Thai man arrested for drawing Angkor Wat on bathroom floor

PHNOM PENH: -- A Thai man was arrested for living illegally in Cambodia for more than ten years and for drawing an image of Angkor Wat on his bathroom floor, national media reported.

Police arrested Salavout Khamsan, 35, in Poipet in western Cambodia after neighbours saw the drawing of Cambodia's famous temple and told the authorities.

Poipet police chief Nuth Ly said the man had "desecrated the precious temple which is a World Heritage site."

The provincial police chief, Hun Hean, said the explanation given by the man - that he drew the image out of affection for the temple, and not to demean it - was not good enough.

"It is just an excuse, because he could have drawn it on paper and posted it on a wall," he said.

"Or he could buy a painting or a postcard with an image of Angkor, not draw it in front of a toilet and step on it."

Salavout Khamsan, a construction worker who entered Cambodia in 1998 through the Poipet checkpoint, faces up to six months in jail for visa violations.

Hun Hean said it is not clear which law will be used for punishing the alleged crime of drawing Angkor Wat on the bathroom floor.

-- The Nation 2009-08-11

If you are gonna be an illegal...stay under the radar.

I am sure many people will be surprised that a Thai has chosen to live (illegally) in Cambodia. I wonder if he has a Cambodian wife.

You really got to be stupid to get arrested in Cambodia. Just flew in a few days back and still a relatively lawless society maybe like thailand 20 years ago. Even the expats at a certain bar were smoking weed all night no probs. But don't mess with religion , culture and royalty and most farang will survive even with dodgy visa status

^^^^

I would add, steer clear of any well-dressed young Cambodians you might meet while partying late, as they are bound to be the scions of "connected" families and will happily gun down anyone who they perceive to be getting in their way or causing them to lose face.

These guys are pretty up-to-date on the situation.

He must have a huge bathroom

He must have a huge bathroom

ROFL

Edited August 11, 200916 yr by zorro1

You really got to be stupid to get arrested in Cambodia. Just flew in a few days back and still a relatively lawless society maybe like thailand 20 years ago. Even the expats at a certain bar were smoking weed all night no probs. But don't mess with religion , culture and royalty and most farang will survive even with dodgy visa status

Maybe you should learn Thai history before making such an comparison.

Hun Hean said it is not clear which law will be used for punishing the alleged crime of drawing Angkor Wat on the bathroom floor.

-- The Nation 2009-08-11

No worries, I'm sure a law can be made up on the spot.

You really got to be stupid to get arrested in Cambodia. Just flew in a few days back and still a relatively lawless society maybe like thailand 20 years ago. Even the expats at a certain bar were smoking weed all night no probs. But don't mess with religion , culture and royalty and most farang will survive even with dodgy visa status

so... does it mean cambodia is less strict in border crossing.... then how about their daily life.... i mean that riding a motorbike and driving a car.... it's still be a less strict then???