Russian Tour Company Worker Freed After Proved Legal

[FDog]

Think many are missing the REAL issue which is this IS Thailand. Why do THEY need foreigners working in a tour agency.

Why not? The real issue is the Phuket mafia.

Tour/Travel agencies sometimes need people who speak the language of the tour group & Thai's are not well known for their Russian.

So they employ somebody who speaks Russian and get a workpermit for that person.

Which is what they did.

[khaowong1]

Why she didn't say something in the first place then? It smells fishy. Maybe a sum of money helped to free her and save russians face in this story?

If you have work permit, why don't you say so? Bull cr*p

Maybe she doesn't speak Thai or English.. maybe she told them she had one and they didn't understand Russian or English. . Maybe this was just for show.. a lot of maybe's..

[Dap]

that is ridiculous , so we have to carry passport and work permit all the time ? everywhere ? this witches hunt is going nowhere.

Actually, I believe it is the law and has been for a very long time. I mostly ignore it but at my own risk.

[falkan]

i guess u guys are newbies & dont know how thailand works. its very easy to backpedal with the proper payments

So also the copies of passport and workpermit in possession of the PG are antidated?

it's not impossible from what i heard..

[bellboy]

that is ridiculous , so we have to carry passport and work permit all the time ? everywhere ? this witches hunt is going nowhere.

It's a very normal and standard practice (world wide I dare say...) that you have to carry your ID. In this case, you are in a foreign country and your only valid ID is your passport.

As for the workpermit, read the last page. It says: "Warning" and then the first item reads:

1. A permit holder must keep the permit with him or at the place of work during working hours in order that it may be readily shown to competent official or the Registrar. Any violation thereof shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand Baht.

Very easy and straight forward rules...what's there to complain about...?

You want to work...you follow the rules...

Easy? In my opinion, having to carry the original everywhere you go exposes you to an unacceptably high risk of pickpocketing (not to mention putting a lot of wear and tear on it, what if you get caught outside in a rainstorm with it in your pocket). If a photocopy is not sufficient, then there should be a system whereby foreigners can apply for an ID card that they can carry around instead.

And BTW, in Australia there is no law that anyone has to carry ID around with them.

That's because Australia is a democratic country with an independent judiciary, and police service that impartially enforeces and respects the law. See the difference

Spain. is an democratic and independent country's with independent police service to hat.

Impartially enforces and respects the law.ID MUST BE CARRIED AT ALL TIMES. See the difference ?

Edited April 9, 2013 by bellboy

[shaurene]

that is ridiculous , so we have to carry passport and work permit all the time ? everywhere ? this witches hunt is going nowhere.

Hi. Yes you do , I have a copy of my passport the size of a business card and laminated and carry it in my wallet, have shown it to police before and ok.

[belg]

wow, the police reallyy really knows their priorities

but tuk tuk, taxi and jetski maffia is working just fine ... no problems there

thainess...... pffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

[eezergood]

Thai drivers license has helped me immensely each time Ihave been stopped. I never carry my WP, as I bever work outside of my workplace & have no reason to do so, also never carry my pasport - I have an ecopy on my phone, but in 3 years its never been an issue.

[stevenl]

that is ridiculous , so we have to carry passport and work permit all the time ? everywhere ? this witches hunt is going nowhere.

Actually, I believe it is the law and has been for a very long time. I mostly ignore it but at my own risk.

Just read the thread, earlier it has already been shown not to be true.

[stevenl]

that is ridiculous , so we have to carry passport and work permit all the time ? everywhere ? this witches hunt is going nowhere.

Hi. Yes you do , I have a copy of my passport the size of a business card and laminated and carry it in my wallet, have shown it to police before and ok.

No you don't.

[Tatsujin]

Thailand and all it's BS are really getting to me lately, i'm just about having enough... No i'm NOT a Russian, but this could have been any of us ( who holds a legal WP)ending up in a mess, because of some Smart A*** Politician or "police" who tries to prove them selves ... It just makes me sick !!!

For those of us that DO work here legally, a WP is not a big issue, and 99% of the time, my Thai Drivers Licence suffices as a form of legal ID as an alternative to carrying around my Passport. I never carry around my WP, and you are not required to do so.

[Tatsujin]

http://uk-passport-service-guide.com/british-embassy-thailand/

By law, you must carry your passport with you at all times in Thailand. Tourists have been arrested because they were unable to produce their passport upon request.

[NamKangMan]

that is ridiculous , so we have to carry passport and work permit all the time ? everywhere ? this witches hunt is going nowhere.

Hi. Yes you do , I have a copy of my passport the size of a business card and laminated and carry it in my wallet, have shown it to police before and ok.

No you don't.

If you don't, can you explain the last sentence of the OP?

“We will pass the case file to the public prosecutor, who may still press charges against her for not carrying her passport and her work permit on her person,” Lt Ratthapol added.

Some posters have said the work permit MUST be at your place of work, not on your person.

Being a tour desk agent, probably on a sidewalk somewhere, I would think it would simply be in her purse, BUT, the police officer does say, "who may press charges (note - charges is plural) against her for not carrying her passport AND work permit on her person."

It appears to be two seperate charges. So, on that basis, it appears a tourist MUST carry their passport on their person at all times in Thailand.

Note - I said "tourist" not "expats" who may have an acceptable alternate form of ID, like are driving licence.

Edited April 10, 2013 by NamKangMan

[eezergood]

By law its illegal for a rental company to take passport as deposit, but we all know how that goes.....................

[NomadJoe]

http://uk-passport-service-guide.com/british-embassy-thailand/

By law, you must carry your passport with you at all times in Thailand. Tourists have been arrested because they were unable to produce their passport upon request.

The wording is not exactly correct on that. It is written for tourists thus they make it simple.

There are two relevant laws in Thailand on this. One is the law requiring every person in Thailand to carry identification with them at all times. (Thai ID Act) and the other is an immigration law requiring aliens to be able to prove they have entered the Kingdom legally. If you don't carry your passport,but you carry your Thai DL, you fulfil the requirements of the first law but not the second. If you carry a copy of your passport and entry stamp/visa it is up to the "competent official" as to whether this is "proof you entered the Kingdom legally." If not, you may be detained until you can produce your original passport.

[NamKangMan]

http://uk-passport-service-guide.com/british-embassy-thailand/

By law, you must carry your passport with you at all times in Thailand. Tourists have been arrested because they were unable to produce their passport upon request.

The wording is not exactly correct on that. It is written for tourists thus they make it simple.

There are two relevant laws in Thailand on this. One is the law requiring every person in Thailand to carry identification with them at all times. (Thai ID Act) and the other is an immigration law requiring aliens to be able to prove they have entered the Kingdom legally. If you don't carry your passport,but you carry your Thai DL, you fulfil the requirements of the first law but not the second. If you carry a copy of your passport and entry stamp/visa it is up to the "competent official" as to whether this is "proof you entered the Kingdom legally." If not, you may be detained until you can produce your original passport.

Did you mean "competent official" or "corrupt official?" :)

[NomadJoe]

that is ridiculous , so we have to carry passport and work permit all the time ? everywhere ? this witches hunt is going nowhere.

It's a very normal and standard practice (world wide I dare say...) that you have to carry your ID. In this case, you are in a foreign country and your only valid ID is your passport.

As for the workpermit, read the last page. It says: "Warning" and then the first item reads:

1. A permit holder must keep the permit with him or at the place of work during working hours in order that it may be readily shown to competent official or the Registrar. Any violation thereof shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand Baht.

Very easy and straight forward rules...what's there to complain about...?

You want to work...you follow the rules...

"competent official" - Mmmmm...in Thailand? Really?! ;

Uggg...every single time this word is used this comment is made. In law, "competent" has a different definition to the one you are aware of.

competent [ˈkɒmpɪtənt]

adj

1. having sufficient skill, knowledge, etc.; capable

2. suitable or sufficient for the purpose a competent answer

3. (Law) Law (of a witness) having legal capacity; qualified to testify, etc.

Edited April 10, 2013 by NomadJoe

[NomadJoe]

How easy is it to buy a fake WP ? Documents in Thailand are so easy to fake that its a joke.

I have a aussie international drivers licence. The paper style looks kind of like a thin passport without any official stamps in it. I showed the police my licence after a random pullover and he had no idea what he was looking at, he had to ask a taxi driver if it was real. I guess an arvo with photoshop could create some interesting licenses.

There are occasionally stories about farangs being arrested that were stupid enough to try this.

[eezergood]

How easy is it to buy a fake WP ? Documents in Thailand are so easy to fake that its a joke.

I have a aussie international drivers licence. The paper style looks kind of like a thin passport without any official stamps in it. I showed the police my licence after a random pullover and he had no idea what he was looking at, he had to ask a taxi driver if it was real. I guess an arvo with photoshop could create some interesting licenses.

There are occasionally stories about farangs being arrested that were stupid enough to try this.

deservedly so.....

[Tatsujin]

Whilst it's supposedly common or accepted practice that a Foreigner must always carry their passport, can anyone find an actual official statement that says this?

[Schuimpge]

that is ridiculous , so we have to carry passport and work permit all the time ? everywhere ? this witches hunt is going nowhere.

It's a very normal and standard practice (world wide I dare say...) that you have to carry your ID. In this case, you are in a foreign country and your only valid ID is your passport.

As for the workpermit, read the last page. It says: "Warning" and then the first item reads:

1. A permit holder must keep the permit with him or at the place of work during working hours in order that it may be readily shown to competent official or the Registrar. Any violation thereof shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand Baht.

Very easy and straight forward rules...what's there to complain about...?

You want to work...you follow the rules...

Easy? In my opinion, having to carry the original everywhere you go exposes you to an unacceptably high risk of pickpocketing (not to mention putting a lot of wear and tear on it, what if you get caught outside in a rainstorm with it in your pocket). If a photocopy is not sufficient, then there should be a system whereby foreigners can apply for an ID card that they can carry around instead.

And BTW, in Australia there is no law that anyone has to carry ID around with them.

That's because Australia is a democratic country with an independent judiciary, and police service that impartially enforeces and respects the law. See the differences?

Asking for ID always reminds me of the old WW11 films - where somebody with a bad silly supposedly German accent growls "papers". Not funny in reality and indicative of an oppressive police state. Maybe foreigners should all wear a Star on their clothing so they can be spotted even more easily.

I take it then that the Netherlands are a 3rd World country because you are required to be able to identify yourself at all times anywhere outside of your house.

By Law I might add...

[Dap]

that is ridiculous , so we have to carry passport and work permit all the time ? everywhere ? this witches hunt is going nowhere.

Actually, I believe it is the law and has been for a very long time. I mostly ignore it but at my own risk.

Just read the thread, earlier it has already been shown not to be true.

My bad, Mea Culpa

[animatic]

“We will pass the case file to the public prosecutor, who may still press charges against her for not carrying her passport and her work permit on her person,” Lt Ratthapol added.

Now that is just plain spiteful.

I bet the public prosecutor doesn't bring charges, but at least Lt Ratthapol can puff out his chest and feel important, today.

Yeah bet he feels soooo, important.

Equivalent of a blowfish, all puffed up and note safe to digest.

[atyclb]

<p>I have been stopped multiple times while a passenger in a taxi. I never had passport or copy but an old ID (expired) from teaching at Mahidol U. Typical reason to be stopped "body search". Police hope and pray they will find a reason to extort you.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Never let a cop put his hand in to search you unless he spreads fingers and shows both sides first. PO discovered viagra once, wasn't happy but said thank you and sent me off. A G7 military attache thinks the PD profile us. Apparently normal body weight = suspicious for yaba use  LOL.</p>

Edited April 10, 2013 by atyclb

[Stokakrishna]

why the company couldnt prove she was legal the moment she was arrested?????????

because she wasn;t i guess. wonderho wmuch they paid. good they did. Some teaching agenicets hire farangs without giving them any papers and when they get caught, c they are simple abandoned and replaced by some other naive farangs

Edited April 12, 2013 by metisdead
Small font reset to normal: Arial size 14.

[NamKangMan]

why the company couldnt prove she was legal the moment she was arrested?????????

because she wasn;t i guess. wonderho wmuch they paid. good they did. Some teaching agenicets hire farangs without giving them any papers and when they get caught, c they are simple abandoned and replaced by some other naive farangs

Yes, and that's usually just before the end of the month, when they are due salary.