Hi.....

Situation update.

The main guy they were after was in court on Thursday.

After pleading guilty to playing (working) illegally, he got 1000 baht fine and a one years good behaviour bond.

Seems like a slap on the wrist really, must have cost immigration a lot more th bring the case than that!

So.... just waiting for the guy with 1.5 years overstay next!

David

Let's hope they all get off easy like that. It would calm things down quite a bit!

As for the overstay guy... well I hope they are lenient on him as well, but 1,5 years is quite a bit.

Good luck to all the guys involved!

Hi.....

Situation update.

The main guy they were after was in court on Thursday.

After pleading guilty to playing (working) illegally, he got 1000 baht fine and a one years good behaviour bond.

Seems like a slap on the wrist really, must have cost immigration a lot more th bring the case than that!

So.... just waiting for the guy with 1.5 years overstay next!

David

Let's hope they all get off easy like that. It would calm things down quite a bit!

As for the overstay guy... well I hope they are lenient on him as well, but 1,5 years is quite a bit.

Good luck to all the guys involved!

Do you qualify for a visa and do you keep it up to date or do you get extensions of stay. If you find the time to stay legal why be lenient on someone1.5 years on overstay they are breaking the law.

Just wishing him and the others good luck m8.

Just wishing him and the others good luck m8.

Am I reading you rite.

You are wishing good luck to law breakers.

greatness:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/13/AR2006061300147.html

The news article doesn't quite fit with the newer headlines such as:

"Musicians arrested in Thailand for participation in free open mic jam"

1) I personally know a guy who had 11 years over stay, yes elleven years. He paid his 20k and left just last year with his kids no questions asked.

2) Many years ago Thailand gave permits to many bar owners (special permits) to hos open mic jams etc and they can still get them but only so many per area so maybe these bars should cough up and apply

3) Any volanteer work ex: street and garbage cleaning etc etc is ilegal and most people learn this fast when they come to LOS so if they get caught, som nam na. Ask the bar to see if they have the permit and if not just don't do it guys.

4) These musicians that were arrested should follow up on if the bar had this permit or not. If they did then they shouldn't have been arrested, if they didn't then hey life sucks. If they are advertising on websites etc either they are just plain stupid or they DO have the proper permit and should take the 1000 baht receipt to the bar and have them pay the fine.

1) I personally know a guy who had 11 years over stay, yes elleven years. He paid his 20k and left just last year with his kids no questions asked.

2) Many years ago Thailand gave permits to many bar owners (special permits) to hos open mic jams etc and they can still get them but only so many per area so maybe these bars should cough up and apply

3) Any volanteer work ex: street and garbage cleaning etc etc is ilegal and most people learn this fast when they come to LOS so if they get caught, som nam na. Ask the bar to see if they have the permit and if not just don't do it guys.

4) These musicians that were arrested should follow up on if the bar had this permit or not. If they did then they shouldn't have been arrested, if they didn't then hey life sucks. If they are advertising on websites etc either they are just plain stupid or they DO have the proper permit and should take the 1000 baht receipt to the bar and have them pay the fine.

People have been to immigration/labour dept. to ask - it does not matter if the bar is licensed or not to play music/hold open mics etc - the issue is that the players are foreign and thus Thai law states they need a WP to work (perform) and the bar must also not hire people without a WP. Temporary WPs can be sought for visiting acts (on tour etc) but only for 15 day periods and are rarely (read never) extended - someone playing regularly at a place, even on open mic, would be considered a worker paid or not. Guys that are on their hols and stand up and play one or two sings as a one off are not targets (as happened to one guy - a nephew of a bar owner involved in the first round of arrests - he was simply let go). Musicians that live here basically have to go without performing as it could be seen as a regular gig and work - very hard for them. One way is to beinvited to play with a Thai musician, for only a few songs of course, or as the bar owner getting a WP that covers entertaining customers of the bar along with managing etc.

Hi.....

Situation update.

The main guy they were after was in court on Thursday.

After pleading guilty to playing (working) illegally, he got 1000 baht fine and a one years good behaviour bond.

Seems like a slap on the wrist really, must have cost immigration a lot more th bring the case than that!

So.... just waiting for the guy with 1.5 years overstay next!

David

Dave, any news on Harry Potter? (not real name - obviously - to protect the erm innocent)