Welcome To hel_l

[actiondell4]

I have been to Thailand many times over the years as a tourist and always found Thai Police etc friendly.

I ordered a book over the internet called "Welcome to hel_l" over from Ebay about a guy called Colin Martin who was released from a Bangkok Jail after serving 8 years,he was released in 2005.

Anyway since getting the book i couldnt put it down,but what disturbed me was the amount of corruption there is in Thai legal system according to him and i felt very angry when he said the prison guards bashed elderly farangs .

But some of the things he wrote i was shocked at to ,like when his Lawyers sat silently in court and not asked defense questions because they might upset the judge etc.

Has anyone read this book or believed his story of innocence?

Also can anyone tell me whatever happened to that old Irish guy who i think about 2 years ago stabbed the owner of a bar in Pattaya ,if going by this book,then that old guy wont survive in that hel_l hole they call a Thai jail.

In some ways im scared to go back to Thailand after reading this book,would this guy be allowed back in Thailand ,say for a holiday?

[bendix]

Why feel pity for the guy? He's scum.

It's pretty easy to stay out of Thai prisons you know.

[siam-i-am]

I have been to Thailand many times over the years as a tourist and always found Thai Police etc friendly.

I ordered a book over the internet called "Welcome to hel_l" over from Ebay about a guy called Colin Martin who was released from a Bangkok Jail after serving 8 years,he was released in 2005.

Anyway since getting the book i couldnt put it down,but what disturbed me was the amount of corruption there is in Thai legal system according to him and i felt very angry when he said the prison guards bashed elderly farangs .

But some of the things he wrote i was shocked at to ,like when his Lawyers sat silently in court and not asked defense questions because they might upset the judge etc.

Has anyone read this book or believed his story of innocence?

Also can anyone tell me whatever happened to that old Irish guy who i think about 2 years ago stabbed the owner of a bar in Pattaya ,if going by this book,then that old guy wont survive in that hel_l hole they call a Thai jail.

In some ways im scared to go back to Thailand after reading this book,would this guy be allowed back in Thailand ,say for a holiday?

He's just had a eight year vacation why would he want another one here

[siam-i-am]

Why feel pity for the guy? He's scum.

It's pretty easy to stay out of Thai prisons you know.

Even easier if your rich

[Thaifan2]

75% true IMHO.

[blizzard]

what kind of monkie business u into op to be so scared? marrying village gurl is not a crime u know..........lol

[londonthai]

he, and the others like him (including this olderly irish bloke stabbing the bar owner), should read this and the earlier books on the subject - they might think twice about stabbing others or smuggling some drugs.

the guy was not innocent - but it's true that some 10% of thai inmates are innocent.

[Chloe82]

Why feel pity for the guy? He's scum.

It's pretty easy to stay out of Thai prisons you know.

It could easily happen to anyone here, even if not guilty of any crime.

Wrong place, wrong time is all it takes. Do you believe that there are no inocent people in jails here in Thailand or else where in the world?

[blizzard]

chloes pretty! and smart!

[onnut]

Why feel pity for the guy? He's scum.

It's pretty easy to stay out of Thai prisons you know.

I happen to know Colin, he is not scum.

he was ripped off a lot of cash and wanted it back. Thai police would not help him so he took the law into his hands.

A guy died in a fight, that could happen to anyone of us. It does not make us scum.

[actiondell4]

I havent got to the end of the book yet,but its similar to the one that was written 20 years ago,though this one was written in 2006.

After reading this book,i feel like starting qa charity to help prisoners in there.

They shackle prisoners for years for no reason,they bash elderly farang prisoners,all this makes me have some sympathy for people who go in there.

I suppose this guy wrote it and he s making money from it,i dont know.

But reading how prisoners are shackled with irons andwearing the same clothes and dying of AIDS really made me feel sad.

If some guys like that old irish guy who was involved in a incident in Pattaya 2 years ago who stabbed that bar owner,he wont survive in those places.

im not condoning him,but reading what this author wrote ,i feel some sympathy especially for elderly farangs who may find themselves in there for whatever reason.

On my last visit to Pattaya in August i saw drunken young farangs throwing bottles at passing cars etc and they think its like theUK or Australia where the Police will come out and give them a slap on the hand,but i dont think they realise it doesnt seem to be like that in Thailand,yes they can assault Police in the UK or Australia and problay just get a fine but i dont know what will happen to you if you assault a police officer in Thailand.

Edited November 29, 2007 by actiondell4

[kankaroo]

I find it hard to believe that A: anybody would want to return to a country that just jails them for a large proportion of their life when they say they were innocent, and B: that the country would allow them back in.

I mean you get blacklisted from ever returning to LOS for visa overstay, so I imagine doing hard time would constitute a blacklist ?

[lazeeboy]

I havent got to the end of the book yet,but its similar to the one that was written 20 years ago,though this one was written in 2006.

After reading this book,i feel like starting qa charity to help prisoners in there.

They shackle prisoners for years for no reason,they bash elderly farang prisoners,all this makes me have some sympathy for people who go in there.

I suppose this guy wrote it and he s making money from it,i dont know.

But reading how prisoners are shackled with irons andwearing the same clothes and dying of AIDS really made me feel sad.

If some guys like that old irish guy who was involved in a incident in Pattaya 2 years ago who stabbed that bar owner,he wont survive in those places.

im not condoning him,but reading what this author wrote ,i feel some sympathy especially for elderly farangs who may find themselves in there for whatever reason.

On my last visit to Pattaya in August i saw drunken young farangs throwing bottles at passing cars etc and they think its like theUK or Australia where the Police will come out and give them a slap on the hand,but i dont think they realise it doesnt seem to be like that in Thailand,yes they can assault Police in the UK or Australia and problay just get a fine but i dont know what will happen to you if you assault a police officer in Thailand.

if you assult a policeman in thailand you will probably be shot dead..

[tijnebijn]

I find it hard to believe that A: anybody would want to return to a country that just jails them for a large proportion of their life when they say they were innocent, and B: that the country would allow them back in.

I mean you get blacklisted from ever returning to LOS for visa overstay, so I imagine doing hard time would constitute a blacklist ?

What you say is simply not true , you do not get that easy on a blacklist ,

especially not for overstay .

[meom]

I find it hard to believe that A: anybody would want to return to a country that just jails them for a large proportion of their life when they say they were innocent, and B: that the country would allow them back in.

I mean you get blacklisted from ever returning to LOS for visa overstay, so I imagine doing hard time would constitute a blacklist ?

A:Who knows maybe he's got a wife/GF here.

B: I would imagine once you've done the time you start with a clean slate so why blacklist somebody?

[JetsetBkk]

I mean you get blacklisted from ever returning to LOS for visa overstay

Source of this little gem please, Skippy?

[Chloe82]

I mean you get blacklisted from ever returning to LOS for visa overstay

Source of this little gem please, Skippy?

Overstaying your visa in Thailand is considered a very serious offence and may result in prolonged arrest and detention. Travellers who overstay entry permits may not be allowed to leave Thailand until a fine is paid. The fine is currently 500 Baht per day, up to a maximum of 20,000 baht. If you can not afford to pay the overstay fine you may be arrested, taken to court, charged with a visa offence, and required to serve a lengthy prison sentence in lieu of the fine. Travellers who have overstayed their visas may be imprisoned, deported and placed on an immigration blacklist to prevent from them returning to Thailand.

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

Chloe.

[LaoPo]

would this guy be allowed back in Thailand ,say for a holiday?

A couple of friends of mine met Colin Martin in a pub on Sukhumvit in Bangkok a few months back so I guess he must be allowed back in Thailand, no problem.

Wikipedia seems to be out of date:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Martin

edit:

"He was eventually freed following a fairly sympathetic supreme court ruling and returned to Ireland in early 2005."

From:

http://www.pattaya2day.com/index.php?actio...ews&id=1479

LaoPo

Edited November 29, 2007 by LaoPo

[steves_the_1]

I find it hard to believe that A: anybody would want to return to a country that just jails them for a large proportion of their life when they say they were innocent, and B: that the country would allow them back in.

I mean you get blacklisted from ever returning to LOS for visa overstay, so I imagine doing hard time would constitute a blacklist ?

unless its a new thing i have not met anyone whos got black listed for overstay i think it takes abit more to get on that list

[bendix]

I happen to know Colin, he is not scum.

he was ripped off a lot of cash and wanted it back. Thai police would not help him so he took the law into his hands.

A guy died in a fight, that could happen to anyone of us. It does not make us scum.

With respect, being ripped off for a lot of cash, taking the law into one's own hands and killing someone in a fight it most definitely NOT something that could happen to anyone of us.

Like so many farang here, he was ripped off for some cash. For what reason, I dont know. He then took the law into his own hands and someone was killed.

Scum? OK . perhaps going too far and I retract but excuse me if I dont join the bleeding hearts club and feel sorry for the guy.

[mogoso]

On my last visit to Pattaya in August i saw drunken young farangs throwing bottles at passing cars etc and they think its like theUK or Australia where the Police will come out and give them a slap on the hand,but i dont think they realise it doesnt seem to be like that in Thailand,yes they can assault Police in the UK or Australia and problay just get a fine but i dont know what will happen to you if you assault a police officer in Thailand.

I've seen the results of a bottle thrown and intercepted by a persons head that I knew. It became life threatening and took several operations over a period of years. Someone either drunk or sober needs more than a slap on the hand who throws bottles at another human being.

[actiondell4]

I think the latest craze is "glassings" into the face/eyes.hopefully this wont catch on in Thailand .

Well i finished the Welcome to hel_l book today by Colin Martin and i really think this guy is spot on.

The Thais are the greediest corrupt people,i believe that,but he also said they are the most brutal.

Even his ex Thai wife wanted to sell his son to him.

In his book he said they are also the filthiest people which i always thought Thais were clean but he said they use to pull their penises out whilst eating and look for lice and then smell their hands.

But is that ALL tHAI PEOPLE WHO are corrupt and unclean,NO I dont think so,he was living with the low class,im sure high class Thais,the ones on the soapies i watched dont act like that,you cant say all of one race are the same.

However any of you thinking of overstaying your visa dont do it,in his book he talks of Srichacha immigration prison where it is so filthy yand crowded you have to line up to use the one hole in the floor toilet.

Last April i watched outside a Jomtien beer bar some very drunk british young guys with shaved heads throwing buckets of water at motobikes and i decided to join in.however im thinking after reading this book that i dont want to cause a accident to happen and end up meeting the man with the one rubber glove and 200 backsides to inspect with it.

Having said that,i am thinking of starting a charity to assist farang prisoners,in buying stationary,magazines donations and food parcels.

Edited November 30, 2007 by actiondell4

[tijnebijn]

Don't believe everything the guy writes .

After all it is his mind and thinking what he puts on paper ,

I am not so sure to take that to serious .

Better be skeptical and rationalise for yourself the

story to be realistic enough or not , I know what I think of it .........

[t.s]

I think the latest craze is "glassings" into the face/eyes.hopefully this wont catch on in Thailand .

Well i finished the Welcome to hel_l book today by Colin Martin and i really think this guy is spot on.

The Thais are the greediest corrupt people,i believe that,but he also said they are the most brutal.

Even his ex Thai wife wanted to sell his son to him.

In his book he said they are also the filthiest people which i always thought Thais were clean but he said they use to pull their penises out whilst eating and look for lice and then smell their hands.

But is that ALL tHAI PEOPLE WHO are corrupt and unclean,NO I dont think so,he was living with the low class,im sure high class Thais,the ones on the soapies i watched dont act like that,you cant say all of one race are the same.

However any of you thinking of overstaying your visa dont do it,in his book he talks of Srichacha immigration prison where it is so filthy yand crowded you have to line up to use the one hole in the floor toilet.

Last April i watched outside a Jomtien beer bar some very drunk british young guys with shaved heads throwing buckets of water at motobikes and i decided to join in.however im thinking after reading this book that i dont want to cause a accident to happen and end up meeting the man with the one rubber glove and 200 backsides to inspect with it.

Having said that,i am thinking of starting a charity to assist farang prisoners,in buying stationary,magazines donations and food parcels.

having said all that, i would think he would have found something better to do than sit around the black swan after being released.

[Scott]

I am with Bendix on this one, I just can't muster a lot of sympathy.

[Stephen Cleary]

There seems to be conflicting reports from former long-term prisoners. In the eyes of Colin Martin it's a living hel_l, but compare that to David Mc Millan (author of Escape) who said that Thai prisons weren't that bad at all.

When we interviewed David, he claimed that a lot of the stuff written by former foreign prisoners is 'sensational'. That is because they have to sell the book and readers want to read about 'horror'. No publisher too, is gonna want to release a book about Thai prisons which is 'boring'.

My friend who is incarcerated at the moment in Samut Prakan Central Prison 'Gor' has also said that life behind bars isn't as bad as he had originally perceived, though of course it isn't exactly Dream World.

I wouldn't therefore, accept all of what Colin has to say, as 'God's truth'.

Edited November 30, 2007 by Stephen Cleary

[Chloe82]

There seems to be conflicting reports from former long-term prisoners. In the eyes of Colin Martin it's a living hel_l, but compare that to David Mc Millan (author of Escape) who said that Thai prisons weren't that bad at all.

When we interviewed David, he claimed that a lot of the stuff written by former foreign prisoners is 'sensational'. That is because they have to sell the book and readers want to read about 'horror'. No publisher too, is gonna want to release a book about Thai prisons which is 'boring'.

My friend who is incarcerated at the moment in Samut Prakan Central Prison 'Gor' has also said that life behind bars isn't as bad as he had originally perceived, though of course it isn't exactly Dream World.

I wouldn't therefore, accept all of what Colin has to say, as 'God's truth'.

Off topic (Sorry), Just wanted to say that i enjoy reading your blog, some great stuff on there and you have a very good writing style.

I saw that Gor was at your wedding also.

Keep it up and thanks

Chloe.

[JetsetBkk]

Last April i watched outside a Jomtien beer bar some very drunk british young guys with shaved heads throwing buckets of water at motobikes and i decided to join in.

It's called Songkran - the Thai New Year 'water festival'.

Been here long?

[bonviveur]

I know crime would be down in the USA if the goverment would outsource our prisoners to Thailand or to prisons in some central american country.

There was show about two youg guy from England who agree in exchange of a great vacation and $8000 to carry some drugs from Venezula back home. They got caught and these guys went to a prison where the inmates had guns, knives it was like a city with walls around. Have anyone here seen a prison riot in Brazil, there was one not too long ago it's like a war.

Everything I don't do at home why would I wait to be in anther country to do them. Guys in prison here have cable TV, free medical, dental and huge law library where some of them find enough obscure laws and fight the goverment and their victimes.

My heart goes to anyone serving time for things they did not do I can't imagine hhow awfull this must be. Every couple of years or so you hear apeople being release new evidence have clear them of rape or murder. The most rescent one was a few weeks ago a guy who is jail for more than twenty years was cleared, can you imagine how angry one would be. That is why I am against the death penalty

Bonviver

[bendix]

There seems to be conflicting reports from former long-term prisoners. In the eyes of Colin Martin it's a living hel_l, but compare that to David Mc Millan (author of Escape) who said that Thai prisons weren't that bad at all.

When we interviewed David, he claimed that a lot of the stuff written by former foreign prisoners is 'sensational'. That is because they have to sell the book and readers want to read about 'horror'. No publisher too, is gonna want to release a book about Thai prisons which is 'boring'.

My friend who is incarcerated at the moment in Samut Prakan Central Prison 'Gor' has also said that life behind bars isn't as bad as he had originally perceived, though of course it isn't exactly Dream World.

I wouldn't therefore, accept all of what Colin has to say, as 'God's truth'.

The voice of reason, finally. Why on earth give credence to anything written by a guy with his background? When it comes to trusting the honest reporting of different classes of people, killers and shysters don't come very high on my list.