportunity to get to know this aspect of Thai life as well, sorting out a situation at the police station. After all I managed to avoid being taken to a police station for, what, 15 years or so, so I would welcome the opportunity to show off how well adapted I am to Thailand to be able to sort it out. And then obviously 'sort it out' in way not similar to a newbie tourist who's gagging to throw baht at cops because he/she once rented Brokedown Palace on DVD.

So quite possibly if a cop hints at a bribe and especially if it's a ludicrous one (anything over 5000 baht for an alleged crime) and ESPECIALLY if I didn't actually commit a crime/offense (which would be likely) then I plan to sort it out at the police station. And it will not involve calling 7000 baht/hour lawyers. That's the 'wealthy expat' version of gagging to throw baht at something for no reason other than that they're shitting their pants at the thought of having to deal with a situation in an adult manner.

I would make it clear how experienced I am in Thailand, and see no issue at all in posting bail and going to court. I actually hope they want me to sign a statement in Thai because it provides an opportunity to read it semi-out-loud to show I read Thai. It'll all be conducted in a confident, semi bored manner, and I feel bad only because of lost time and having to ring my employer and my wife and bother them with this nonsense, but if they want to, so be it.

Chances are that unless they actually have a very good actual case, they will understand that pursuing it will constitute 'actual work' and most likely drop it with a warning or small face-saving fine for something or another.

Without knowing what you do for a living; I for one would not want to be placed in a holding cell and have a paperwork process started. Even though I would clear my name when all was said and done, I am pretty sure my employers would not like this becoming public record (especially as the trumped up charges most Westerns face are related to sex and drugs). The key is to stop this before it gets out of hand – enter connections, lawyers and money (why do the work when others can do it for you). Now, if I was some guy on a retirement visa, fine – but other than that – I would seek to squash it, ASAP. By the way, your reading must be excellent if you can read a legal document, I struggle with the newspaper, though I am fine in reading conversational Thai.

It would be interesting to see how confident you were if actually in a police station. I can assure you, even when I was there to press charges, I was a nervous wreck when after the fourth question I wound up being accused by the person I was there to press charges against. All the I speak Thai, live here, understand, blah, blah, blah went right out the window. Things started to go very badly until I brought in a senior Thai. Do not underestimate the power of the police. You are being foolish if you deal with the police anywhere in the world without assistance - especially if you are innocent. To finish the story, my side prevailed - but I am under no illusions it had to do with me.

[STOUTBOY]

If you cant do the time dont do the crime.