British Freight Boss On Sex Charges Found Dead

[webfact]

British freight boss on sex charges found dead

Published by Andrew Drummond

A former British railway freight boss who was arrested last year in Thailand on suspicion of sexually abusing hill tribe children has been found dead in Laos.

Roger Pettit, 68, from Brighton, Sussex, was found dead in a guest house in the Laos capital Vientiane last month. No foul play is suspected.

Unconfirmed reports suggest he may have overdosed on a non-prescription drugs.

Mr. Pettit, formerly General Manager for Freightliner (Coal) was arrested last year in the Thai northern capital of Chiang Mai in an operation conducted by Thailand Department of Special Investigation and officers of the Transnational Crime Unit working with assistance from Britain’s CEOP – Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. [more...]

Full story: http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2011/03/16/british-freight-boss-on-sex-charges-found-dead/

-- ANDREW-DRUMMOND.COM 2011-03-16

[housepainter]

Well what a sad loss that is.

68 and on sex charges. No loss of reputation there then. Another innocent until proven guilty. Probably didn't understand the instructions on the 'foreign' medicine bottle and thought it said ' take entire contents of bottle' instead of 'take 1 tablet after breakfast.' It happens.

A man who worked his life in coal hardly understood when in a hole stop digging. Goes against the grain I suppose.

At least RIP doesn't have to mean rot in prison.

Next.

[Buchholz]

From his arrest in Chiang Mai in March 2010

Roger Leslie Pettit

Mr. Pettit has been charged with various child sex, child pornography, and narcotics-related charges and has been remanded in police custody awaiting further judicial proceedings to commence.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/351970-briton-arrested-in-chiang-mai-on-child-sex-offences/page__view__findpost__p__3459804

It appears he was released on bail in September 2010:

[TAWP]

68? He looks (looked) like 78 atleast... :/

[ChiangMaiFun]

how did he come to be in Laos? and not in prison?

[Wallaby]

Sh*t, I'd better have another look in the mirror to see how old I REALLY look.

[tigermonkey]

how did he come to be in Laos? and not in prison?

Presumably he was still on bail, and I doubt that the bail conditions allowed him to go to Laos --- unless he had court permission, perhaps for a visa run. We'll probably never know.

[sam666]

I'm sure many are crying at night over this ....

:jap:

[tigermonkey]

Sh*t, I'd better have another look in the mirror to see how old I REALLY look.

When arrested, he was alleged to have stock of metamphetamines ( Yaabaa or other) . If you regularly use these too, you will also look much older..

[Buchholz]

68? He looks (looked) like 78 at least... :/

Ya ba usage can't be beneficial to the aging process.

edit: ^ hadn't gotten to the previous post when I posted.

[Buchholz]

how did he come to be in Laos? and not in prison?

As per Post #2, he was apparently released on bail, and apparently not barred from leaving the country.

He doesn't look like someone who circumvents borders on the sly.

[millwall_fan]

Whilst he was on remand I went to visit him a couple of times in jail, believing, as I do that a man is innocent until proven guilty, He used to come into my pub occasionally, often in the company of young men, all of whom were clearly over the age of consent. British consular officials in Chiang Mai and people from the embassy in Bangkok also visited him. He was furnished with a list of recommended lawyers by the embassy, but preferred to employ the services of a lwayer who spoke no English but would 'get other prisoners to translate' The lawyer had a repuation, I was led to understand, for arranging bail and the discreet return of passport in return for the bail money - 300,000 baht was the figure quoted at the time. Mr Petit had enough money to pay. As he refused the consular advice (and mine) to retain a more orthodox lawyer, and after talking to consular officials I stopped visiting him.

A sad end to a life - overdosing in a Vientiane guest house, and dying with the unproven allegation that he'd had sex with a 13 year old boy, an allegation he categorically denied. At least if he was guilty thats one less pervert for kids to have to worry about., but I take no pleasure from his death and I hope he rests in peace.

[ChiangMaiFun]

Whilst he was on remand I went to visit him a couple of times in jail, believing, as I do that a man is innocent until proven guilty, He used to come into my pub occasionally, often in the company of young men, all of whom were clearly over the age of consent. British consular officials in Chiang Mai and people from the embassy in Bangkok also visited him. He was furnished with a list of recommended lawyers by the embassy, but preferred to employ the services of a lwayer who spoke no English but would 'get other prisoners to translate' The lawyer had a repuation, I was led to understand, for arranging bail and the discreet return of passport in return for the bail money - 300,000 baht was the figure quoted at the time. Mr Petit had enough money to pay. As he refused the consular advice (and mine) to retain a more orthodox lawyer, and after talking to consular officials I stopped visiting him.

A sad end to a life - overdosing in a Vientiane guest house, and dying with the unproven allegation that he'd had sex with a 13 year old boy, an allegation he categorically denied. At least if he was guilty thats one less pervert for kids to have to worry about., but I take no pleasure from his death and I hope he rests in peace.

Sensible post - thanks for sharing

[Flatouthruthefog]

<br />Whilst he was on remand I went to visit him a couple of times in jail, believing, as I do that  a man is innocent until proven guilty, He used to come into my pub occasionally, often in the company of young men, all of whom were clearly over the age of consent.  British consular officials in Chiang Mai and people from the embassy in Bangkok also visited him. He was furnished with a list of recommended lawyers by the embassy, but preferred to employ the services of a lwayer who spoke no English but would 'get other prisoners to translate' The lawyer had a repuation, I was led to understand,  for arranging bail and the discreet return of passport in return for the bail money - 300,000 baht was the figure quoted at the time.  Mr Petit had enough money to pay.  As he refused the consular advice (and mine) to retain a more orthodox lawyer, and after talking to consular officials I stopped visiting him. <br /><br />A sad end to a life - overdosing in a Vientiane guest house,  and dying with the unproven allegation that he'd had sex with a 13 year old boy, an allegation he categorically denied. At least if he was guilty thats one less pervert for kids to have to worry about., but I take no pleasure from his death and I hope he rests in peace.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

I applaud your attitude then - and now!

You were right to visit and show some support while the man was behind bars and unconvicted, and right to walk away from that after his poor(questionable)decision, and doubtless advice to you from the Consulate.

You did right, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

[janverbeem]

Sh*t, I'd better have another look in the mirror to see how old I REALLY look.

When arrested, he was alleged to have stock of metamphetamines ( Yaabaa or other) . If you regularly use these too, you will also look much older..

Yeah sure,the yabaa he stocked was for his own use.Wake up boys.

[asiawatcher]

It could easily be he did not want to face a Thai justice system, used his funds and left - no fuss and took his own life. It may have been an option and at his age, a conclusion. It would be pointless to fight a charge and the Ya Baa use, I sincerely doubt! This man right or wrong ended it.

[theoldgit]

Thank you for your balanced post Millwall Fan, it's quite refreshing to read a non judgemental post such as yours, and I support the support you gave this poor wretch, but I suspect this is the norm for you.

Sir, I salute you, and that's not an easy thing for a Palace fan to do.

[millwall_fan]

Thank you for your balanced post Millwall Fan, it's quite refreshing to read a non judgemental post such as yours, and I support the support you gave this poor wretch, but I suspect this is the norm for you.

Sir, I salute you, and that's not an easy thing for a Palace fan to do.

I'm humbled that a Palace fan could speak such postive words!!!

[craigt3365]

One insensitive post removed. No hang'em high posts, please.

[pogal]

Whilst he was on remand I went to visit him a couple of times in jail, believing, as I do that a man is innocent until proven guilty, He used to come into my pub occasionally, often in the company of young men, all of whom were clearly over the age of consent. British consular officials in Chiang Mai and people from the embassy in Bangkok also visited him. He was furnished with a list of recommended lawyers by the embassy, but preferred to employ the services of a lwayer who spoke no English but would 'get other prisoners to translate' The lawyer had a repuation, I was led to understand, for arranging bail and the discreet return of passport in return for the bail money - 300,000 baht was the figure quoted at the time. Mr Petit had enough money to pay. As he refused the consular advice (and mine) to retain a more orthodox lawyer, and after talking to consular officials I stopped visiting him.

A sad end to a life - overdosing in a Vientiane guest house, and dying with the unproven allegation that he'd had sex with a 13 year old boy, an allegation he categorically denied. At least if he was guilty thats one less pervert for kids to have to worry about., but I take no pleasure from his death and I hope he rests in peace.

You guys are forgetting all those FALSE Accusations that have happened in the past. Millwall Fan tells us he denied it till the end. He may have not been able to cope with the pressure or accusations.

I'm all for locking Ped's up for life!... but those of us that have been here in Thailand long enough have seen and heard way too much to think someone is innocent until proven guilty, and even then, in Thailand, nothing is for certain. Case in point; how can a lawyer get him free on bail and his passport back!? Thailand: "Hub of corruption".

You guys should think before you speak (or write) If you stay here long enough you will come across corruption, and if you're on the wrong end of it, don't expect sympathy from others.

[Bagwan]

How was this guy's previous occupation - and oh look, a freight train - have anything to do with the thrust of this story? Will the PR department of Freightliner (Coal) now jump into action to let the World know that they are not a haven for sexual deviants?

[ChiangMaiFun]

Thank you for your balanced post Millwall Fan, it's quite refreshing to read a non judgemental post such as yours, and I support the support you gave this poor wretch, but I suspect this is the norm for you.

Sir, I salute you, and that's not an easy thing for a Palace fan to do.

I'm humbled that a Palace fan could speak such postive words!!!

How about a Southend fan?

[animatic]

It could easily be he did not want to face a Thai justice system, used his funds and left - no fuss and took his own life. It may have been an option and at his age, a conclusion. It would be pointless to fight a charge and the Ya Baa use, I sincerely doubt! This man right or wrong ended it.

This seems to fit the scenario cleanly.

No reputation left to worry about a suicide ruining, and no strength left for any amount of time in the Bangkok Hilton. He would not have lasted long, and no doubt knew it, so went out on his own terms

[ableguy]

how did he come to be in Laos? and not in prison?

Presumably he was still on bail, and I doubt that the bail conditions allowed him to go to Laos --- unless he had court permission, perhaps for a visa run. We'll probably never know.

Could be there because he skipped bail and was on the run.

[ableguy]

how did he come to be in Laos? and not in prison?

As per Post #2, he was apparently released on bail, and apparently not barred from leaving the country.

He doesn't look like someone who circumvents borders on the sly.

What do people who circumvent borders on the sly look like?

[andrewdrummond]

How was this guy's previous occupation - and oh look, a freight train - have anything to do with the thrust of this story? Will the PR department of Freightliner (Coal) now jump into action to let the World know that they are not a haven for sexual deviants?

Point taken Bagwan. But probably only Brits know what Freightliner is - its something different in the United States. Its a journalistic thing. People tend to know what people in the news do or did for a living. Had this man been a High Court judge it would not mean that the High Court was full of sexual deviants.

[Chang_paarp]

How was this guy's previous occupation - and oh look, a freight train - have anything to do with the thrust of this story? Will the PR department of Freightliner (Coal) now jump into action to let the World know that they are not a haven for sexual deviants?

Point taken Bagwan. But probably only Brits know what Freightliner is - its something different in the United States. Its a journalistic thing. People tend to know what people in the news do or did for a living. Had this man been a High Court judge it would not mean that the High Court was full of sexual deviants.

Not so sure about the high court. Probably not the best example to use.

[Buchholz]

how did he come to be in Laos? and not in prison?

As per Post #2, he was apparently released on bail, and apparently not barred from leaving the country.

He doesn't look like someone who circumvents borders on the sly.

What do people who circumvent borders on the sly look like?

Lee Aldhouse

[andrewdrummond]

How was this guy's previous occupation - and oh look, a freight train - have anything to do with the thrust of this story? Will the PR department of Freightliner (Coal) now jump into action to let the World know that they are not a haven for sexual deviants?

Point taken Bagwan. But probably only Brits know what Freightliner is - its something different in the United States. Its a journalistic thing. People tend to know what people in the news do or did for a living. Had this man been a High Court judge it would not mean that the High Court was full of sexual deviants.

Not so sure about the high court. Probably not the best example to use.

......

Its not JUST a freight train btw. Its a Freightliner Coal freight train

[steve187]

Whilst he was on remand I went to visit him a couple of times in jail, believing, as I do that a man is innocent until proven guilty, He used to come into my pub occasionally, often in the company of young men, all of whom were clearly over the age of consent. British consular officials in Chiang Mai and people from the embassy in Bangkok also visited him. He was furnished with a list of recommended lawyers by the embassy, but preferred to employ the services of a lwayer who spoke no English but would 'get other prisoners to translate' The lawyer had a repuation, I was led to understand, for arranging bail and the discreet return of passport in return for the bail money - 300,000 baht was the figure quoted at the time. Mr Petit had enough money to pay. As he refused the consular advice (and mine) to retain a more orthodox lawyer, and after talking to consular officials I stopped visiting him.

A sad end to a life - overdosing in a Vientiane guest house, and dying with the unproven allegation that he'd had sex with a 13 year old boy, an allegation he categorically denied. At least if he was guilty thats one less pervert for kids to have to worry about., but I take no pleasure from his death and I hope he rests in peace.

a good clear and informative post thank you