Picture of Andrew Hopkins courtesy of The Nation

 

By Bob Scott

 

A British tourist’s claims of bribing his way out of a Pattaya jail have been denounced as “largely untrue” by a Pattaya police chief. However, in a bid for transparency, the Pattaya police chief promises a thorough review of the evidence.

 

Police Colonel Nawin Theerawit, head of the Pattaya Police Station in Chon Buri province, issued a strong denial yesterday, February 3, in response to foreign media reports.

 

A controversial story had surfaced, alleging that hapless Brit Andrew Hopkins was forced to shell out 15,000 baht to secure his release from a Thai cell.

 

Hopkins’s ordeal was told in vivid detail by the British tabloid Daily Mail. The newspaper reported that the 55 year old was staying at an Airbnb in Pattaya when a late-night stroll allegedly went awry.

 

In a comedy of errors, he accidentally knocked over an entrance sign en route, rousing the ire of two local security guards who immediately descended upon him, bellowing in Thai.

 

Hopkins claimed that it wasn’t long before the local police arrived, swiftly bundling him into the back of a pick-up truck and carting him to a cell, where he languished for 36 hours amidst squalor: a picture painted with photos showing grime and overcrowding.

 

 

Seizing the narrative, Hopkins alleged that his release came only after an Italian man informed him of the need to pay 15,000 baht in cash. He described being frog marched to an ATM before his freedom was seemingly bought once two senior officers pocketed the cash.

 

Undeterred, Pol. Col. Nawin set the record straight. The kerfuffle allegedly started on November 22 of last year, when Hopkins, under the influence, reportedly trashed a vehicle barrier. Officers stepped in to calm him down, imposing a mere 100 baht fine before releasing him.

 

But the drama didn’t end there. Pol. Col. Nawin recounted how Hopkins returned to his digs only to be refused entry due to his penchant for loud, boozy antics, leading to further disturbances and yet another arrest.

 

Emphasising procedural integrity, Pol. Col. Nawin insisted Hopkins was subjected to due process, with all his belongings duly returned and documented through photographs. He staunchly defended the state of the cells, asserting daily cleaning and round-the-clock CCTV surveillance, reported The Nation.

 

Nevertheless, the incident now undergoes further scrutiny to ensure all concerned parties are satisfied. As the world watches, Pattaya’s reputation hangs in the balance, poised between reputational ruin and redemption.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-02-04

 

 

1 minute ago, snoop1130 said:

“largely untrue”

 

But not completely.  

Atm time and amount of  withdrawal would help to corroborate his story

Sounds like a troublesome  Brit. thet deserved to be arrested. However the bribe story probably has some truth about it

Pattaya’s reputation hangs in the balance, poised between reputational ruin!

 

😂😂😂😂😂

That is a fine figure of a man. That story and pinches of salt, salt, salt everywhere.

The Pattaya police released him because they took one look at him and realized they couldn’t afford to feed him

50 minutes ago, Dave0206 said:

Atm time and amount of  withdrawal would help to corroborate his story

Just what I was thinking. 

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

alleging that hapless Brit Andrew Hopkin

Why are all the Brits hapless? What does that mean anyway?

50 minutes ago, jippytum said:

Sounds like a troublesome  Brit. thet deserved to be arrested. However the bribe story probably has some truth about it

He sounds like right idiot, pay-up and shut up... 15K he's getting off lightly.

More drunken antic and he might be invited to board as flight back to Blighty.

1 hour ago, Dave0206 said:

Atm time and amount of  withdrawal would help to corroborate his story

ATMs also have cameras.  They'd be able to confirm if there were police with him.

Thai police wouldn’t do that , Thai people are honest to the core , Thai jails are full of foreigners, Thais don’t break laws 

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Nevertheless, the incident now undergoes further scrutiny to ensure all concerned parties are satisfied. As the world watches, Pattaya’s reputation hangs in the balance, poised between reputational ruin and redemption.

 

Completely untrue. Everyone already knows about Pattayas reputation as well as the local police tactics. Nothing one man claims will change what years of news stories and incidents have proven already. No investigation into this will change their image. 

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

But the drama didn’t end there. Pol. Col. Nawin recounted how Hopkins returned to his digs only to be refused entry

i would be quite angry, they had no right to refuse him entry, even though he was being a plonker

52 minutes ago, gargamon said:

Why are all the Brits hapless? What does that mean anyway?

 

Clearly he has no hap....  It can't be good if you have no hap.  How he came to lose or mislay his hap is not told in this news story.

 

I understand that he was also legless, although harmless and now --- penniless 🙂

1 hour ago, cowellandrew said:

Pattaya’s reputation hangs in the balance, poised between reputational ruin!

 

😂😂😂😂😂

Hangs in a precarious position based on the word of a senior Thai police officer, against the UK's Daily Mail!

Pattaya police have always had a bad reputation and deservedly so. It's a tourist area tailor made for graft opportunities.  I believe the guy.

1 hour ago, khaowong1 said:

Just what I was thinking. 

CCTV footage in the area of the ATM would help

Quality tourist.

All I see is a fat obese drunkard that trashed a homeowners's  vehicle barrier and then got evicted from his digs for his loud boozy behaviour. As expected, no apology from this drunkard for his behaviour and the problems he caused. Instead all we hear is complaints, complaints about the condition of his cell and treatment from police. Just another narcissistic self-centered pr&%K. Never taking resposibility for his actions and always blaming others.

2 minutes ago, riverhigh said:

All I see is a fat obese drunkard that trashed a homeowners's  vehicle barrier and then got evicted from his digs for his loud boozy behaviour. As expected, no apology from this drunkard for his behaviour and the problems he caused. Instead all we hear is complaints, complaints about the condition of his cell and treatment from police. Just another narcissistic self-centered pr&%K. Never taking resposibility for his actions and always blaming others.

Doesn't mean to say he didn't pay a bribe to get out of the Pattaya police cell (he wasn't in jail).

Seems to be a lying fat slob. 

1 minute ago, Spock said:

Doesn't mean to say he didn't pay a bribe to get out of the Pattaya police cell (he wasn't in jail).

Who cares, I don't.

Totally believable corruption in the police department everywhere top to bottom

Naw. The police here don't take bribes. With that said, I'm sure the guy was a drunken idiot and deserved much of what was coming to him.

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

been denounced as “largely untrue” by a Pattaya police chief.

Hahaha largely! So of it is a little bit true? 🙂 

I like the bare midriff fashion statement. Always a good look for a man of his stature. 

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Pattaya’s reputation hangs in the balance, poised between reputational ruin and redemption.

That ship has already sailed

Another quality tourist who thinks its the wild west and can do what he wants, should be on the next plane out.

Whatever the rights or wrong over the original "detention" I doubt there is a single member here who doesnt believe that he indeed did pay a bung to get out of it