Australian Women Arrested In Phuket Over Bar Mat

[LivinLOS]

As far as bar mats, the rubber ones that drinks are poured on to prevent spillage from messing up the bar....they are usually given to the bar by their supplier, such as Red Bull, Absolut Vodka, Jack Daniels, etc. etc.

I'm not sure if that's the case in this situation, but any bar that you go into has been given the rubber kind for free as the advertisers want to advertise their product and it's one less thing that the bar doesn't have to purchase.

It doesn't make it any more right, but just throwing that out there.

If you bothered to look at the picture posted umpteen times you would see its branded wih the bar name and logo..

It probably costs quite a bit to keep having people 'souvenir' them as thier lawyer puts it..

[RickBradford]

Much is being made of the fact that the woman has only been charged with 'theft' when it seems that her major blunder was giving too much attitude to the cops subsequently. If she hadn't shown attitude (i.e. causing 'loss of face' to Thais, the ultimate no-no to such a brittle people), the theft charge would probably have been allowed to slide.

The suggestion earlier that the cops told her to 'just go', but the staff continued to demand action makes me wonder: if one of these $60 bar towels goes missing, who ends up paying? Does it come out of staff wages?

[seri thai]

So Thailand is a place where you will be thrown into a filthy, small jail cell with 3 others if you so much as take a bar towel from a bar?

I though Singapore was bad. Time to visit somewhere else.

This story is really gathering a very high profile in Australia, The Australian Prime Minister has now publicly denounced the Thai justice system and vowed to do everything possible to secure her immediate release.

The radio talk back stations have been swamped by callers telling of their experiences with rip offs and corruption in Thailand.

So many people with negative stories on Thailand coming to the public's attention will see a dramatic drop of in Aussies holidaying in Thailand and Phuket in particular (the new Bali for Australians).

I have never heard so much negativity from tourists from any country regarding Thailand.

It will be most interesting to see the reaction from the Thai Authorities given the comments from the Farang Australian Prime Minister, I doubt they will be prepared to lose face over this matter, even although it is just a small towel placed on the bar to soak up the spillage.

This would be the same Aussie PM who's flight got turned round last month and who's state-funded week in Pattaya was stuffed up by Thai protestors?

Yes I can see why he's denouncing Thailand this week

[zemoo]

I feel sorry for the Thais, they are not the worlds smartest politicly. The Aussie girls have set a trap and the Thais got caught in it. The Aussies will now stay home in droves and spend there money at home..thanks to the Aussie girls showing how dim whitted the thais can be.

Be careful of what you say.

The Defender of The Realm might delete your comments as they might be construed as anti-Thai.

What planet are you guys living on? Ok granted, Thailand's political instability is costing them dearly and corruption is rampant but "The Aussie girls have set a trap and the Thais got caught in it" - what the f*#@ck!

Aussies stay home if you're worried what will happen to you when you brake the Law.

[JatujakShopper]

Yet another story to encourage tourists to return to Thailand.

If this is the full story - pathetic over reaction by the Thai police in the first place and then they totally ignore the confession of the real culprit.

Radio interview with Mrs Smoel and others here...

http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/3aw-breakfast-...90519-bd48.html

Yet more discouragement for people to visit Thailand. If I wait long enough I'll have the place all to myself.

[RickBradford]

Chr**t, see the three women in that picture advertising the bar? Even Manny Pacquiao wouldn't try to take them on.....

[GungaDin]

Yet another story to encourage tourists to return to Thailand.

If this is the full story - pathetic over reaction by the Thai police in the first place and then they totally ignore the confession of the real culprit.

Radio interview with Mrs Smoel and others here...

http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/3aw-breakfast-...90519-bd48.html

Yet more discouragement for people to visit Thailand. If I wait long enough I'll have the place all to myself.

LOL True!

I notice that the woman has made no reference to her verbal abuse of the cops and their boss.

She has clearly failed the atitude test.

No sympathy for her now.

[Texpat]

She's a top graduate of the Simon Burrowes School of Selective Revelation.

[halarpohala]

There must be more to this story than meets the eye.

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

out here in asia there is always more to such stories than meets the eye.

[zemoo]

RE: Radio interview with Mrs Smoel and others

Ok fair go, innocent until proven guilty, but is anyone denying the fact that either this woman or her "mate" has stolen something? They knew they were doing something wrong, otherwise why did they put the towel in the bag and not just walk out with it so everyone could see? Why don't they interview the woman who is responsible (we do have a confession) and publicly shame her for stealing? If she is a "mate" she will pay all legal costs and compensate her mate for all the trauma and unfair treatment. Anyone who has lived in modern day Australia knows that Australian justice favours the criminal and not the victim. In Australia you get a slap on the wrist for robbery or theft and you can be back on the job the next day. This radio interview is little more than an attempt at saving an Aussie's face (in this case Mrs Smoel's "mate" who has confessed to the crime). Poor innocent women - how old are your kids again, one more time? What did you tell them? How about Mommy's friend stole something and now Mommy has to pay for it!

Yes it seems very harsh for such a petty crime and the Thai justice system is a joke but if you play with fire you're gonna get burnt!

[Junglejumbo]

Reminds me of the British guy who was arrested at Phuket airport for swearing....

I wonder if this is just another petty face issue like the British black skinned guy who got arrested a couple of months ago at Phuket airport for swearing at the immigration police when one of them accused him of having a forged passport which made him miss his plane. He followed a similar pattern of jail, bail and long court case wait. This case sounds almost the same. However, stealing a beer mat is a cultural phenomenon in some countries, or used to be 2-3 decades ago. Not that I've ever done it but I know lots of people who have including my parents when they were younger. Its very common to take a beer mat as a souvenir (some people used to collect ashtrays which are probably more expensive). However, these days you buy a shirt from Hard Rock Cafe, I guess although I would never bother doing that myself either.

Friends used to ask me to take a box of matches from different countries I go to, but I don't smoke and bars don't leave them around given the smoking ban.

Once again Phuket proves to be unwelcoming to the average tourist. This is an international tourist resort which should by now know and understand tourists. It's a also a resort that has plenty of bars and it isn't illegal to drink or get drunk.

We're not talking some town in North Korea or Saudi Arabia. This is a place people having been visiting on from all around the world in their millions for the best part of the last 15 years.

However, from my understanding of Thai law providing that the bar owners don't press charges, the police can't do anything as the property isn't owned by the government.....

the Thai authorities have no compassion and no respect for Western women

Edited May 19, 2009 by Junglejumbo

[grandpops]

I feel sorry for the Thais, they are not the worlds smartest politicly. The Aussie girls have set a trap and the Thais got caught in it. The Aussies will now stay home in droves and spend there money at home..thanks to the Aussie girls showing how dim whitted the thais can be.

Thais don't need nor want pity from you.

As for the trap, funny how the clever ladies ended up fleeing, squealing to the press, in jail, passport removed and in tears, whilst the Thai Police they out-witted were reduced to locking them up and laughing at their pleas.

More Aussies are likely to come here if they think these loud drunken types are going to be put off.

Thais win all round as they always do.

I suggest any teachers in Thailand, print the above post out and see if their students can spot more than the 10 errors I noticed on the most cursory of readings.

See if the average Thai Student's English is equal to that of such an intellect as regfrancis.

[Coolmen]

Yet another story to encourage tourists to return to Thailand.

If this is the full story - pathetic over reaction by the Thai police in the first place and then they totally ignore the confession of the real culprit.

Radio interview with Mrs Smoel and others here...

http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/3aw-breakfast-...90519-bd48.html

Yet more discouragement for people to visit Thailand. If I wait long enough I'll have the place all to myself.

Another fact of Amazing Thailand and you could be right that you will have the place all for yourself soonest. After 19 Years I am leaving on the 1.June to Malaysia, where I am welcome and wanted. Theft or no theft neither of us know what is the real action and how it was done, but the handling of the case is just business as usual on Police work. Thailand is in terms of Corruption on par with Indonesia and the filipines. Which says it all.

Simple fact is, the Thais don't want us here and this was introduced by the fugitive thaksin who open admits that's he hates Foreigners. With this message and his Money he won the support of the poor and has separated the Country to an point where a eruption will occur in the not so far future so maybe they just want to get the Foreigners out before they go on each others Troath? Who knows and I even dont want to know it anymore,it is just enough hssle and stupid useless action, like the crap to report every 90 days to Immigration, or if they came check your Business that all your Staff has to be there, no matter if they get a Job at Chiang Mai or elsewhere outside of Bangkok. It just makes no sense at all anymore so better to leave to a place where I am welcome, can own a Business, a parcel of Land to build on it, and where the People know you can not just fold the Land and take it with you. Where I get a Taxbreak for the first 5 years starting up my business. All the components I need they can do in Malaysia as well so why living with the daily down falls implemented here?

[ban1dto]

In most countries there are rules (laws) by which a person is charged. Emotions are not to play a part in the arrest for breaking these rules; the laws of the land are the stability of the country.

But even in so called "stable western" counties, we can see that when emotions start getting out of control, a whole differnet scenario comes into play, it is a "us against you" situation, the police against the civilian. Emotions evidently ran high, the police saw that they were loosing control and determined to take control no matter what it took. They had NO thoughts about the effect on tourism this would have, it was a Me vs. You and they were going to take care of the problem. Rational thought had long since taken a hike for both parties.

This just seems to be the law of life that we live with, so it is good to keep that in the back of our minds when we let go and do crazy things.

[Junglejumbo]

OK, its quite a big mat...not the one the right size for a bottle of beer as I had imagined. Sells for about 1,000 baht and she should've apologised and paid for it .

As an "Aussie Bar" the bar owners should show their spirit and help this woman.....

It's the tourists who provide this bar with their revenues, and the tourists that drink until silly and stupid are usually the biggest sources of those revenues....so come on and do your duty and help your fellow country men in a win win situation.

Edited May 19, 2009 by Junglejumbo

[daeng1212]

In my home state in the U.S., a theft of property valued at less than $500 is a 1st degree misdemeanor. The maximum jail sentence for a 1st degree misdemeanor is 6 months in jail, though if it's a first offense, a fine and/or probation would probably be given instead of a jail sentence. Two to five years seems very harsh.

Edited May 19, 2009 by daeng1212

[Emeritus]

Several accounts of this incident i have read on the net are stating the lady attempted first to flee the scene, and then was extremely abusive to police offers. Anybody with any understanding of the Thai culture would know they are big mistakes and have massively escalated this situation.

Is it true that the woman was arrested, charged and bailed for the "night-time theft" of a bar mat even though the owner/proprietor of the mat did not file a complaint, and for nothing else?

[Emeritus]

Im no Lawyer, but i believe police in Australia can still press charges even if the victim decides not to proceed.

Not in Thailand, I believe. Does anybody know for sure?

[notime]

Ta ta ta ...

Australians banned from Thailand! ... Clash of Civilisations! ... Thailand versus the Aliens! ... War of the Worlds!

And how did it all start?

SCENE 1, Phuket bar, Thailand

An under-cover off-duty but vigilant and horny Thai cop was sitting at the Phuket bar and thinking: These Aussie sheelas aren't that bad. But how can I score at least a conversation with one with my poor English? Hey, what's happening here? It seems like I saw the BAR MAT going into the bag of that blond one! Here she comes out .. I better be quick, lift myself up this chair and on with the action .. what was the training for? By the way, there may be some $$$ in it.

He quickly rose up trying to cover up the big smile that was forcing itself onto his face. He was almost sure this time he was going to score one way or another. He rushed thought the door.

Ee ... eee .. excuse me Madam ..

His leg crossed her path and she stopped on her way. Who was that man? What does that Thai want?

Your bag .. please open bag.

He mumbled.

What? What bag? Where is my bag? Oh .. I left it behind. Here it comes. What do you want from it?

Police. I am Police... he stated trying to be convincing. He grabbed the bag from the hands passing it onto the woman and opened it up. Here was the BAR MAT inside.

You steel BAR MAT .. he said.

What the fuc_k? .. Don't give me this shit... the woman replied. She was having a great time on this holiday and sitting chatting with friends at the bar and here this low life and accuses her of theft!

Give me my bag back. And you can keep the mat if you want. You probably put it there by yourself. Good bye!

The sudden rush of cockiness took over her state of slight alcoholic intoxication. But she was determined not to let anyone spoil her evening. She pushed his leg blocking her way out and moved quickly towards the beach.

What does this cocky blond Farnag woman thinks she is? .. was the policeman thinking. I am the man in charge here. This is our bar. And how can she talk to ME like this? Does the little bitch think I'm not going to let her go just like that ... he rushed after her and caught up with her after few minutes.

Stop .. YOU stop .. police .. he shouted. Now .. YOU go back. He grabbed her arm firm even that she squeaked.

An expression of a complete surprise and shock has greeted her face. She let herself to be lead to a car and on to the police station. The astonishment at the turn of events was turning into rage. A few drinks she had earlier was not helping in that but her determination of not letting anybody spoil her holiday was paramount. This stupid low-life copper has no idea of what he was talking about .. she thought. She didn't do anything wrong and must be cleared quickly. Otherwise she was going to blast them! Where is the boss of that idiot?

At the police station she really couldn't restrain herself any more. She demanded to see the boss. Why are your people doing this to me? Why would I want to steal a pitiful f***ing little bar mat? Are you insane? .. she shouted at the guy who was in the office. She really had enough of the mistreatment and wanted to go back to the hotel.

The boss was not impressed at all. He is a big-shit big mafia police boss of the whole of Phuket and this little blond Farang bitch speaks to him like this? She has no idea who is she dealing with here.

He called the guys and asked them to lock her up and the cell D. That small one at the end of the corridor with 3 other women in it. And guys .. he said .. make sure the bitch doesn't get to eat until tomorrow, khrap.

That was his country. The Farang come here and they think they can do whatever they like. He was going to teach her a lesson in respecting Thailand. Make her suffer .. good. She stay in the lock up few days she will start to understand .. he though to himself still fuming.

Cut to SCENE 2, Prime Minister's office, Canberra.

Australian PM is at his desk and on the phone with Australian ambassador in Thailand.

Sorry I don't know if I'm hearing this right. What did the mob do this time? Oh .. not the mob the Thai police jailed the woman? We cannot be dragged into this not knowing what they have against her. People do strange things on thier holidays.

Even after the shocking treatment that he received in Thailand during his last stay he was firm on caring on with the normal relations with that country. Who knows they may have some oil in the Gulf and gold in the mountains that few friends of his would want to explore. But his patience was running thin.

Ohh .. the BAR MAT. What's that? Like the little coaster the place the drinks on? I see .. and this is an official charge? I have to talk with few people and will call you back shortly okie?

This time he was sure he had enough of Thailand. Why is it always Thailand has to make the news? They are absolute morons. Instead of cooperating and benefiting from the world they are bent on showing their cockiness and lack of culture. Their whole system is a joke including the government.

He picked up a red phone on his desk. Bruce .. yes .. the situation in Thailand again yes. I'm glad you've heard about it too. Order all of the Aussies out. We are going to get RAF to provide and airlift if necessary too .. yes. You can allow the the assistance of some fighters if the Australian lives were endangered.

Cut to SCENE 3, Chief of staff, Thai Army, Gen. Sumiporn's office, Bangkok.

The general is at his desk and on the phone.

Khrap khrap .. I never trusted Australians. They behave like drunken hooligans and they think they can do to us whatever they want. Yes .. you got it .. I give it my full support .. you can order all of them out of our country. They can do without .. yes. Any other farang wants to leave we will not cry .. khrap. Yes .. even if we have a total crackdown on farang .. I don't care .. correct .. khrap.

The rest is history. The first shells hit Bangkok last week after the suicide bombs destroyed the front of Opera house in Sydney. Now the whole world is watching and marveling at what went wrong with a lovely country Thailand once was. It was even called the Land of Smiles. As to the Australians .. well .. their disrespectful and cocky behavior is well documented and it didn't surprise anyone it had to start with somone from Oz.

[johnefallis]

For a country that places so much value on losing face, they sure go out of their way constantly to make themselves look as absolutely f'ing dense as possible. Yeah, I said it. It's the truth, everyone knows it, so censor me if you like, why not, Thailand would....

I hope all the good Thais are able to escape the oppression of living in an idiocracy.

[Steele404]

Sh1t... I'm beginning not to take the shisha + ash trays that i nicked for granted

[elcent]

According to the picture of the bar mat, it must have been a BIG handbag to carry, also quite heavy. Something wrong with handbags I guess.

[grandpops]

In my home state in the U.S., a theft of property valued at less than $500 is a 1st degree misdemeanor. The maximum jail sentence for a 1st degree misdemeanor is 6 months in jail, though if it's a first offense, a fine and/or probation would probably be given instead of a jail sentence. Two to five years seems very harsh.

Similar in the UK. And, like your country this leads to repeat offending and a class of petty criminal that knows how far to push the law, how to get legal fees paid, sympathy from lefty social workers etc.

I bet her or her mates never steal in Thailand again! Think they will be angels in Oz?

One thousand bahts worth of beer mat is about right for the quality and size of the one in the picture. One thousand Baht is one third of a months wages to many in the service industry. Had it been a Thai they had stolen from it would have been much much worse and had a Thai been caught stealing 1000 bahts worth of items from another Thai it would have resulted in a severe beating if not worse.

It was not a prank. Please somebody explain how putting this mat in a bag is funny? It was obviously going to be stolen.

I read on another site that this place is totally covered by CCTV cameras at every angle and every table. This system is used when people argue about beer tabs. The customer is shown a video replay of every drink arriving at their table!!! Hope we get to see it soon.

[bartender100]

I've owned, run, and worked in the pub industry most of my life, you have to be tolerant of people, you are selling them as much of the alcohol drug as you can to make a profit, then to complain about how they behave is stupid.

Boycott the bar and its intolerant owner, he does not deserve this publicity

[Emeritus]

And as to the 'charge' they have 48 days to decide what to formally charge her with.. Whose to say resisting arrest and being 'rude' to an officer dont land on the card too.. be careful what you wish for.

That's interesting. So it is premature to say that she was arrested for theft and nothing else. From what I have read up to this point the policeman talked to the woman about the beer mat in her bag (did not arrest her at this point), she ran away, when the police caught up with her she was abusive, at the police station she continued to be abusive. Whose word do we have for her having been arrested for (charged with?) only theft?

[lennois]

In my home state in the U.S., a theft of property valued at less than $500 is a 1st degree misdemeanor. The maximum jail sentence for a 1st degree misdemeanor is 6 months in jail, though if it's a first offense, a fine and/or probation would probably be given instead of a jail sentence. Two to five years seems very harsh.

Similar in the UK. And, like your country this leads to repeat offending and a class of petty criminal that knows how far to push the law, how to get legal fees paid, sympathy from lefty social workers etc.

I bet her or her mates never steal in Thailand again! Think they will be angels in Oz?

One thousand bahts worth of beer mat is about right for the quality and size of the one in the picture. One thousand Baht is one third of a months wages to many in the service industry. Had it been a Thai they had stolen from it would have been much much worse and had a Thai been caught stealing 1000 bahts worth of items from another Thai it would have resulted in a severe beating if not worse.

It was not a prank. Please somebody explain how putting this mat in a bag is funny? It was obviously going to be stolen.

I read on another site that this place is totally covered by CCTV cameras at every angle and every table. This system is used when people argue about beer tabs. The customer is shown a video replay of every drink arriving at their table!!! Hope we get to see it soon.

Are you saying you think 2-5 years in a Thai jail is reasonable punishment for stealing a bar mat? Clearly you are saying 6 months in jail is too lenient for petty theft.

Perhaps her or her mates should get life. Bet that stops them from stealing a bar mat again aye?

[lennois]

I've owned, run, and worked in the pub industry most of my life, you have to be tolerant of people, you are selling them as much of the alcohol drug as you can to make a profit, then to complain about how they behave is stupid.

Boycott the bar and its intolerant owner, he does not deserve this publicity

This is a very good point.

[Emeritus]

Ta ta ta ...

Australians banned from Thailand! ... Clash of Civilisations! ... Thailand versus the Aliens! ... War of the Worlds!

And how did it all start?

SCENE 1, Phuket bar, Thailand...

You know, starting from the first post in this topic I thought this would make a good movie script. You are right about it.

[Xiengmieng]

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said in one article: "I think we're all human, and we all make mistakes, and I'm one of them"

[taxin]

An interview with the owner of the Aussie Bar was shown on Australia Network this evening, All Steve Woods had to say was that the lady stole and now must pay the consequences.

Mr Woods uncompassionate attitude towards a fellow Aussie is very strange,the beer mat probably cost a whole 100 baht tops .

There must be more to this story than a simple case of night time stealing , having her passport removed and having to sit out up to 17 weeks in Thailand just to get a court appearance seems a bit of an overkill for such a petty offense .

I hope you are feeling pretty good about your failing to nip this stupidity in the bud Mr Wood.

ozzydom your a liar ! He never said anything like "she must pay the consequences", your making it up just like the scum news press in Australia !

The interview only shown a few seconds of Steve saying something along the lines of "at the end of the day she stole something". Thats as about as compassionate as it was. In other words as such as its a shame that she is in the position that she is, you cant lose touch of the fact that shes a thief. Thats what he was saying. I watched the interview myself on TV.

Lock the bitc* up for life I say for bringing down Thailand's reputation ! And her own country's image !! If I was an Aussie I would be embarrassed and ashamed to be from the same country, as most of my Aussie friends here in Phuket have said.

How many times do you need to be told, she is in the state shes in because the Thai coppers simply enforced the law, a law that they would not have been so heavily enforced if she kept her stupid mouth shut !!

The more you lot complain the bigger the sh*t she will remain in. The best thing she can could have done is simply hold her hands up and say "Yes I stole it". Instead of trying to get her lawyer and the PM of Australia to lie for her !!!

What part of "SHE IS A THIEF" dont you understand ??!!