Missing Swiss student tourist alive and well, in Thai prison

Phuket Gazette -

Tscherina Nora Janisch, a 22-year-old foreign-exchange student studying at the National University of Singapore, was reported missing while holidaying in Thailand after her mother had not heard from her for a week. Photo: Travelfish

PHUKET: A 22-year-old Swiss student tourist reported missing while on holiday in Thailand has been found alive and well. She’s being detained in Ranong Prison for allegedly stealing a camera belonging to an immigration officer.

The search for Tscherina Nora Janisch, a foreign-exchange student studying at the National University of Singapore, began on January 15 when her mother, Elizabeth, posted a concerned note on the popular travel website Travelfish.

Mrs Janisch became worried after she had not heard from Tscherina since December 22. Her daughter habitually contacted home once a week.

The Travelfish posting was quickly carried across many websites and was picked up by mainstream media across the region.

Cpl Rungroj Somjai of the Ranong Tourist Police saw a report in a local newspaper on January 19 and quickly reported to the Swiss Embassy in Bangkok that had seen Tscherina weeks earlier.

In a bizarre twist of protocol, the Swiss Embassy reported the news to Tourist Police Commander Roy Ingpairoj in Bangkok, who informed the Phuket Tourist Police, who in turn reported the news to the Ranong Tourist Police, who investigated the claim and found Tscherina incarcerated in Ranong Prison.

“Ranong Tourist Police reported to the Swiss embassy they had found Tscherina. The embassy contacted her family and this morning [January 23] her mother, Mrs Elizabeth Maria Janisch, came to Ranong with Tscherina’s aunt and asked to post bail of 130,000 baht to have Tscherina released,” Cpl Rungroj explained.

The Swiss student is being held on charges of stealing a camera belonging to a Ranong Immigration Officer.

Tscherina presented herself to Ranong Immigration on December 25 while trying to exit the country to do a “visa run” to Myanmar.

She had entered Thailand on December 8 with a tourist visa, which allowed her to stay for 15 days, explained Cpl Rungroj, who was called to aid Ranong Immigration as an interpreter.

“She refused to pay the fine [500 baht per day] for the three-day overstay, so the officer had to charge her. While the officer was typing the arrest record, she asked to go to the toilet,” he said.

“A few minutes later, one of the immigration officers noticed she went into the investigation room and walked out acting suspicious. The officer asked to search her and found in a pocket of her shorts a Canon PowerShot A640 from one of the immigration officers’ desks in the investigation room,” Cpl Rungroj said.

“She was charged with overstaying her visa and with theft. She confessed to the overstay, but denied stealing the camera. She was then transferred to Ranong Prison while awaiting her case to be heard in court,” he added.

“I talked with Ms Tscherina’s lawyer today. He told me he has submitted a request to the court to post bail. They are now waiting for the court’s response,” Cpl Rungroj said.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ison-20039.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-01-23

Serves her well.

I am happy that Thailand is not as lax as Switzerland in regards to petty criminals.

On the other hand, living as a honest citizen in Switzerland is a huge pain in the ass.

Silly girl, the overstay was easily handled, all she had to do was pay and that would have been it, but pocketing an Immigration officer's camera, big mistake.

Why on earth didn't the authorities contact the Swiss Embassy informing them of her arrest?

If it wasn't for pure luck she could have been in jail for a very long time.

Was she not even allowed a phone call? By no means am I standing up for her because IMO she could have handled that situation a whole lot better, but seems strange her family had to go through all that trouble just to find out where she was. I'm guessing she just had a bad attitude in general and pissed off the immigration officers, so they threw her in a jail cell and made her wait for a court appearance instead of trying to help her. I probably would have done the same thing if I were them actually (well maybe not, depends on her attitude). No excuse for that kind of behaviour on her part though.

There is no point in guessing. You do not know, have absolutely no idea, of what actually happened!

This story just doesn't add up, and I am not accusing anyone of anything. It's just bloody bizarre.

This is a misdemeanour type offence isn't it ?

Anybody that actually believes what they read in this sort of article is a total and complete moron.

Really? Sounds very strange to me but how was the Swiss embassy NOT contacted?

So let's try to understand this.

She was arrested on a relatively minor offence on December 25th and placed in Ranong jail.

No attempt seems to have been made to contact the Swiss embassy

On January 23rd, after her parents had reported her missing, the Ranong police finally admit that she's in their jail.....

All I can say is - thank God she didn't commit a major offence!!

Simon

PS - and in response to FDog' post; yes, the Thai police are required to inform the embassy without delay if they arrest a foreign national.

Swiss-Miss-ed

Perhaps the real story is that the girl had a nice new camera that was coveted by the immigration officer??

Out in the provinces, the local authorities are the law. They do what they like. Maybe she did steal the camera, maybe she didn't. She should have been allowed to contact somebody to tell them where she was. But the law is what the local authorities say it is.

Did I miss something?

Where is the evidence that this young lady stole a camera, and is now or was required to pay 130,000 baht for its replacement?

I'd like to know what kind of immigration officer can afford a 130,000 baht camera to sit in his/her office - cos a top Nikon with zoom lens and additional lenses is only 70K !!!

-mel.

Hmm... student from top university refuses to pay 500 Baht fine, walks off with $900+ gadget instead, and then disappears in the system without her embassy knowing about it. What?

Anybody that actually believes what they read in this sort of article is a total and complete moron.

Anyone who blames immigration officers 100% of the time is also a total and complete moron. Shock and surprise there are actually dodgy tourists who frequent the LOS, and not all of them are male.

There is no point in guessing. You do not know, have absolutely no idea, of what actually happened!

Well, not guessing about the overstay as she admitted to that herself. Regarding the camera, whose to say, but from the little information presented in this article, I'm still gonna say she just pissed off the wrong immigration officer that day.

Did I miss something?

Where is the evidence that this young lady stole a camera, and is now or was required to pay 130,000 baht for its replacement?

I'd like to know what kind of immigration officer can afford a 130,000 baht camera to sit in his/her office - cos a top Nikon with zoom lens and additional lenses is only 70K !!!

-mel.

Maybe there was CCTV. Maybe the immigration officer has a receipt or a statement showing the camera was theirs. I'm sure it will be revealed as the case progresses.

And the bail is 130,000 baht. It has nothing to do with the value of the camera.

Something smell like fermented crab here. One wonders how long she would have remained in the lockup if her family didnt search for her.

Hmm... student from top university refuses to pay 500 Baht fine, walks off with $900+ gadget instead, and then disappears in the system without her embassy knowing about it. What?

Attending a top university does not equate to being a saint. The fact she attends university at all has little relevance to the story. And the fine was 1,500 baht. She overstayed three days.

Heck, I thought perhaps I could make a difference in the forum discourse by pointing out early on the probability that none of the "facts" are correct.

This is in one way simple. The law is clear, if any foreigner is detained by the authorities [in all their manifold guises] they are required to advise the individual's embassy as a matte of urgency. No ifs, buts, or maybes.

This is serious breach whatever the circumstances. It is even more troubling that an individual should be held apparently incommunicado and the tale is then that she is guilty of a crime [but has not been brought before a court] to excuse this failure to meet basic legal safeguards.

Even if she is guilty of any crime the requirement to notify stands.

Regards

Silly girl, the overstay was easily handled, all she had to do was pay and that would have been it, but pocketing an Immigration officer's camera, big mistake.

If she did it that is.

Hmm... student from top university refuses to pay 500 Baht fine, walks off with $900+ gadget instead, and then disappears in the system without her embassy knowing about it. What?

Attending a top university does not equate to being a saint. The fact she attends university at all has little relevance to the story. And the fine was 1,500 baht. She overstayed three days.

Did anyone suggest that she is a "saint"? The story is instead of paying a minor fine to the police, she steals from the police. A behaviour pattern not usually associated with people who seem to be in control of their lives, like those who manage to be on an exchange programme. Likewise foreign national who get arrested (for what ever reason) are usually in touch with their embassy. A lot of unusual things...

This is in one way simple. The law is clear, if any foreigner is detained by the authorities [in all their manifold guises] they are required to advise the individual's embassy as a matte of urgency. No ifs, buts, or maybes.

This is serious breach whatever the circumstances. It is even more troubling that an individual should be held apparently incommunicado and the tale is then that she is guilty of a crime [but has not been brought before a court] to excuse this failure to meet basic legal safeguards.

Even if she is guilty of any crime the requirement to notify stands.

Regards

Agreed. Her embassy should have been contacted and she should have been allowed her phone call, no matter what she did.

Hmm... student from top university refuses to pay 500 Baht fine, walks off with $900+ gadget instead, and then disappears in the system without her embassy knowing about it. What?

Attending a top university does not equate to being a saint. The fact she attends university at all has little relevance to the story. And the fine was 1,500 baht. She overstayed three days.

Did anyone suggest that she is a "saint"? The story is instead of paying a minor fine to the police, she steals from the police. A behaviour pattern not usually associated with people who seem to be in control of their lives, like those who manage to be on an exchange programme.

Maybe she thought she could pawn the camera for some quick cash to pay the fine. You never know...

Heck, I thought perhaps I could make a difference in the forum discourse by pointing out early on the probability that none of the "facts" are correct.

Nope, blaming the immigration officers is expected so it wouldn't have made a difference in the forum discourse. Now my point of view, that's shaking things up a bit.

It seems a bit odd that whilst a person is in the process of being arrested they decide to steal an expensive item from someone who is probably going to search them in the near future.

yah right, who would believe this BS, nonsense story?? Sounds like just another money grab!

Swiss arrogance? Refusing to pay the overstay sheer arrogance as well as stupidity. And now she can under Thai law be held 84 days without a peep and even that is renewable. Seems to me she is bring taught a great lesson and the 130,000 Baht is a bail jumper which she should pay and get out. The camera issue - sounds like plant to teach her a lesson. And as a Farang she hasn't got a leg to stand on. Stupid girl.

Silly girl, the overstay was easily handled, all she had to do was pay and that would have been it, but pocketing an Immigration officer's camera, big mistake.

If she did it that is.

Before I started using the mobile service I went to the Ranong office for my visa extensions and 90 day report, I simply could not see them locking someone up without good reason.

so you get bail for murder, rape and other serious offences, yet you steal a 5000 baht camera and go to jail.. comical