Nepal ex-prince held on Thai drugs charge: police

BANGKOK, Nov 30, 2012 (AFP) - Nepal's former crown prince Paras Shah has been granted bail after being arrested and charged with cannabis possession on the Thai resort island of Phuket, police said Friday.

Shah, who as crown prince was unpopular for his playboy lifestyle, was detained along with a Thai woman on October 23 after the management of his condominium complained about his unruly behaviour.

Police found roughly three grams (0.1 ounces) of marijuana.

"We didn't know who he was when he was first arrested because he had a normal passport, nothing identifying him as a VIP," Police Colonel Jirasak Siemsak told AFP from Phuket.

Shah, who is free on bail, denies the charge. If convicted he faces a light sentence because marijuana possession for personal use is not considered a serious offence in Thailand.

"If he confesses he may get a suspended sentence," Jirasak said, adding that police were awaiting the results of a drug test but expected to pass the case on to prosecutors soon.

Shah became heir to the throne in 2001 after his cousin, former crown prince Dipendra, killed nine members of his family including the king and queen in a drink-and-drugs-fuelled rampage before apparently turning his gun on himself.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-11-30

Missed a trick there boys, didn't know he was a VIP?? Think of the money...

"nothing identifying him as a VIP,"

Amazing chance of tea money went down the drain, huu?

Ex prince? How does that happen?

Police found roughly three grams (0.1 ounces) of marijuana.

Guess they searched him rather thoroughly.

I bet the Thai Police are alloyed, could have extorted this one for heaps,

Argh, still room for play though, "Shah, who is free on bail, denies the charge. If convicted he faces a light sentence because marijuana possession for personal use is not considered a serious offence in Thailand."

Shah became heir to the throne in 2001 after his cousin, former crown prince Dipendra, killed nine members of his family including the king and queen in a drink-and-drugs-fuelled rampage before apparently turning his gun on himself.

Sounds like a lovely family.

nepal,...."highest" country on the planet

I'm sure he would have used the amnesia defence when they arrested him ... "Do you know who my father is?"

Ex prince? How does that happen?

Change of government to a maoist communist one about 15 years ago

Ex prince? How does that happen?

Copyright issues?

Ex prince? How does that happen?

Change of government to a maoist communist one about 15 years ago

So he is the deposed prince, doesn't change the fact he was born and titled a prince.

It boggles the mind that no matter the subject, the Thai bashers line up faster than lightning with their 'witty' comments about tea money and corruption.

Ex prince? How does that happen?

I think because the whole monarchy was abolished and family members are living in exile in various parts of the world. I believe his father is in Singapore.

Ex prince? How does that happen?

You draw a squiggle on your face and become Love Symbol No2

Ex prince? How does that happen?

I think because the whole monarchy was abolished and family members are living in exile in various parts of the world. I believe his father is in Singapore.

So how does one greet and ex-Prince?

It boggles the mind that no matter the subject, the Thai bashers line up faster than lightning with their 'witty' comments about tea money and corruption.

Probably because it's true.

Anyway, to make you feel better -

Ex prince? How does that happen?

I think because the whole monarchy was abolished and family members are living in exile in various parts of the world. I believe his father is in Singapore.

So how does one greet and ex-Prince?

"Your Former Royal Highness", I reckon'.

Ex prince? How does that happen?

I think because the whole monarchy was abolished and family members are living in exile in various parts of the world. I believe his father is in Singapore.

So how does one greet and ex-Prince?

"Got any gear, man?" ........ apparently.

So how does one greet and ex-Prince?

The artist formerly known as prince has worked in the past.......

Ex prince? How does that happen?

Usually you have to break up with your record company first.

It boggles the mind that no matter the subject, the Thai bashers line up faster than lightning with their 'witty' comments about tea money and corruption.

It's not bashing, to write about common behavior of officials. Years of experience, that you would have to prove wrong!

Also it's not 'Thai bashing', if it's about the well known corrupt structures in the authorities departments/structures (in Thailand).

And last but not least: It was about PHUKET POLICE FORCES/AUTHORITIES (That should be enough said, usually)

"nothing identifying him as a VIP,"

Amazing chance of tea money went down the drain, huu?

It ain't over yet. There's still tea money to be had ... just on an upper level.

It boggles the mind that no matter the subject, the Thai bashers line up faster than lightning with their 'witty' comments about tea money and corruption.

Welcome to Thailand my friend. I hope you enjoy your stay but judging from your post you are a prime candidate for the jet ski, tuk tuk, fake jems, sick buffalo and hundreds of other scams in the LoS (Land of Scams).. Please be careful.

"nothing identifying him as a VIP,"

Amazing chance of tea money went down the drain, huu?

It ain't over yet. There's still tea money to be had ... just on an upper level.

Not sure about that! Now it's officially a (EX) Royal Highness.

Aren't they all relatives? I guess, now this will go away alone. With lots of grovel. Out of respect!

Edited November 30, 201213 yr by noob7

Ex prince? How does that happen?

I think because the whole monarchy was abolished and family members are living in exile in various parts of the world. I believe his father is in Singapore.

So how does one greet and ex-Prince?

Ex Hail.

The Curious Case of the Invisible Crown Prince Paras Shah

Phuket Gazette

Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev was ordered to appear at Phuket Provincial Court yesterday. Whether he was smuggled in the back door or just ‘beamed in’, reporters just can’t say. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- Journalists trying to catch a glimpse of Nepal’s infamous former crown prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev, who was due to report to Phuket Provincial Court yesterday, were in for a long and ultimately fruitless wait.

By midday, reporters who had been waiting since 9:30am, had still not clapped eyes on the former crown prince entering the court to report as instructed by the court order issued over a drugs charge.

The investigating officer in the case told the Phuket Gazette that Mr Shah had already reported in – but declined to say at what time he did so.

Mr Shah was arrested on October 23 at the Surin Sabai Condo in Cherng Talay after police officers found him in possession of 3.4 grams of a substance they believed to be marijuana.

After spending that night at Cherng Talay Police Station, he was released the following morning on bail.

The date for his next court appearance was set for December 11.

Mr Shah, 40, became the Crown Prince in June 2001 following an attack on the Nepalese royal palace.

Nine members of the Nepalese royal family and Prince Dipendra, the crown prince at the time, died in the attack. Reports at the time indicated that Mr Shah saved the lives of three royals, but was injured in the incident.

He remained crown prince and heir to the throne of Nepal until 2008, when the monarchy was abolished.

More recently, Mr Shah was implicated in an altercation which occurred on December 11, 2010 at the Chiwan Hotel in Nepal. Mr Shaw reportedly fired shots from an illegally owned pistol. Although arrested and charged, the case was dropped after all parties involved changed their statements before the trial began.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...Shah-19606.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-11-30

General tradition indicates that where a monarch has been deposed but has not abdicated, they retain the use of their style and title for the duration of their lifetime, but both die with them. Hence Greece's deposed king is still technically His Majesty King Constantine II of the Hellenes, as a personal title, not a constitutional office, since the abolition of the monarchy by the Hellenic Republic in 1974

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Style_(manner_of_address)#section_1

So did the police and the news papers just commit lese majeste?

It boggles the mind that no matter the subject, the Thai bashers line up faster than lightning with their 'witty' comments about tea money and corruption.

Welcome to Thailand my friend. I hope you enjoy your stay but judging from your post you are a prime candidate for the jet ski, tuk tuk, fake jems, sick buffalo and hundreds of other scams in the LoS (Land of Scams).. Please be careful.

10 yrs in thailand and I've only been scammed once, and that was by a taxi driver.

Edited November 30, 201213 yr by jamstock

It boggles the mind that no matter the subject, the Thai bashers line up faster than lightning with their 'witty' comments about tea money and corruption.

It's only bashing if it is untrue.