Convicted Of Cussing; Brit Offender Burrowes To Get Free Tcket Home

[Hanzkneez]

This NEW thread is about Mr Burrowes trying to get out of the country and the travails of his stay in Thailand.

Tit

[Hanzkneez]

The money sent to Simon to help him out, was indeed from a Thai woman, however Phuketwan states:

"The money had come via an acquaintance, the mother of a friend, a Thai woman that Mr Burrowes knew back in Britain."

a copy of Simon's passport page: Thai authorities said he looked so much younger in the photo. However, I don't see a difference between his current photos and the passport photo. It does look as though he's shirtless, though he could have a strap t-shirt on. Who really cares, except people (like Phuket imm. folks) who make a living out of making mountains our of molehills.

maybe because he is a darkie coloured guy travelling on a UK Passport?Thai immigration might be suspicious?

Edited May 14, 2009 by Hanzkneez

[kjhbigv]

Burrowes, on the other hand. was totally innocent but was pulled, accused and held in prison for far longer than was necessary because he was black.

Didn't his highly suspect passport photo have something to do with his being pulled aside and questioned?

This is the first time I have seen a shirtless passport photo, plus its taken from one side of the face, and not clear.

Its impossible to blame the Thai officials in this case for doing their job.

Have to agree, where did he get this passport photo taken? First time I have EVER seen someone getting their passport photo in a photo-booth on Waterloo Station or Woolworths half naked? Surprised UK Passports let it get through (the photo that is!).

Also, whoever keeps banging on about the word 'uppity'...I can assure you that it is not a racist comment in English English! It is exactly as aprevious poster stated.

Tell you what, someone should ask the guy himself (without pre-warning him) and ask HIM what his understanding of the word 'uppity' is? At least then, we will all know whether previous posters have been derogatory to HIM or not?

The fact that it has a different meaning in the USA is a bit irrelevant, we are talking about a UK guy from the UK......

Now I am off for a 'smoke on a fag!'

[Mobi]

Didn't his highly suspect passport photo have something to do with his being pulled aside and questioned?

nothing suspicious about it . I can clearly make out his features , thats what the passport is about , identification.

suspected forgery my ass, the motive for pulling him over was a racist one.

hahahaha... nothing suspicious???

Good grief, what do you think immigration is looking for when they inspect passports? How do you think they detect forged passports? It's because they TYPICALLY don't match what is normally presented to them thousands of times a day.

In the closed thread prior to the posting of the photo, there were 300 posts that decried having a shirtless passport photo was IMPOSSIBLE !! and that they never heard of such a ludicrous claim... and that it would never be accepted by the passport agency... and that it must have been an exaggerated claim or even an outright lie from immigration officials... and... and... and...

and yet, once the shirtless passport photo was posted, they all shut up.

until now...

I am late into this news item, and wasn't aware that Mr Burrows had a shirtless photograph in his passport.

A couple of months back I presented myself at to a passport photographer for a photo to renew my passport. I was wearing a decent shirt with a collar. On being escorted into the studio I was told to put on one of the jackets in the cupboard as it would be more in keeping for a passport pic. I did as I was told.

OK, OTT, but it gives you an insight as to how Thais think and behave. In fact it brings me right back to my first post in this thread where I suggested that when in a third world country you use discretion with dealing with authority figures, and this also applies to mode of dress, even in photographs. Shirtless farangs walking along the streets of Thailand is considered gauche, inappropriate, and to many Thais, offensive.

So swearing and sporting a shirtless passport photo - doesn't surprise me in the least that something untoward happened. In fact I'm surprised this sort of thing doesn't happen more often.

[sriracha john]

Didn't his highly suspect passport photo have something to do with his being pulled aside and questioned?

mc2:

nothing suspicious about it . I can clearly make out his features , thats what the passport is about , identification.

suspected forgery my ass, the motive for pulling him over was a racist one.

sriracha john:

hahahaha... nothing suspicious???

Good grief, what do you think immigration is looking for when they inspect passports? How do you think they detect forged passports? It's because they TYPICALLY don't match what is normally presented to them thousands of times a day.

In the closed thread prior to the posting of the photo, there were 300 posts that decried having a shirtless passport photo was IMPOSSIBLE !! and that they never heard of such a ludicrous claim... and that it would never be accepted by the passport agency... and that it must have been an exaggerated claim or even an outright lie from immigration officials... and... and... and...

and yet, once the shirtless passport photo was posted, they all shut up.

until now...

I am late into this news item, and wasn't aware that Mr Burrows had a shirtless photograph in his passport.

A couple of months back I presented myself at to a passport photographer for a photo to renew my passport. I was wearing a decent shirt with a collar. On being escorted into the studio I was told to put on one of the jackets in the cupboard as it would be more in keeping for a passport pic. I did as I was told.

OK, OTT, but it gives you an insight as to how Thais think and behave. In fact it brings me right back to my first post in this thread where I suggested that when in a third world country you use discretion with dealing with authority figures, and this also applies to mode of dress, even in photographs. Shirtless farangs walking along the streets of Thailand is considered gauche, inappropriate, and to many Thais, offensive.

So swearing and sporting a shirtless passport photo - doesn't surprise me in the least that something untoward happened. In fact I'm surprised this sort of thing doesn't happen more often.

quotes fixed.... for free

btw, you're absolutely right, mobi... in both your earlier post and this one.

Edited May 14, 2009 by sriracha john

[mahtin]

Right about the jacket.

The photographer lent my wife one for her Wat Po massage course certificate.

Definitely Thai convention.

[abdulrahman]

Happy to know he can go back home.

The Passport was genuine?It seems it was!

The photo was accepted by the competent(British,I think)authority?It seems it was!

Was the Passport accepted by the Thai Immigration on entering Thailand?It seems it was!

Why the f*** would he have then to lose his flight and go to prison?For swearing?In English?(normally a tourist doesn't swear in Thai to a Thai Officer)

The British FCO is to blame?For sure.

The Thai Immigration is to blame?Not on TV.

The Politically Correct people are acting like fools?YES.(Sorry Jingthing,MHO only).

It could happen to me,not sure if I would only politely smile.Third world my a**.

[thaiwanderer]

Happy to know he can go back home.

The Passport was genuine?It seems it was!

The photo was accepted by the competent(British,I think)authority?It seems it was!

Was the Passport accepted by the Thai Immigration on entering Thailand?It seems it was!

Why the f*** would he have then to lose his flight and go to prison?For swearing?In English?(normally a tourist doesn't swear in Thai to a Thai Officer)

The British FCO is to blame?For sure.

The Thai Immigration is to blame?Not on TV.

The Politically Correct people are acting like fools?YES.(Sorry Jingthing,MHO only).

It could happen to me,not sure if I would only politely smile.Third world my a**.

not sure? you swear in a thread about someone else's experience of immigration so i would not back you not to

its not about being politically correct its about judging his behaviour (as reported) both at the airport and subsequently as idiotic

[CFIT]

Burrowes, on the other hand. was totally innocent but was pulled, accused and held in prison for far longer than was necessary because he was black.

Didn't his highly suspect passport photo have something to do with his being pulled aside and questioned?

nothing suspicious about it . I can clearly make out his features , thats what the passport is about , identification.

suspected forgery my ass, the motive for pulling him over was a racist one.

hahahaha... nothing suspicious???

Good grief, what do you think immigration is looking for when they inspect passports? How do you think they detect forged passports? It's because they TYPICALLY don't match what is normally presented to them thousands of times a day.

In the closed thread prior to the posting of the photo, there were 300 posts that decried having a shirtless passport photo was IMPOSSIBLE !! and that they never heard of such a ludicrous claim... and that it would never be accepted by the passport agency... and that it must have been an exaggerated claim or even an outright lie from immigration officials... and... and... and...

and yet, once the shirtless passport photo was posted, they all shut up.

until now...

I were going to make a fake passport , I wouldn't have a "nud_e" picture in it. Some people are reacting as if genitalia were exposed.

Mr Burrowes has stated he was wearing a singlet and the straps simply don't show..

And I have a picture in my passport that is similar, my shoulders are bare.

And all this begs the question , if the passport was so suspicious, why was he allowed INTO the country.

And this topic has really brought out the racists. I really thought we'd gone forward on that issue, but I see that all "PC" decorum has done is bury the subject where they can nest and multiply .

And "uppity" is a word that was/is used frequently in the US bible/racist belt in conjunction with " Nigger"

As in ; " That uppity nigger sure got what's coming to him."

[CFIT]

Black people in America have been conditioned by their leaders (who basically exploit and control them for profit for the white powers that be) to be obsessed with race and the connotation of certain words. Then, instead of taking the proper steps to succeed in life and build something, they can sit back and blame other people and institutions for their problems.

^

Yes racism is alive and well .

[sriracha john]

Didn't his highly suspect passport photo have something to do with his being pulled aside and questioned?

nothing suspicious about it . I can clearly make out his features , thats what the passport is about , identification.

suspected forgery my ass, the motive for pulling him over was a racist one.

hahahaha... nothing suspicious???

Good grief, what do you think immigration is looking for when they inspect passports? How do you think they detect forged passports? It's because they TYPICALLY don't match what is normally presented to them thousands of times a day.

In the closed thread prior to the posting of the photo, there were 300 posts that decried having a shirtless passport photo was IMPOSSIBLE !! and that they never heard of such a ludicrous claim... and that it would never be accepted by the passport agency... and that it must have been an exaggerated claim or even an outright lie from immigration officials... and... and... and...

and yet, once the shirtless passport photo was posted, they all shut up.

until now...

I were going to make a fake passport , I wouldn't have a "nud_e" picture in it. Some people are reacting as if genitalia were exposed.

Mr Burrowes has stated he was wearing a singlet and the straps simply don't show..

And I have a picture in my passport that is similar, my shoulders are bare.

And all this begs the question , if the passport was so suspicious, why was he allowed INTO the country.

Not all passport fakers are Harvard graduates, hence it's difficult to assign intelligent decisions as to what they may or may not try to get away with. Prisons are full of criminals who made absurd mistakes in the execution of their crimes.

Irregardless of what Mr. Burrowes claims to have worn for his passport photo, no upper torso covering is visible whatsoever. That would be very suspicious to an immigration official for exactly the same reasons voiced in the previous thread's 300 posts ascribing it as an impossible and outrageous claim by immigration... until the photo was posted showing that it was true.

As to your own passport photo, good luck to you, but you shouldn't be surprised if you questioned about it as it is certainly outside the realm of normal.

As far his entry into this country, we don't know definitively if he was questioned about it at the time... and even if he wasn't, if one immigration offficial overlooked it without comment, THAT would be considered unusual... and not the norm.

As the non-traditional 3/4 angle view AND no shirt is certainly not the norm, the usual...or normal course of action... would be to question him about it at length, which is what happened when he attempted to depart this country.

Edited May 15, 2009 by sriracha john

[brahmburgers]

we see half of the man's left shoulder (and he's a wide shouldered guy). How can it be sure he's not wearing a T-shirt with a narrow strap - like a basketball shirt, for example.

More to the point (using Abdulrahman's lead):

The Passport was genuine.

The photo was accepted by British authority.

The Passport was accepted by the Thai Immigration upon entering Thailand.

Why then can Thai Imm, at another port of entry/exit, apply their personal proclivities upon the document? If they choose to mandate that all Thai passports have a photo with certain standards (suit and tie, for example) then that's their prerogative. However, a passport is an international document, and can't be deemed invalid if it doesn't adhere to any one of over 100 countries' standards.

Conclusion: Simon was singled out because he is an imposing dark skinned man with a passport from a white skinned country (according to Phuket Imm authorities' opinion). If Phuket authorities had doubts, they should have immediately contacted Brit officials (not waited an hour while staring at the photo), and Brit authority should have just as quickly done the right thing.

Phuket Imm dept should refund Simon triple the loss of his original air ticket, they should also refund $100/day for each day they jailed him on false charges (stemming from their losing face). Additionally, Brit embassy in Bkk should award Simon 5,000 pounds compensation for their officer who failed in his duties.

Edited May 15, 2009 by brahmburgers

[JohnGotti]

lolololololololol

[sriracha john]

we see half of the man's left shoulder (and he's a wide shouldered guy). How can it be sure he's not wearing a T-shirt with a narrow strap - like a basketball shirt, for example.

It's not up to us (or Immigration) to imagine what may or may not be there. It's to go on what is there. Which is... nothing. What is on his shoulders is to have the responsibility for producing a photo that falls within the realm of normalcy.

Why then can Thai Imm, at another port of entry/exit, apply their personal proclivities upon the document?

Their "personal proclivities" were to apply the normal and typical practice of scrutinizing photos that fall well outside the realm of normalcy.

The immigration official on his arrival was the one that didn't apply the normal standards and thus used his "personal proclivity" which was one of laxness by not following normal standards. That doesn't exonerate Mr. Burrowes from being scrutinized when these standards were utilized upon his departure.

Anyone that has made even a few trips to other countries quickly realizes that immigration officials methods and standards can vary from one place to another or even at different times at the same place. A mistake made by one immigration official doesn't exonerate the person that is involved (as in the several threads about erroneous border stamps that give someone more time than their particular visa calls for, eg. arrived on a TR and stamped in for 90 days) which is another situation where an arrival error is detected at departure. Guess what happens? The person pays for overstay if he stays the 90 days.

If they choose to mandate that all Thai passports have a photo with certain standards (suit and tie, for example) then that's their prerogative. However, a passport is an international document, and can't be deemed invalid if it doesn't adhere to any one of over 100 countries' standards.

They don't mandate those standards, but they certainly follow a universally-accepted standard whereby the person in the photo is wearing a shirt. To a bit lesser degree, the 3/4 angle view of the photo also falls outside universally-accepted standards. Granted, that his photo was accepted in Canberra, Australia for his British passport was an error on their part.

Conclusion: Simon was singled out because he is an imposing dark skinned man with a passport from a white skinned country (according to Phuket Imm authorities' opinion). If Phuket authorities had doubts, they should have immediately contacted Brit officials (not waited an hour while staring at the photo), and Brit authority should have just as quickly done the right thing.

or... Simon received a very unsurprising scrutiny of his passport due several aspects of his photo being well outside normal.

Scrutinizing passports can take an inordinate amount time as anyone who has witnessed the practice can verify. Was the time excessive? Difficult to say.

The involvement of the British authorities did fail him and with them can be added the aforementioned arrival immigration official and the Canberra authorities. But then Mr. Burrowes failed by failing to control himself, which while may be understandable to some degree, also doesn't excuse him.

It's been an admittedly difficult learning experience for him, but one in which his own actions dictated what ultimately happened to him. This is a not so uncommon an occurrence wherein an inexperienced traveler encounters a difficult situation, but then makes it worse on their own due to not fully appreciating the situation they find themselves in. This is occurring more and more often as intercontinental travel becomes more and more commonplace.

Confronting immigration officials in such a manner was one of his errors. Thinking it was an acceptable risk to try and depart for his homeland from the other side of the world virtually penniless was another as it certainly compounded his anger by worsening his predicament.

Conclusion:

As traversing the globe entails any number of potential pitfalls, not everyone is cut out to be a world traveler.

Edited May 15, 2009 by sriracha john

[Mobi]

And "uppity" is a word that was/is used frequently in the US bible/racist belt in conjunction with " Nigger"

As in ; " That uppity nigger sure got what's coming to him."

But this isn't the USA bible/racist belt.

This is Thailand, Mr Burrows is English, sand the poster who used the word was English.

Totally inappropriate to jump on him and accuse him of making a racist remark.

[JohnGotti]

The big concern in my eyes is that when these devious farang backpacker types get wind of the kind generosity of the Thais in this article, they might be lining up to get arrested under the hopes of receiving media attention and a free ticket home.

[JohnGotti]

why is everyone always talking about "in America" on this forum?

[Electra]

So a highly unusual passport photo of a shirtless man taken from an unusual angle and doesn't match the normal standard of the thousands of passport photos that pass in front of immigration every day wouldn't arouse suspicion as to its authenticity..

except if it's a black man involved???

I find that impossible to believe.

Oh dear, you, like many others here, seem to have the missed the point. No surprise there.

The photograph depicts a full face and shoulder shot of a mature black man apparently without a shirt. He explained that he was wearing a singlet at the time it was taken. The photograph was one used when a replacement passport was issued to him in 1990( 1991?) in Melbourne while he was there for a martial arts tournament. At the time it conformed to most if not all international standards in that his head and facial features were clearly displayed, certainly to a degree that would satisfy any immigration inspection.

The problem arose that despite the fact the passport bore no evidence of tampering the immigration officers at Phuket could not believe that a photograph depicting an apparently shirtless man could possibly be genuine and original to the document presented to them. They then contacted the British consular official in Bangkok to confirm its authenticity which , as we know, he was not able to do at the time.

Certainly, the photograph evidently aroused suspicion but on closer scrutiny any examination should have confirmed that it was original to the document and quite clearly that of the bearer.

Frankly, I don't understand your reluctance to accept that it is only because Mr Burrowes was black and therefore linked in the mindset of many Thai to all the other black Africans ' drug smugglers ' that caused his grief. The immigration officer who saw him upon his arrival obviously was aware that he came from the UK and therefore no suspicion was aroused because African impersonators travelling on alleged stolen forged British documents are not noted for their migration from Britain to Thailand because of its siren call of their welfare state and the free thinking, pluralist society likely to embrace them.

There was nothing wrong with the chap's passport but he is black and appeared to have no shirt.

Detaining on those grounds is not within any ' normalcy '. Only an idiot could possibly think it right or reasonable.

[dave111223]

....

The problem arose that despite the fact the passport bore no evidence of tampering the immigration officers at Phuket could not believe that a photograph depicting an apparently shirtless man could possibly be genuine and original to the document presented to them. They then contacted the British consular official in Bangkok to confirm its authenticity which , as we know, he was not able to do at the time.

Certainly, the photograph evidently aroused suspicion but on closer scrutiny any examination should have confirmed that it was original to the document and quite clearly that of the bearer.

Frankly, I don't understand your reluctance to accept that it is only because Mr Burrowes was black and therefore linked in the mindset of many Thai to all the other black Africans ' drug smugglers ' that caused his grief. The immigration officer who saw him upon his arrival obviously was aware that he came from the UK and therefore no suspicion was aroused because African impersonators travelling on alleged stolen forged British documents are not noted for their migration from Britain to Thailand because of its siren call of their welfare state and the free thinking, pluralist society likely to embrace them.

...

Surely the key is that the British consular did not confirm the authenticity?

"that it is only because Mr Burrowes was black"

That could have been a factor in why his passport was scrutinized more than normal, but how does that have any baring on the British consular not verifying the authenticity of the passport?

It seems like it's the British consular who dropped the ball big time, and not the Thai immigration...? What should they have done with a person holding a suspicious passport, which even his home country won't verify?

[Sabum]

The big concern in my eyes is that when these devious farang backpacker types get wind of the kind generosity of the Thais in this article, they might be lining up to get arrested under the hopes of receiving media attention and a free ticket home.

As my final post on Thaivisa I'd just like to say that you: JohnGotti/TonySoprano are a silly monkey.

I have a bunch of big projects coming up and I need to kick my Thaivisa addiction, goodbye cruel world.... lol

SEEYA

[kennkate]

What time is his flight ? Has he gone or is he getting his Overstay Fine together

Madness in Mikey Mouse Land.

Just think of all the good Publicity for the Thai Tourist cause when he gets back.

Not to mention the lack of support from the UK Embassy

Go for it Simon get it in All the UK papers. Blo--dy Disgrace IMO

He comes IN on the Passport spends his money here then Suddenly His Passport is Suspect.

No wonder Tourist figures are Down

If they don't get there act together here they wont go UP

[samran]

So a highly unusual passport photo of a shirtless man taken from an unusual angle and doesn't match the normal standard of the thousands of passport photos that pass in front of immigration every day wouldn't arouse suspicion as to its authenticity..

except if it's a black man involved???

I find that impossible to believe.

Oh dear, you, like many others here, seem to have the missed the point. No surprise there.

The photograph depicts a full face and shoulder shot of a mature black man apparently without a shirt. He explained that he was wearing a singlet at the time it was taken. The photograph was one used when a replacement passport was issued to him in 1990( 1991?) in Melbourne while he was there for a martial arts tournament. At the time it conformed to most if not all international standards in that his head and facial features were clearly displayed, certainly to a degree that would satisfy any immigration inspection.

The problem arose that despite the fact the passport bore no evidence of tampering the immigration officers at Phuket could not believe that a photograph depicting an apparently shirtless man could possibly be genuine and original to the document presented to them. They then contacted the British consular official in Bangkok to confirm its authenticity which , as we know, he was not able to do at the time.

Certainly, the photograph evidently aroused suspicion but on closer scrutiny any examination should have confirmed that it was original to the document and quite clearly that of the bearer.

Frankly, I don't understand your reluctance to accept that it is only because Mr Burrowes was black and therefore linked in the mindset of many Thai to all the other black Africans ' drug smugglers ' that caused his grief. The immigration officer who saw him upon his arrival obviously was aware that he came from the UK and therefore no suspicion was aroused because African impersonators travelling on alleged stolen forged British documents are not noted for their migration from Britain to Thailand because of its siren call of their welfare state and the free thinking, pluralist society likely to embrace them.

There was nothing wrong with the chap's passport but he is black and appeared to have no shirt.

Detaining on those grounds is not within any ' normalcy '. Only an idiot could possibly think it right or reasonable.

Racial profiling is done by just about all immigration officers in my experience. Not trying to justify it by any means, but it is 'the norm'. My Australian passport is one of the last 10 year series, issued in BKK litterally days before they switched over to e-passports issued only out of Canberra, London or Washington. These old passports have an inserted photo rather than a scanned one and after time can look, shall I say, fake.

The amount of times I've been pulled up by Australian immigration officials (both before departing BKK and on landing on OZ) purely based on my look is beyond count. It is only when I open my mouth and hear my accent do they wave me on.

Once, when my passport 'wasn't in the system' (just after being issued her in BKK!) was I pulled aside for more than a few moments. Fortunately, they offered me what wasn't offered to Mr Burrows by the British consular official, the ability to check my bonafides via a conversation and other documentation (license and a computer check of my recently expired Australian passport).

Strangely, none of this happens when I travel to Australia with my blond haired blue eyed wife and daughters!! I wonder why!!!

I also tend to agree that the Thai's do use racial profiling...litterally, the whiter the better. What doesn't seem to work for me in OZ works for me in LOS...

Coming back into Thailand the other week at Hat Lek, this time on our Thai passports, the immigratoin officer didn't even bother to LOOK my 3.y.o scandanavian looking daughter (asleep in the pram) who's Thai passport photo was taken at 6 months and doesn't bear any resembleance to her now. Now, the lady in front of me, Cambodian and with what appeared to be proper work documentaion for Thailand....well she was taken aside for more questioning. Go figure...

[baabaabobo]

Unbelievable!

Burrowes misses flight!

PHUKET CITY: It seems British tourist Simon Burrowes’s troubles in Thailand will never end. His flight out of Phuket left at 3pm today, but, in a situation that is all too familiar to Burrowes, he was not on it.

Immigration officials there told him they wanted to make some “additional inquiries” before permitting him to board the plane.

A police officer accompanying Mr Burrowes decided that Mr Burrowes would have to go to the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket City – and miss the flight that had been paid for by an anonymous Thai benefactor.

This time, it seems, he kept his cool.

“It's not that much of a surprise, really,” he told the Gazette, explaining that after all he had been through, he was fully prepared for a hitch.

“It’s nothing. It really is nothing,” he said, sounding resigned.

Accompanied by the police officer and a Thai national who has been helping Mr Burrowes since he was released from prison, at the time of writing the luckless muay thai fighter was in a car heading for Immigration in Phuket City.

Friends of Mr Burrowes are attempting to secure him a place on another flight later today.

– Dan Waites

-- Phuket Gazette 15/5/09

[samran]

Surely the key is that the British consular did not confirm the authenticity?

"that it is only because Mr Burrowes was black"

That could have been a factor in why his passport was scrutinized more than normal, but how does that have any baring on the British consular not verifying the authenticity of the passport?

It seems like it's the British consular who dropped the ball big time, and not the Thai immigration...? What should they have done with a person holding a suspicious passport, which even his home country won't verify?

I think that he was black played a part in raising red flags (see my previous post). But, it was throughly down to the British consular official for dropping the ball. The de-facto confirmed immigration's suspisions by their inaction (except down the pub).

[kennkate]

Unbelievable!

Burrowes misses flight!

PHUKET CITY: It seems British tourist Simon Burrowes’s troubles in Thailand will never end. His flight out of Phuket left at 3pm today, but, in a situation that is all too familiar to Burrowes, he was not on it.

Immigration officials there told him they wanted to make some “additional inquiries” before permitting him to board the plane.

A police officer accompanying Mr Burrowes decided that Mr Burrowes would have to go to the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket City – and miss the flight that had been paid for by an anonymous Thai benefactor.

This time, it seems, he kept his cool.

“It's not that much of a surprise, really,” he told the Gazette, explaining that after all he had been through, he was fully prepared for a hitch.

“It’s nothing. It really is nothing,” he said, sounding resigned.

Accompanied by the police officer and a Thai national who has been helping Mr Burrowes since he was released from prison, at the time of writing the luckless muay thai fighter was in a car heading for Immigration in Phuket City.

Friends of Mr Burrowes are attempting to secure him a place on another flight later today.

– Dan Waites

-- Phuket Gazette 15/5/09

And just remind us How long have they had to make Additional Enquiries ?

Mickey Mouse Land

[Electra]

I rather think the culpability of the British official was identified and acknowledged by most in the other thread, now closed. Certainly, for my part, he was the cause of Burrowes' incarceration and that the poor chap was then overlooked and left to languish for a further 3 weeks without any assistance was a disgraceful scandal of neglect and irresponsibility. One would hope the buffoon responsible has been reprimanded lest he repeat his incompetence but I wouldn't hold out much hope not least because the British consulate have again seen fit not to accompany Burrowes today while he tried to embark. Given the history so far I would have thought it was the least they could have done.

Perhaps they are too busy attending to the publicity riven case of the captured drugs mule in Laos?

[catmac]

Two words sum up the latest Immigration action - vindictive and spiteful.

It will surely do wonders to Thailand's attempt to rebuild Tourism.

I wait for S. John's explanation as to why this latest setback is actually all Simon's fault, did he not grovel deep enough at Phuket this time round?

[brahmburgers]

Unbelievable!

Burrowes misses flight!

PHUKET CITY: It seems British tourist Simon Burrowes’s troubles in Thailand will never end. His flight out of Phuket left at 3pm today, but, in a situation that is all too familiar to Burrowes, he was not on it.

Immigration officials there told him they wanted to make some “additional inquiries” before permitting him to board the plane.

A police officer accompanying Mr Burrowes decided that Mr Burrowes would have to go to the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket City – and miss the flight that had been paid for by an anonymous Thai benefactor.

This time, it seems, he kept his cool.

“It's not that much of a surprise, really,” he told the Gazette, explaining that after all he had been through, he was fully prepared for a hitch.

“It’s nothing. It really is nothing,” he said, sounding resigned.

Accompanied by the police officer and a Thai national who has been helping Mr Burrowes since he was released from prison, at the time of writing the luckless muay thai fighter was in a car heading for Immigration in Phuket City.

Friends of Mr Burrowes are attempting to secure him a place on another flight later today.

– Dan Waites

-- Phuket Gazette 15/5/09

Not quite unbelievable. I figure the average expat in Thailand spends about one cumulative month dealing with Thai bureaucracy, for every year he's in the country. That's an understatement in my case, though I've suffered no where near the travails that poor Simon has in miscombobled Phuket. I spend about one full day in ten, on average, dealing with the catch-22 gordian knot known as Thai bureaucracy.

I can imaging Simon is so shell-shocked in to submission now, that if part of the ceiling fell down and knocked him to the floor, he'd probably just brush himself off, with a hushed "well, then," to no-one in particular, ....and continue ambling on.

[baabaabobo]

Burrowes update: more jail time possible!

PHUKET CITY: Simon Burrowes may have to spend a night in a cell at Phuket City Immigration Office while his case is processed, the Gazette has learned.

An officer at immigration said Mr Burrowes should be able to leave the country tomorrow after “some paper work” is completed.

This might mean he will have to spend a night in jail, the officer said.

Thai jails are not unfamiliar to Mr Burrowes, who spent three weeks in Phuket Provincial Prison after losing his temper with an Immigration officer at Phuket International Airport.

Mr Burrowes was due to fly out of Phuket today at 3pm after receiving a one-way ticket home to the UK, paid for by an anonymous Thai benefactor.

When he reached Phuket Airport to catch the flight, he was told that some unspecified “additional inquiries” would need to be made.

In what might have felt like a case of deja vu to the muay thai pugilist, the flight left without him.

He was driven to Phuket City Immigration Office, where he remains.

A foreign gentleman is understood to be attempting to secure Mr Burrowes’s release today.

For our previous report, click here.

Immigration officials would not permit a Gazette reporter to interview him and the officer in charge of the case at Immigration was reportedly “not available for comment”.

Martin Carpenter, Honorary British Consul in Phuket, said he was aware of the situation.

“We will provide Mr Burrowes with any assistance that we can to make sure he can get back to the UK,” he said.

“The Immigration department are probably only following procedures,” he said. “I don’t even know if the Immigration department knew if Mr Burrowes was actually leaving this afternoon.”

The consulate had not received a court report following the Burrowes case and did not know his exact immigration status, he said.

“It is up to the individual and their legal council to understand exactly what his immigration status is,” he added.

The Gazette has been unable to confirm whether the latest detention is related to unpaid overstay fines.

Mr Burrowes earlier told the Gazette that he thought the public prosecutor in his case had managed to get his 20,000 baht in overstay fines waived.

– Dan Waites and Gazette reporters

-- Phuket Gazette 15/5/09

[JohnGotti]

"I spend about one full day in ten, on average, dealing with the catch-22 gordian knot known as Thai bureaucracy."

What are you one of them 30 day visa runners?