Arrested And Sentenced To Prison

[zorro1]

I should encourage my mother in law to shop at tesco more often

[imaneggspurt]

On Friday afternoon 4pm mother in law was arrested in Tescos charged with shoplifting.

Mother's story was that she paid for a blanket worth 500 baht at the check-out but was told that the cosmetics worth around a 1000 bt had to be paid for at the cosmetics counter. Now she was in urgent need for the restroom and parked her trolley with the yet to be paid for cosmetics with the intention of coming back to pay for them.

She came back and the trolley was gone so went and found a security guard to ask him where the trolley was as she has some things left to buy at which point she was escorted to the office. (If she had intended to steal then why would she go out of her way to locate a guard and the trolley instead of just leaving as no one had approached her?)

She explained the initial unsuccessful attempt at purchasing the cosmetics at the counter and the later intention of paying after the restroom and offered to pay all that was in her wallet - 3000 bt but the police were called. Tescos kept the paid for blanket.

She was taken to Prakanong station where she was allowed to call my sister in law and explained everything. Family go down to the station but are told it is too late to see mother but 20K bail was possible. Family muster 20K together and return to cop shop who now say its not enough and the bail would be at least 60K.

Family return Saturday morning only to find out that she had already confessed and been sentenced by the court to 1 month in prison where she is today. Apparently the courts are open half day on Saturday. No chance for bail or get a lawyer and no notification that she was going to court.

Mother still pleads her innocence and seems she was persuaded by the police to confess after which she was led to believe that a fine would be payable but it would be all over quickly.

Is there anything that can be done now as she has "confessed" and been sentenced by the court?

Did the bail bond jump from 20 to 60 because a FARANG was present ?,. seems odd,.

[Kharzi]

In the circumstances the OP has rehearsed there seems no evidence to prove that she intended to permanently deprive Tesco of the goods. The reaction by the store, the police and the Courts was evidently disproportionate and clearly unjust. The alleged confession is a travesty.

Given the resurgence of belief in the democratic processes of the PAD and the role of the King perhaps a personal petition to both Abhisit, the newly appointed crusader of the poor, and his Majesty himself might be a start.

A letter to the Post and Nation highlighting the brutishness of Tesco and the police indicating that petitions have been submitted in order to right the wrong might also assist.

Otherwise the old girl will just have to lump it.

[tartempion]

Does she have a receipt for the blanket?

This is a strange story indeed. Usually they'd settle for 3 times the cost.

She sounds guilty to me.

You sound guilty also

BTW (edit) it is a pain in shopping malls (Robinsons, Central etc) that you need to pay your purchases at different counters depending on what you buy, then the employee disappears with you money to return 5 minutes later with your change, then you go on buying something else, same scenario repeating itself.

Edited December 27, 2008 by tartempion

[skiman1]

Did you tell Tesco's she had stolen the goods to get here lifted?

[ThaiEye]

The whole story sounds funny to me.... There is a police man in the family and no one called him before the 17 hours sentence? She called the family they came down to the station and then raised 20K only to find out it would now be 60K at no time during this money collection did they think...mmm I wonder if our own BIB could help out a little?

The story of how she got arrested sounds funny, the story of her sentencing sounds funny, the story of the bail money sounds fishy.... could this thread just be some trolling?

Definitely a troll. When do you ever see Thais shopping by themselves - especially 60 year old females!

Exactly, otherwise the mother-in-law has a history of shoplifting and that's why they were out to nab her so quickly and easily.

Someone here should call up either Phrakhanong Police Station or the Tesco in the vicinity.

The Thai police already have a bad image, trolling like this just adds petrol to the firey dislike.

Edited December 27, 2008 by ThaiEye

[marginline]

If she had made off with 50 billion dollars she would have been out on bail whilst investigation was carried out. Even if she had confessed freely under no duress, before going into incarceration where reported confession is always suspect.

And if she had been a convicted criminal of the magnitude of Ken Lay of Enron, she would have been out on bail even after conviction.

There's on rule of law for the poor (whether guilty or not), and an entirely different one for the rich (whether guilty or not).

You raise some good points Martin and it's worth remembering too that these laws are not exclusive to just theft (like Bernard Madoff, Ken Lay, etc.,), you've even got wealthy alleged murderers (like Phil Spector) and whole countries (mainly the US and UK) able to flout the law and basically get away with murder.

Meanwhile, you've got this poor old lady and a very believable problem because, I dunno - someone overreacted?

[Sabum]

The whole story sounds funny to me.... There is a police man in the family and no one called him before the 17 hours sentence? She called the family they came down to the station and then raised 20K only to find out it would now be 60K at no time during this money collection did they think...mmm I wonder if our own BIB could help out a little?

The story of how she got arrested sounds funny, the story of her sentencing sounds funny, the story of the bail money sounds fishy.... could this thread just be some trolling?

Definitely a troll. When do you ever see Thais shopping by themselves - especially 60 year old females!

Exactly, otherwise the mother-in-law has a history of shoplifting and that's why they were out to nab her so quickly and easily.

Someone here should call up either Phrakhanong Police Station or the Tesco in the vicinity.

The Thai police already have a bad image, trolling like this just adds petrol to the firey dislike.

Oh you have GOT to be kidding... the Thai police have a bad image because THEY EARNED IT and are doing nothing to clean it up.

[ThaiEye]

The whole story sounds funny to me.... There is a police man in the family and no one called him before the 17 hours sentence? She called the family they came down to the station and then raised 20K only to find out it would now be 60K at no time during this money collection did they think...mmm I wonder if our own BIB could help out a little?

The story of how she got arrested sounds funny, the story of her sentencing sounds funny, the story of the bail money sounds fishy.... could this thread just be some trolling?

Definitely a troll. When do you ever see Thais shopping by themselves - especially 60 year old females!

Exactly, otherwise the mother-in-law has a history of shoplifting and that's why they were out to nab her so quickly and easily.

Someone here should call up either Phrakhanong Police Station or the Tesco in the vicinity.

The Thai police already have a bad image, trolling like this just adds petrol to the firey dislike.

Oh you have GOT to be kidding... the Thai police have a bad image because THEY EARNED IT and are doing nothing to clean it up.

Yeah... also due to sensationalist Western reporters and wanna-be reporters on thaivisa making up stuff left right and center. Some of the stuff that's get written on forums about how bad Thailand..police are etc... is ten times more exaggerated that what you hear in an expat Pattaya bar.

[OlRedEyes]

Is it possible the MIL told a porkie to the family and actually did try to nick smth?

Yes of course it's possible. But I think she may have an excuse. This country is run by the rich who hate the poor - and they get the poor to watch each other.

Having said that..I was back in ol' blighty recently - at a computer store (not a shop - one of those big places) near the end of the Piccadilly Line..Anyway, some 30-something (white) bloke walks in - yacking away on his mobile.. and walks around in the shop (still yak, yak)..then walks out of the store still talking on the mobile..

Within seconds this alert security guard - older - late 40's - (black - think it's worth mentioning) gives chase. The white guy BOLTS and drops something in the car park. He was a shoplifter...the guard came back with the item but the younger guy gets away.

Moral relevant to this thread? I'm white..the criminal was white and not young.. Things aren't always as some would like to make out. I gave myself a reality check at that moment.

You seem to have a problem. Nobody brought race into the issue.

[OlRedEyes]

Oh you have GOT to be kidding... the Thai police have a bad image because THEY EARNED IT and are doing nothing to clean it up.

Yeah... also due to sensationalist Western reporters and wanna-be reporters on thaivisa making up stuff left right and center. Some of the stuff that's get written on forums about how bad Thailand..police are etc... is ten times more exaggerated that what you hear in an expat Pattaya bar.

You just gotta be joking. This is taking the evil West being responsible for Thailand's problems/image into the sublime. Ask any Thai what THEY think about their police....

[Tigs]

The whole story sounds funny to me.... There is a police man in the family and no one called him before the 17 hours sentence? She called the family they came down to the station and then raised 20K only to find out it would now be 60K at no time during this money collection did they think...mmm I wonder if our own BIB could help out a little?

The story of how she got arrested sounds funny, the story of her sentencing sounds funny, the story of the bail money sounds fishy.... could this thread just be some trolling?

Definitely a troll. When do you ever see Thais shopping by themselves - especially 60 year old females!

Exactly, otherwise the mother-in-law has a history of shoplifting and that's why they were out to nab her so quickly and easily.

Someone here should call up either Phrakhanong Police Station or the Tesco in the vicinity.

The Thai police already have a bad image, trolling like this just adds petrol to the firey dislike.

Oh you have GOT to be kidding... the Thai police have a bad image because THEY EARNED IT and are doing nothing to clean it up.

Yeah... also due to sensationalist Western reporters and wanna-be reporters on thaivisa making up stuff left right and center. Some of the stuff that's get written on forums about how bad Thailand..police are etc... is ten times more exaggerated that what you hear in an expat Pattaya bar.

The only Troll here seems to be ThaiEye

[Sabum]

Thaieye seriously, you dont have a clue, you probably dont even know anything about Thailands police's bloody history. Go educate yourself, PLEASE. Start by asking Thai people what they think of police, the word gangsters and mafia come up often. Then start reading, read everything you can about Thailand from 1970 on and you will quickly see how foolish your current attitude is.

[plachon]

While I sympathise with your MIL's plight, I cannot sympathise with her choice of supermarket. After all why would anyone want to shop at a corporation that threatens critics with multi-million lawsuits and could care less about customer's legal rights in the new markets it seeks to exploit for maximum profit? I'm afraid, your MIL and yourself are just not rich and connected enough for Tesco's to give a monkey's about what happens to her once handed over to the BIB. Her confession just about sealed it.

As the corporation says, "Every little helps", or is that "Every little hurts"?

For solace, try checking out the following website to learn you are not alone in your frustration with this mode of doing business....

http://www.tescopoly.org/index.php?option=...&Itemid=193

And for what it's worth, the lawyer route could just be more hassle and expense than it's worth, now she's in the slammer.

[ourmaninbangers]

The whole story sounds funny to me.... There is a police man in the family and no one called him before the 17 hours sentence? She called the family they came down to the station and then raised 20K only to find out it would now be 60K at no time during this money collection did they think...mmm I wonder if our own BIB could help out a little?

The story of how she got arrested sounds funny, the story of her sentencing sounds funny, the story of the bail money sounds fishy.... could this thread just be some trolling?

Definitely a troll. When do you ever see Thais shopping by themselves - especially 60 year old females!

Exactly, otherwise the mother-in-law has a history of shoplifting and that's why they were out to nab her so quickly and easily.

Someone here should call up either Phrakhanong Police Station or the Tesco in the vicinity.

The Thai police already have a bad image, trolling like this just adds petrol to the firey dislike.

Oh you have GOT to be kidding... the Thai police have a bad image because THEY EARNED IT and are doing nothing to clean it up.

Yeah... also due to sensationalist Western reporters and wanna-be reporters on thaivisa making up stuff left right and center. Some of the stuff that's get written on forums about how bad Thailand..police are etc... is ten times more exaggerated that what you hear in an expat Pattaya bar.

and let me tell you- some is'nt..

want me to start?

I visit prisions and police station. I can give you 100's of storys- so just drop that crap here and now please.The police here are the lowest of the low, in general.The good ones are so few and far between

1- a young girl, 16 , her husband was theif, they could not get her, so they kept her and her baby in a police holding centre- we got her out

2- a hard of hearing expat, whipped by a piece of hose

3- a man told he had to pay 500,000 baht for a case to go away which he was was not involved- our lawyer fixed it

want more???

yes, everywhere you will find BS, especually from the press, but that does not change the fact that the thai police are a joke, an insult to the whole trade and really bad at what they do

western expert came in to teach surveilance- they gave up

not all, I will not mention names, but theere are some really top decnt ones amongst the few

cannot tach an elephant to jump one told me

[Dakhar]

Ok - I don't know.

But here is what I have seen work in past.

You get a number of people together - maybe two dozen if possible. You go the police station and you ge them to stand outside in the car park...but very near the door and in a "mob" fashion. You say you want tot alk to the duty captain. Theyt ake you around back with the 'mob' and a deal is worked out.

Go for it. (you need the mob - they need to appear pissed off). Forgot to say - you need to pay the cops. That's how it works. But it won't be much - mayb e 2 or 3 k

Make sure the mob members wear yellow and have "clappers" or at least have the clap.

[fresnoboy]

Rule #1-Never confess to anything whether guilty or not guilty no matter how much evidence they have against you.

Rule #2-If you decide not to follow rule # 1, make sure that it is a plea bargain deal that you can live with...

Rule #3-If you decide not to follow rule #1 and rule #2 then you have nothing to complain about other than your naivety

This reply MADE my day !!

Thanks