Banged up: Thai prison nightmare exposed by British tourist

[KhunLA]

4 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Have you ever stayed in prion in the US? I've had friends stay there, sleeping in rooms with no air, stifling, cheap blankets. Not what you'd think. Of course more hospitable than here, but not a bed of roses.

comfort level - location dependent

[rumeaug]

mmmm.....weird. I've been living in Thailand for 14 years now. Know quite a bunch of people who overstayed their visas by more than that. Never got to jail. Paid a fine  and were sent back home (or went to an other  country of their choice), and barred from re-entering Thailand for some time. True, they could afford the plane ticket (might be a bit different for those who can't and have no money at all ). Cheers

[Gottfrid]

Oh, see! He got corrected for breaking Thai law. How sad for him. Maybe he got a few buck for the article as compensation for his terrible experience. Guess Brits just have to learn the hard way, right? Seems like they are the only ones to publish these stories too. probably the need to complain gene.

[KhunLA]

12 minutes ago, rumeaug said:

mmmm.....weird. I've been living in Thailand for 14 years now. Know quite a bunch of people who overstayed their visas by more than that. Never got to jail. Paid a fine  and were sent back home (or went to an other  country of their choice), and barred from re-entering Thailand for some time. True, they could afford the plane ticket (might be a bit different for those who can't and have no money at all ). Cheers

There's a big difference when 'turning yourself in' to immigration officer, than being arrest by Royal Thai Police.

 

When at immigrations, leaving, you are technically 'turning yourself in', and they have the authority to collect & technically release you.  As they do, and even 1st day free, or use to be.

 

If PoPo catch you, then you were purposely 'hiding'.

 

Wonder what would happen if PoPo stops you, and before they ask to see your PP, you 'turn yourself in' ... hmm 

 

All drama avoided of course, if you simply live here legally and respect their laws.   You are a guest after all.

 

The same as everyone expects people to behave in their home country 

[Kerryd]

In the MIRROR story he claims he was "asked to pay" 2,000 baht for his overstay and 500 baht for the night in detention (when he was first arrested).
That would indicate just 4 days of overstay.
 

14 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

Sorry, but I think that there is rather more to this than meets the eye!

Way more but of course we only get to hear his side of the story and it's not likely he's going to admit what really happened.
 

13 hours ago, Airalee said:

How did he charge his phone? 
 

Where did he get the box of baby wipes to smuggle the phone in?  Was it after the police jumped him in the public toilet or before?

 

I call BS on this guys story.

From the Mirror article:

"He bribed guards to have a few people moved to another cell to allow more space, he said."

"He also paid bribes to have food brought in, for cleaning products for the bathroom, and to send messages to his mum in the UK, he said."
 

13 hours ago, dddave said:

The reporter is being pretty cagey about not actually saying how many days this guy was on overstay.  I expect if it were actually only a "few", like 2 or 3 days, he would have said that.  My guess it was many more days than a "few"

"The police asked him to pay 50,000 Baht (£1,180) instead of 500 to release him straight away, and he couldn't pay it, he said.

He was taken to court the next day where he was asked to pay 2,000 Baht for the visa overstay and 500 for the cost of the night he'd been detained."

Totally missing how the police asked him to pay 50,000 baht - instead of 500 - to release him. Where'd he get the idea it shoud have only been 500 baht ?

And seriously - if he was taken to court "the next day" and "asked" to pay 2,000 for the overstay (4 days worth) and 500 for the night in jail - then that would have been the end of the story (if he paid).

And what, we're supposed to believe that he could bribe guards inside the prison - but couldn't afford a 2,500 baht fine ?

And we KNOW how the system REALLY works. You get banged up for overstay and they lock you up in the local slammer until Friday (normally).
THEN you get sent to the IDC in Bangkok so that you have to stay in a cell until Monday when you are taken to court.
THAT is when you get told what your sentence is (fine, deportation, overstay, etc).

You don't get "attacked in a bathroom, beaten by cops, locked up, "asked" to pay 50,000 baht instead of 500, then go to court, get "asked" to pay a fine, then get sent to the IDC in Bangkok anyways so you can go to court again.

There's a lot of BS going on in that story. Zero chance the cops (or anyone else, even an angy "ex") would have known he was on 4 days of overstay. And then tracked him down and attacked him in a public bathroom.

Did that make the locals news here back in late November ?

He says some Russians "lent him the money" to pay his 2,500 baht court fine (in Pattaya).

But he had money to bribe the guards so they'd move some prisoners to a different cell ? And get them to "buy cleaning products", bring in food and send messages to his mum ?

He was able to get a phone smuggled in - by who ? A person willing risk arrest by hiding a phone in a pack of baby wipes  -that the guards somehow missed - but couldn't pay the (bail or bribe) ?

And he could call his mom but she couldn't send him the money ?

He says he spent 8 days in the Pattaya jail and was sent to Bangkok on 5 Dec. So he would have been arrested on 27 Nov, "went to court" on the 28th and, if his story was true, should have been sent to the IDC on the 29th (Friday).

Instead, for no reason at all, he claims he was kept in Pattaya for 8 days before being sent to the IDC on 5 Dec (a Thursday).
Maybe too late (maybe) to get him a court date on the Friday so he would have appeared on the 9th.

But ! He claims he spent 15 days at the IDC in one sentence. ("and a Bangkok deportation centre for 15 days")
Then later says he had to pay 500 baht a night for the 5 nights in the IDC before he flew home. ("..after paying for the flight home plus 500 Baht (£11.94) per night for the five nights in the deportation centre")

(Maybe it's supposed to be 15 days in total, 8 days in Pattaya and 7 days in the IDC. But then his numbers don't match up as he says he was supposed to pay 500 baht in Pattaya (the day after he was arrested) for the 1 night he spent in detention there, but he claims he ended up spending 8 days. So what, pay for 1 night, get the next 7 nights free ?

And then says he had to pay 500 baht per night at the IDC for 5 nights when he was there for 7.

And NO mention of going to court in Bangkok or being sentenced to deportation and blacklisted. He just says he had to pay for his plane ticket and 500 a night for the time he was in the IDC.

This story has more holes than an go-go dancers fishnet stockings.

[Purdey]

Not only breaking immigration laws but smuggling a phone into prison too. 

Thai prisons are for punishment not reform. 

[ChaiyaTH]

2 hours ago, Andre0720 said:

So just have a look at what is really happening in Palestine right now.

Palestine is fueled by hatred, which leads to its desire to more and more war.

As long as kids will be taught to 'hate' as well, no peace will happen there....

And as long as hate is kept as a primary emotion in Palestine, history will indeed repeat itself...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CClvwPz43mc

 

What you expect you abuse some dog for ages and then suddenly stop, you think the dog is no longer scared and traumatized, and not takes his chance to bit you back as soon your guard is off? Can't expect that, not that is justifies anything but that's reality.

 

If I was one of them and my family bombed, I would also want revenge.

[frank83628]

Doesnt look like 6 x 4 cell to me. 

[steven100]

is he trying to get fame from the number of clicks on the story ?

is he trying to garner sympathy ?

is he trying to make money from his story in someway  ?  

 

tosser overstayed and went to jail....     simple as that    !

[leverito]

Mmmm….This prison can be #1 in the worlds prison championship as there you can have a mobile and as there are electrical sockets in the prison cell.

[kingstonkid]

15 hours ago, Stiddle Mump said:

Bang on the money there bud.

 

I've overstayed and had to simply pay 500 baht for each day. Certainly seems an overkill.

 

Best not to upset these Thai women.

The question that is not answered is WHAT IS A FEW DAYS

 

I have a funny feeling it was more tht 10 LOL. What visa was he on, and why did he not do a border run let's face it, there are a magnitude of ways to avoid Overstay.

 

Sorry if he expects sympathy he knows where in the dictionary to find it.

[rumeaug]

52 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

There's a big difference when 'turning yourself in' to immigration officer, than being arrest by Royal Thai Police.

 

When at immigrations, leaving, you are technically 'turning yourself in', and they have the authority to collect & technically release you.  As they do, and even 1st day free, or use to be.

 

If PoPo catch you, then you were purposely 'hiding'.

 

Wonder what would happen if PoPo stops you, and before they ask to see your PP, you 'turn yourself in' ... hmm 

 

All drama avoided of course, if you simply live here legally and respect their laws.   You are a guest after all.

 

The same as everyone expects people to behave in their home country 

Sure, could be in some cases. Among those that i was referring to, they didn't "turn themselves in" (at the airport or other), but were caught or checked for whatever reason (two of them were simply riding a motorcycle and driving a car and were stopped/pulled to the side by traffic officers). My guess is that they managed a bail and had to pack asap and take a plane.

[Andre0720]

34 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

What you expect you abuse some dog for ages and then suddenly stop, you think the dog is no longer scared and traumatized, and not takes his chance to bit you back as soon your guard is off? Can't expect that, not that is justifies anything but that's reality.

 

If I was one of them and my family bombed, I would also want revenge.

Right, and I agree.

Israel and the Jews have been abused for ages, and now they ares biting back. The more malicious bite on Oct. 7 certainly did not help.

[black tabby12345]

16 hours ago, KhunLA said:

 that's exactly how prison should be.  Punishment, not the comfy stay like in the USA.

 

Mostly agree. They are there for reasons: For what they have done to others(unless sentenced guilty for the crime they didn't commit).

 

One Imposing unfair suffering on the good people should face the same: Consequences.

That is fairness.

 

Some other countries have even more sick sociology.

Absolutely pampering the convicts; Providing luxurious accommodation (business hotel like) to the mass murders.

As well as the level of the freedom enjoyed by the innocent outside.

[suzannegoh]

3 hours ago, J Branche said:

Recap.

 

Immigrant Foreigner fails to check Immigration requirements, fails to make alerts for important dates in his phones free Calendar that can be synched with tablet, computer automatically.

 

Foreigner fails to check maybe every week when he must visit Immigration or leave.

 

If you are here legally, have Proof of Immigration documents on Phone, chances are if you get in minor fight you are treated like Thai culture (Say sorry, say you will work better to prevent this next time, maybe pay small fine)

 

Minor fighting is part of Thai Culture.

More likely he overstayed his 30 days visa-free stay in Thailand by 18 months.  According the article. that guy came to Thailand with the intention of settling here in April the year before getting busted in November.  That's 19 months.

[Ben Zioner]

16 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

A sitting Prime Minister has an international warrant for war crimes, yet, just like in 1945, governments / people sit back and do nothing.  UN stands for "Useless Numpty's." 

 

Over 45 thousand dead, mostly women and children, in an area 40kms x 20kms.  The Gaza Strip is nothing more than a kill zone.   

Neither, Kennedy, Johnson nor Nixon were accused of war crimes, yet they caused the death or Millions of Vietnamese. War is war, even in the Middle East, and only those who started it are damnable.

 

[Ben Zioner]

32 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

 

Mostly agree. They are there for reasons: For what they have done to others(unless sentenced guilty for the crime they didn't commit).

 

One Imposing unfair suffering on the good people should face the same: Consequences.

That is fairness.

 

Some other countries have even more sick sociology.

Absolutely pampering the convicts; Providing luxurious accommodation (business hotel like) to the mass murders.

As well as the level of the freedom enjoyed by the innocent outside.

Barbaric post, the purpose of prison is to deprive of freedom, not torture. 

[Stevemercer]

I've seen the photos showing North Korean and Russian POWs in their cells in Ukraine. Even POWs get better treatment.. 

[black tabby12345]

8 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

Barbaric post, the purpose of prison is to deprive of freedom, not torture. 

 

So what do you say to the Barbaric Act the criminal did to the innocent?

People of your kind rarely(or never?) think of the victims.

Only talking about the Human Rights of the Bad Guys, totally forgetting about the people was forced it unprovoked.

That is the idea what I call Sick.

And my view doesn't have to be the same as yours.

[black tabby12345]

That condition that man experienced in this kingdom.

Honestly, bit sympathized with him if his offence is really no more than minor immigration rule violation.

 

As he didn't victimize others(not a thief, robber, rapist, murderer, arsonists, or reckless driver/rider risked other people's life and property).

 

While I always believe the Real Criminal(actively, intentionally victimizing the innocent) for own gain/selfish-reasons) should face realistic enough consequences...

[baansgr]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of The Daily Mail

 

by Bob Scott 

A British tourist revealed the grim conditions banged up abroad in a Thai prison and issued a chilling warning to fellow travellers about the reality of being detained abroad.

 

The 29 year old former soldier, who wished to remain anonymous, endured a 15-day ordeal in two police cells and a Bangkok deportation centre after overstaying his visa, a blunder he deeply regrets.

“The only way I can describe it is hell.”

 

Held with 130 other people in a stifling room devoid of ventilation, he added, “We could only go out for an hour a week.”

The grim picture didn’t end there. Guards would distribute food in trays washed on the filthy bathroom floor using cold water.

 

“Everywhere I stayed was infested with fire ants and cockroaches. The rubbish just piled up in a corner.”

 

Pictures courtesy of The Daily Mail

His Thai adventure began with hope and ambition in April of the previous year, as he planned to settle and start a business. However, his dreams crumbled in November when a spat with an ex landed him in hot water in Pattaya.

Police, alerted to his visa status, arrested him and dragged him to court, claiming he had overstayed by a few days.

 

“The police were very violent. Two officers ambushed me in a public toilet and beat me. They threw me onto the flatbed of a truck and cuffed me to the side.”

 

Dazed and disoriented, the British man suspected he suffered a concussion and was left in the dark about his fate until Russian cellmates enlightened him about the process.

 

“They lent me money to pay my court fine, otherwise, it would have been much worse.”

 

Packed into a cramped police cell measuring six-by-four feet alongside eight other inmates, he resorted to bribery to make life fractionally more bearable.

 

The prisoners jostled for space and struggled to rest, with no room to lie down properly.

 

“There was a pregnant girl from Laos who was really struggling, always crying with her head on the floor. It was horrible, especially as another cell, the same size, was packed with 13 people.”

 

After eight gruelling days in Pattaya, he was moved to Bangkok’s deportation centre, where behaviour worsened. Sharing four grim toilets with 130 detainees, they relied on a bucket of cold water for cleaning and bathing.

 

Weekends granted an hour of fresh air in a roofless, barred area, barely a respite.

 

“A guy sold pot noodles in one corner. That’s all I’d eat.”

 

 

His mother fought tooth and nail with the British embassy to secure his release, eventually getting him flown home. It cost 500 baht (£11.94) per night for his stay at the deportation centre, plus airfare.

 

Remarkably, the British tourist managed to smuggle a phone inside, hidden in baby wipes, to capture the conditions, the Daily Mail reported.

 

“Once you’re locked in, you have zero contact and no way to access money. Someone outside must fight for you. I’m fortunate I sneaked my phone inside and my mum contacted the embassy, otherwise, I’d still be stuck there.”

His experience served as a stark warning to travellers.

 

“Don’t risk overstaying your visa thinking it’s just a small fine. It’s not worth becoming a victim of this.”

 

 

Bitter from his ordeal, he declared he would never return to Thailand. He criticised the system as a “cash-making scheme” for the government, claiming that tourism, the backbone of Thailand’s economy, exploits foreigners through such detentions.

 

The former soldier’s ordeal serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of visa lapses and the stark realities lurking behind Thailand’s tourist veneer, urging cautious adherence to immigration laws to avoid a similar nightmare.

 

 

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2025-01-20

 

 

Grow up man, supposed to have been in the Army

[Ben Zioner]

20 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

 

So what do you say to the Barbaric Act the criminal did to the innocent?

People of your kind rarely(or never?) think of the victims.

Only talking about the Human Rights of the Bad Guys, totally forgetting about the people was forced it unprovoked.

That is the idea what I call Sick.

And my view doesn't have to be the same as yours.

Ever heard of "victim compensation" ?

[thecyclist]

17 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Probably in the minority, but IMHO, that's exactly how prison should be.  Punishment, not the comfy stay like in the USA.

 

 

Yes, in the minority, the fascist minority. 

[saintdomingo]

3 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Oh, see! He got corrected for breaking Thai law. How sad for him. Maybe he got a few buck for the article as compensation for his terrible experience. Guess Brits just have to learn the hard way, right? Seems like they are the only ones to publish these stories too. probably the need to complain gene.

Another boring, predictable post from this source.

[proton]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

A completely ridiculous response to an overstay. Total over reach. And since Thailand is being appointed to the international human rights council of the UN, perhaps they can start demonstrating some consideration for the rights of individuals. 

 

What do you recommend, free hotel and flight home? Entirely his own stupid fault and he's just lucky he's not still in there.

[proton]

54 minutes ago, Stevemercer said:

I've seen the photos showing North Korean and Russian POWs in their cells in Ukraine. Even POWs get better treatment.. 

 

So they should, they have not broken the law

[Donga]

17 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

Strange how the descendants of 1945 are treating the Palestinians at this very moment. 

 

A sitting Prime Minister has an international warrant for war crimes, yet, just like in 1945, governments / people sit back and do nothing.  UN stands for "Useless Numpty's." 

 

Over 45 thousand dead, mostly women and children, in an area 40kms x 20kms.  The Gaza Strip is nothing more than a kill zone.   

 

There's no hope for humanity.  We will always repeat the past. 

Strange how Hamas are causing the horrid miseries of the innocent Palestinians. Annoying media parrots Hamas numbers:

 

1) Without recognising how many killed are Hamas - around half which is low for urban warfare, especially where one side is using human shields - firing missiles from school, mosques and hospitals
2) Calling teenagers, children when many of these "children" are also firing weapons from said school, hospitals.

Until Palestinians can throw off these crazy f**ks they will continue to be impoverished, especially as Iran funds Hamas not Gazans, and so much money goes to weapons and tunnels etc., but also because none of the moderate Arab nations will get involved until Palestinians can sort themselves out - why would they muck with such morons.

Free Palestine - from Jihadists!

And KhunHeineken - would love to know who would lead a Palestinian state today, pls tell. Be PA? Fatah, Hamas? Who? How?

Meanwhile, don't overstay your visa, though agree there does seem to be more behind this story.

[anthonyT]

7 hours ago, RT555 said:

Something else had to be going on

I have overstayed at least 10 times since 2000....be polite and don't be a Limey.. Pay the fine... be polite... Shut your mouth... Sounds Fishy to me. 

this was at the airport i take it? Then it is only the fine to be paid. However if if you are caught with the overstay anywhere outside the country i believe different conditions apply, though this sounds harsh for only a day or 2 overstay.

[proton]

3 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

The problem there is that some who have minor offenses are put in with monsters. Being locked up and not enjoying freedom is a hard thing. It doesn't have to be inhumane.

 

They are all overstayers, this is the detention centre and not an ordinary prison

[black tabby12345]

36 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

Ever heard of "victim compensation" ?

 

I certainly do.

But do they always pay out 'sufficient' amount to make up for victims' losses altogether?

Very much in doubt indeed.

 

One of best friend fell a robbery/armed assault  victim when he was in his 30s.

He has been an honest hardworking descent man without any bad records.

 

One day, he was savagely attacked by the thug he has never met, with the baseball bat while walking down the street near his home.

And he was then half-killed.  His spine badly damaged. And it took him so many years to regain his relative freedom to move again.

 

He is now in his 70s. And still must undertake periodic check up for that.

And still some awful  pain from time to time.

 

In his case, all he got from the public compensation scheme was only A$70000-.

Do you really believe that is the right amount for the level of his overall losses?

 

I don't; compared to his overall losses in his life for many decades to come.

Because of that injury, he could no longer work again in his trade.

And had to live on small welfare payout(so much below his previous earning).

He had been previously an active man. But could not play any sports again, ever after..

 

Regarding the aggressor of that case, eventually arrested and convicted.

But surprisingly, that robber/attempted murderer, was even allowed to write  threatening letters of repeatedly to him and his mother from behind the bars.

 

This is the Freedom of the Convicts,  one like you value so much Above Victims' Human Rights.

 

Hope none of you or someone you value will face lifelong ordeal as happened to my close friend.