Thailand Attracts Fugitives From America

[sriracha john]

Thailand attracts fugitives from U.S.

Lax law enforcement, easy hospitality lure many, who blend in easily with expatriates

BANGKOK, Thailand -- American fugitive Morgan Michelle Hoke, dubbed "the ponytail bandit" for her suspected role in multiple bank robberies, could have reinvented herself here.

In downtown Bangkok, street vendors offer forged American driver's licenses for about $35. Medical clinics provide plastic surgery for a fraction of U.S. prices. The combination of lax law enforcement, easy hospitality and thousands of backwater towns has attracted a wide roster of fugitives to Thailand and other nations in Southeast Asia.

Hoke, 21, and her 26-year-old husband, Stuart Michael Romine, are accused of robbing banks in Texas and possibly in California and Washington. The couple arrived in Bangkok on Jan. 20, according to arrest warrants.

Hoke was detained Feb. 13 at a hotel popular with budget travelers and was extradited to the United States the next day. Romine flew from Thailand to India on Feb. 10, Thai police said.

Thaivisa thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=169405

"Pony-Tail" Bandit Bank Robber Arrested In Thailand

The day that Hoke was detained, Thai police arrested Earl Bonds, a 42-year-old American wanted in St. Louis in a child molestation case. He was turned over to American officials for extradition.

Thaivisa threads:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=169632

Requesting Information On Earl Bonds In Phuket

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=169360

Suspected American Pedophile Arrested In Phuket

The two deportations are part of a long and growing list of American fugitives caught in Thailand.

One of the most prominent recent extraditions was of James Vincent Sullivan, a multimillionaire who once lived in Palm Beach, Fla., and in 2006 was sentenced to life in prison without parole for arranging his wife's murder in Atlanta.

Thaivisa thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5525

Thai Court Upholds American's Extradition

In another high-profile case, Saner Wonggoun, then 59, a Thai-born American citizen, was extradited to the United States in 2006 on charges of murdering his wife in California. He had been living in Thailand for 12 years when police found him working in a market in the country's north.

Thaivisa thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=90208

37 Million Baht Reward Offered For Murderer, For A Thai - American believed to be in Thailand

While Thai immigration police do not release statistics on how many foreign fugitives have been caught in Thailand, the nation of 65 million people extradites many foreigners each year, said Suppachai Paladech, an inspector with the department.

"If you type 'fugitive' and 'Thailand' into Google, you get a lot of news," he said. "Some people think they can escape here." (In fact, the Google search produces about 171,000 hits).

Partly, fugitives are attracted to Southeast Asia because of lax enforcement of immigration laws, experts said.

Americans like Hoke can blend in easily in Thailand, where more than 7,000 U.S. expatriates legally reside and work.

And last year, more than 700,000 American tourists visited Thailand.

- Cox News Service (USA)

Edited February 21, 2008 by sriracha john

[Galong]

I wonder if anyone ever did a survey of how many criminals live in Wash DC... doh!

[Ulysses G.]

If they had any brains, they would go to a country with no extradition treaty.

[Pepe']

I wonder if anyone ever did a survey of how many criminals live in Wash DC... doh!

--------------------------

I think those that are not might be a shorter list...

[taxexile]

because of lax enforcement of immigration laws, experts said.

experts ????

[Shuddee]

Thanks sriracha john for putting a link in my new thread. I wasn't aware that you had already posted it.

I found it astounding because it seems to me that with all the stricter laws of visas (and rumors of laws), you would think the fugitives would be weeded out. I didn't look into detail at the links that were in this article, but I'm willing to bet that the fugitives were not renewing their visas legally, or were hiding out somewhere and letting their visas expire, thus being in the country illegally (and breaking a law) anyways. That would be two crimes.

[howtoescape]

Thailand attracts fugitives from U.S.

And last year, more than 700,000 American tourists visited Thailand.

I never meet to many Shermans, so i am surprised this many go to LOS, maybe a good proportion have gone underground to hide from the law, like the A-Team.

[sriracha john]

Thanks sriracha john for putting a link in my new thread. I wasn't aware that you had already posted it.

I found it astounding because it seems to me that with all the stricter laws of visas (and rumors of laws), you would think the fugitives would be weeded out. I didn't look into detail at the links that were in this article, but I'm willing to bet that the fugitives were not renewing their visas legally, or were hiding out somewhere and letting their visas expire, thus being in the country illegally (and breaking a law) anyways. That would be two crimes.

1. Apparently, Earl Bonds was here legally with a valid passport, valid non-imm B visa, and valid work permit.

2. Saner Wonggoun, as a Thai-American, was apparently in Thailand on the basis of his Thai citizenship and thus needed no visa.

3. Apparently, James Vincent Sullivan was here legally on a non-imm O with Thai wife visa.

4. Due to her relatively short stay before apprehension, Morgan Michelle Hoke was likely to be entirely legal here on a tourist visa.

These cases all highlight that the problem with Immigration and Foreign Ministry extensive changes to rules and enforcement. They have had no demonstrable effect whatsoever on fugitives and criminals entering Thailand initially and subsequently staying and thus fail to meet the stated intention for which these changes were made.

While they may be well intentioned with these changes, it's not working and they need to come up with some other mechanism. Of course that requires international cooperation, for example, it certainly didn't help the matter in the case of Earl Bonds that the USA issued him a passport, even using his real name, AFTER he had been arrested and charged with four counts of underage sodomy and thus allowed him to leave the country.

oh, and btw, John Mark Karr was also entirely legal here, as well as a whole laundry list of other similar types.

Edited February 24, 2008 by sriracha john

[naka]

This report reads like. All fugatives in Thailand are American and

all American fugitives come to Thailand

Actually the vast majority of fugitives from the law probably hang

out in their own country.

So now we can say :-

Most fugitives from the law in Britain are British citizens therefore

British people are bad.

Naka.

Edited February 25, 2008 by naka

[mellow1]

There are no criminals here from any other countries, only from the USA?

[mrt273nva]

If they had any brains, they would go to a country with no extradition treaty.

as far as i know there isn't an extradition treaty between the US and Thailand, however that doesn't prevent diplomatic relations from taking over and make the appearance of a treaty by extraditing anyone that the US asks them to.

[farang prince]

If they had any brains, they would go to a country with no extradition treaty.

as far as i know there isn't an extradition treaty between the US and Thailand, however that doesn't prevent diplomatic relations from taking over and make the appearance of a treaty by extraditing anyone that the US asks them to.

There is an extradition treaty.

[radioguy1450]

Just think, some of these fugitives are TV members and post here on a regular basis.

Or maybe not. Who knows?

I am not surprised fugitives come to LOS. I am just surprised they get caught. Once you buy a fake passport how would they ever catch you? Especially if you are an older white guy with a thai girl on your arm--wouldn't you just blend in?

[BigSnake]

Not the case, I think it just seem that way to the Fugitives from justice than they get here and bam they are caught(ie Mark Carr) and other.

[Jingthing]

The original article was just another example of tired old yellow journalism, only backed up with some anecdotal examples, without any convincing statistics. Another excuse to exploit the lurid stereotypes of Thailand to the ignorant American masses (if they only knew you can't smoke here, that porn is illegal, that sex toys are illegal, that the drug laws are barbaric, that Thais cover their bodies at beaches, well that wouldn't sell papers would it?). I would guess most American fugitives are in the US, followed by Mexico.

Edited February 25, 2008 by Jingthing

[sriracha john]

This report reads like. All fugatives in Thailand are American and

all American fugitives come to Thailand

Not all fugitives in Thailand are American.

Not all American fugitives come to Thailand.

There are no criminals here from any other countries, only from the USA?

There are criminals in Thailand from countries other than the USA.

I would guess most American fugitives are in the US, followed by Mexico.

Most American fugitives are in the USA. This article says only that the number in Thailand appears to be rising and provides some possible reasons for that apparent increase.

[Shuddee]

What sriracha john says is fact. Other fugitives have been caught from other countries...a couple of them were from Britain that immediately come to my mind. The article source (at least the one that I referred and linked back to) was from a source back in the United States, so it was addressed mainly to Americans.

[lazeeboy]

they come from every country not just the states

[gunnyd]

I have never heard of LOS being a popular choice for criminals to hide out. It is always Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina. I would think The Philippines would be a good choice as long as you have money. You could pay off officials all the way to the top to stay incognito there.

[sriracha john]

I have never heard of LOS being a popular choice for criminals to hide out. It is always Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina. I would think The Philippines would be a good choice as long as you have money. You could pay off officials all the way to the top to stay incognito there.

It's certainly becoming quite popular as exemplified by this latest long-term fugitive apprehension:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=171378

Fugitive American Child Pornographer Arrested In Thailand, Missing since 2004, he's found working as a teacher at all-boys school

* THREAD CITED FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE DO NOT DISCUSS THIS PARTICULAR THREAD AS IT IS CLOSED PER TV POLICY *

[sriracha john]

For the same reasons as cited in the OP, it's not just for Americans...

Thailand a 'haven for criminals'

Police say good facilities, local hospitality and poor immigration databases make it a popular place for fugitives to lie low

A comprehensive network of communications, transport facilities and hospitality have made Thailand a sanctuary for the world's criminals and other fugitives, said police. Panaspong Sirawongse, the head of Interpol's Liaison Office Bangkok, said foreign criminals pick Thailand as a hide-out or a venue to negotiate illegal deals apparently because the country is a hub of communications and transport. Also, Thailand is a world tourist destination where fugitives from crime can easily slip in and mingle with foreign tourists, he said. "I believe they chose us because it is convenient for them to make contacts here," Pol Col Panaspong said. He referred to the latest arrest involving Russian Viktor Bout, 41, dubbed the ''Merchant of Death'', on Thursday at a Bangkok hotel. The fugitive was wanted by the US Drug Enforcement Administration for allegedly selling arms to terrorists. Before that, Thailand was also in the spotlight for the much-publicised arrest of Nurjaman Riduan bin Isomuddin, better known as Hambali, in Ayutthaya in 2003. Hambali was suspected of being Southeast Asian terrorist organisation Jemaah Islamiyah (JI)'s operations chief and the architect of the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people. His capture, according to a recent US report on terrorism, suggested that Thailand was a transit point for regional terrorists. Following Hambali's arrest, a number of other wanted fugitive criminals have been apprehended in the kingdom. They include Christopher Paul Neil, 32, who was arrested days after Interpol issued an unprecedented worldwide public appeal for help in identifying the suspected paedophile. In mid-February, Morgan Michelle Hoke, 21, known as the ''ponytail bandit'', was arrested at a guesthouse in the Bang Lamphu area. She was wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a series of armed bank robberies.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/09Mar2008_news01.php

[Aries74]

This report reads like. All fugatives in Thailand are American and

all American fugitives come to Thailand

Not all fugitives in Thailand are American.

Not all American fugitives come to Thailand.

There are no criminals here from any other countries, only from the USA?

There are criminals in Thailand from countries other than the USA.

I would guess most American fugitives are in the US, followed by Mexico.

Most American fugitives are in the USA. This article says only that the number in Thailand appears to be rising and provides some possible reasons for that apparent increase.

More than likely thailand attract sex predators than criminals.

[sriracha john]

This report reads like. All fugatives in Thailand are American and

all American fugitives come to Thailand

Not all fugitives in Thailand are American.

Not all American fugitives come to Thailand.

There are no criminals here from any other countries, only from the USA?

There are criminals in Thailand from countries other than the USA.

I would guess most American fugitives are in the US, followed by Mexico.

Most American fugitives are in the USA. This article says only that the number in Thailand appears to be rising and provides some possible reasons for that apparent increase.

More than likely thailand attract sex predators than criminals.

Depending on how you choose to define "sex predators", sex predators ARE criminals.

[mellow1]

Are people who draw social service benefits from their home country, and can only receive these benefits legally within the EU, but are living here in Thailand, are they criminals? Will they be considered fugitives once found out? Does the term criminal apply only to certain crimes?

[gjones]

it's just another knee jerk reaction, criminals are everywhere, Thailand is not the number one destination for those on the run, South American seems to be the number one destination, and the UK for serious Thai criminals

It seems Columbia was out of bounds for Viktor Bout though, but then the Ruski mafia likes Pattaya.

[sriracha john]

There's that word again.... "haven"..... in use by international news concerning Thailand....

Arms dealer arrest exposes Thailand as fugitive haven

BANGKOK--The arrest of notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout has cast a harsh spotlight on Thailand's shadowy underworld as a haven or transit point for a motley collection of international criminals.

The latest case centers on a vast international arms smuggling network run by Bout, a Russian known as the "Merchant of Death," that funneled weapons to rebels from South America to Africa.

Among those who have used Thailand as a hideout from prosecution back home has been Indonesian terror suspect Hambali, who was arrested here in 2003 and is now being held at the US military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Last year an international manhunt led Interpol to Thailand to track down a man pictured in 200 Internet photos abusing Asian boys. The suspect, Canadian Christopher Neil, was arrested and goes to trial in Bangkok on Monday. *interesting revelation as a side note*

Experts say fugitives are drawn to Thailand because of the kingdom's lax immigration procedures and its reputation for official corruption.

Bangkok's status as a regional aviation hub makes it easy for criminals to get in and out of the country, while the low cost of living gives them a life of leisure on the run, they say.

"Thailand is a livable country with a low cost of living, and Thai people welcome foreigners, so foreign fugitives don't stand out," said Lieutenant General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, spokesman for Thailand's national police.

"Since Thailand focuses on tourism, we have to accommodate visitors and it's easy for criminals to mix with ordinary tourists."

Thailand expects to receive more than 15 million foreign tourists this year, and hardly a month passes by without at least one being deported over criminal charges ranging from drugs to sexual abuse to money laundering.

Thai police say the rising number of arrests and deportations proves they are making progress in fighting international crime.

Immigration officials say 329 people were deported in 2005, the most recent year for which figures are available, up from 207 in 2002. *interesting statistic I've not seen specified elsewhere*

But experts say criminals will continue to be drawn to Thailand and other developing countries in Southeast Asia because of lax law enforcement.

"It's rooted very deeply in the issue of official corruption that allows not just arms dealers, but pedophiles and other people fleeing their own countries, to use Thailand and other developing countries as a safe haven," said Sunai Phasuk, a researcher with Human Rights Watch.

"Someone like this Russian guy or terrorists or extremists benefit from loopholes in immigration law."

Fugitives are supported in Thailand by a well-developed network of forgers who can provide fake travel documents, he noted.

In recent years, Thailand has busted forgery rings operated by Pakistanis, Iranians and Bangladeshis who provided fake passports from countries across Europe and Asia.

The best way to combat the problem is for police and immigration officials to tighten the screening of people entering the country, said Sudarat Sereewat, director of the Fight Against Child Exploitation Foundation, a pressure group that fights sex trafficking and paedophilia.

"Our screening process is not strict enough. Immigration officials must stamp entry visas quickly to comply with efforts to promote tourism and keep lines short at the airport," she said.

"So there's not enough time to thoroughly check arrivals against blacklists."

Still, Human Rights Watch's Sunai said the arrest of Bout, who was detained in a US-led sting operation Thursday, and other high-profile criminals proved Thailand was making progress.

"The arms dealer, and the arrest of Hambali, proves this point of improvement," he said.

"The increase in international concern over transnational criminals like this one (Bout) or terrorists has prompted Thai authorities to improve the immigration system and increase information-sharing with other countries."

Agence France-Presse

Edited March 9, 2008 by sriracha john

[JetsetBkk]

Are people who draw social service benefits from their home country, and can only receive these benefits legally within the EU, but are living here in Thailand, are they criminals? Will they be considered fugitives once found out? Does the term criminal apply only to certain crimes?

Why are you so interested in people drawing social service benefits illegally, mellow1? Is there something you would like to share with us?

[distortedlink]

The problems lay with the Thai immigration system.

Those of us on non-immigrant visas are still only glorified tourists. Only those applying for permanent residence or Thai citizenship are asked to provide a police statement from their home country, to say whether or not they have a criminal record.

The system makes it even easier for visa run criminals to avoid capture, as they don't have to be interviewed by immigration officers in the first place.

Maybe if the Thai government terminated the visa runs method and introduced a system that all non immigrant applicants have to apply, married to Thais, retirees etc for permanent residence or Thai citizenship after a period of 4 years continuous residence in Thailand with imposed requirement to show a home country police statement of what's on or not on criminal file, Thailand wouldn't seem such a convenient hideaway for foreign criminals.

Edited March 9, 2008 by distortedlink

[Jingthing]

Maybe if the Thai government terminated the visa runs method and introduced a system that all non immigrant applicants have to apply, married to Thais, retirees etc for permanent residence or Thai citizenship after a period of 4 years continuous residence in Thailand with imposed requirement to show a home country police statement of what's on or not on criminal file, Thailand wouldn't seem such a convenient hideaway for foreign criminals.

Maybe we should consider not making suggestions to the POLICE organ that rules our lives here to create even more rules. There are more than enough rules without us feeding them even more ideas. There are unflattering words for people like that ...

Edited March 9, 2008 by Jingthing

[Felt 35]

Or the lack of Immigration system.

In the years since I personally come here nothing in reality have changed in the said system. More ineffective rules with higher fees and the only change is a new “façade” on many of their offices and a few nearby consulates.

With the changing economies in the world and with that more opportunities to travel for everyone, and unfortunately also increased crime its unbelievable that people still can come to Thailand and when their visa expire they can only jump over the border to nearly any of the neighbour countries get a stamp and keep going.

That said I have no problem with people who do border runs. They do only what they are allowed to do. One another note, of course it makes it easy for criminals to follow the same track. Anyone been around for a while know also how very well a nice suit and some notes speaks the way in any of the said offices and I doubt a criminal comes here broke.