Young Russian busted in Phuket

[webfact]

Young Russian busted in Phuket
Naraporn Tuarob


Pushkarer is processed. Photo Immigration Police

PHUKET: -- A young Russian, Alexander Pushkarer, 22, was arrested this evening after being found working in a souvenir shop in Patong.

Acting on a tip-off Immigration Police officers found Pushkarer working in the shop. Although he had a valid visa for Thailand, he had no work permit.

He was handed over to Kathu Police for prosecution for working illegally.

The owner of the shop was not arrested.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/young-russian-busted-in-phuket-40882.php


-- Phuket News 2013-07-18

[chooka]

isn't it an offence also to hire someone without a valid work permit? Why wasn't the shop owner charged also? Would like to know a little more, was he receiving a wage or just helping out the g/f's family? Not much of a story with just 3 short lines.

Maybe this is part of the crackdown on the Russian Mafia and all offenders have now been captured.

Edited July 18, 2013 by chooka

[Mario2008]

Working without a work carreis a maximum penalty of 5 years imprissonment and/or a fine of up to 100,000 baht.

The employer risks a fine of up to 100,000 baht, no jailtime.

[laurentbkk]

Well , the Anti Russian war has started apparently ... I really hope Putin will ask his people to go in other countries and spend the few billions Euros they spend every year on holidays ...... how many other foreigners work illegally in this country ?

[JoePai]

Well , the Anti Russian war has started apparently ... I really hope Putin will ask his people to go in other countries and spend the few billions Euros they spend every year on holidays ...... how many other foreigners work illegally in this country ?

Any who are should be thrown out - simple

[Tatsujin]

If they are arresting people who are working illegally, why are they not also arresting/charging the people who are actually employing them? Is it because they are Thai by any chance . . . ?

[chooka]

If they are arresting people who are working illegally, why are they not also arresting/charging the people who are actually employing them? Is it because they are Thai by any chance . . . ?

It "May" very well be that. It could be that this store caters to a significant number of Russian tourists and they were unable to find Russian speaking thais. Hardly the crime of the century so I hope he is heavily fined or jailed. Revoke his visa and send him home that should be enough.

[fabianfred]

Everyone wants to punish the offenders....but what about the xenophobic government which denies people the chance to make a living or even a small profit from a hobby. Living according to the rules is virtually impossible because anything is classed as work, so just about everyone is working illegaly.

You should hire a Thai nurse to wipe your botty...a servant to make your coffee...a gardener to pick those flowers you've grown....a chauffeur to drive you about....a cook to make that sandwich...etc.

And those who need to live frugally and help themselves save money such as retirees are forbidden work permits.

[CrisRMenumate]

The Thai employer is rarely charged because they want to blame the bad foreigner who worked without a work permit, whereas its the Thai employers responsibility to ensure that the employee is legally holding all documents, they don't go to the root of the problem, they just attack the easy targets to blame, foreigners, Khun Xenophobe is hard at work on all these matters to protect the reputation of Thailand from all these bad foreigners who trick good Thai into hiring them illegally. T.I.T.

[lostmebike]

The owner of the shop was not arrested

Cos his brother is an immigration officer!

[lemoncake]

considering there is hardly any unemployment according to official figures and shortage of labor, how about start issuing working visa's or WP without having to jump through 1000 hoops.

Clearly no one is taking jobs from Thai's as they all are already employed

[stevenl]

This guy has been working here for quite some time now. Earlier he was working for a really big tourcompany, who are virtually untouchable, as their Russian speaking guide, welcoming them and ushering them on.

Looks like he made the mistake of working without protection, which will cost him, at least a trip home, maybe more.

[stevenl]

Everyone wants to punish the offenders....but what about the xenophobic government which denies people the chance to make a living or even a small profit from a hobby. Living according to the rules is virtually impossible because anything is classed as work, so just about everyone is working illegaly.

You should hire a Thai nurse to wipe your botty...a servant to make your coffee...a gardener to pick those flowers you've grown....a chauffeur to drive you about....a cook to make that sandwich...etc.

And those who need to live frugally and help themselves save money such as retirees are forbidden work permits.

Sounds like your frustration over an opportunity denied has gotten the better of you.

[tolsti]

Everyone wants to punish the offenders....but what about the xenophobic government which denies people the chance to make a living or even a small profit from a hobby. Living according to the rules is virtually impossible because anything is classed as work, so just about everyone is working illegaly.

You should hire a Thai nurse to wipe your botty...a servant to make your coffee...a gardener to pick those flowers you've grown....a chauffeur to drive you about....a cook to make that sandwich...etc.

And those who need to live frugally and help themselves save money such as retirees are forbidden work permits.

Retirees.... working?.....if they are working they're not retired are they?

[CIHUAHUA]

He should have told the officer it was just his hobby.

[NamKangMan]

isn't it an offence also to hire someone without a valid work permit? Why wasn't the shop owner charged also? Would like to know a little more, was he receiving a wage or just helping out the g/f's family? Not much of a story with just 3 short lines.

Maybe this is part of the crackdown on the Russian Mafia and all offenders have now been captured.

The owner is probably Thai, so, no charges for him, but, he understands he needs a Russian to speak to customers.

This young guy gets deported, the owner loses business, and the Russians can't buy any souvenirs.

Planet Phuket logic for you. :)

[belg]

thailand always boasting :

almost 0% unemployment

need crafty people to work

no thais speak descent russian or whatever target language for tourists...

but ok, he worked, should have gotten a work permit, certainly in a public place where somchai can go report you on sight

[mopar71]

isn't it an offence also to hire someone without a valid work permit? Why wasn't the shop owner charged also? Would like to know a little more, was he receiving a wage or just helping out the g/f's family? Not much of a story with just 3 short lines.

Maybe this is part of the crackdown on the Russian Mafia and all offenders have now been captured.

The owner is probably Thai, so, no charges for him, but, he understands he needs a Russian to speak to customers.

This young guy gets deported, the owner loses business, and the Russians can't buy any souvenirs.

Planet Phuket logic for you.

I'm sure there it won't be hard to find another Russian for the job. Sort of like finding eager tourists to buy a beach bar which is making money hand over fist.

Edited July 18, 2013 by mopar71

[Docno]

Look, there's a different between being arrested and being charged. The Russian was arrested (taken into police custody) and will likely be charged but, that will depend on the outcome of the investigation. The shop owner was not arrested (meaning he wasn't taken away by the police), but he still may be charged in the future (again, depending on the investigation). So all the snide remarks about the shop owner getting away with something due to police corruption or to Thais picking on farangs is off the mark. Ask yourself who is the greater flight risk, the foreigner on a short-term visa or the local who has a bunch on money invested in a shop...then you'll know who to arrest. This sort of thing happens in many countries. You'll need to find something else to whine about for the time being.

[webfact]

Russian arrested in Phuket for illegally hawking spa products
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A 22-year-old Russian man was arrested by Immigration Police in Patong last night after he was caught attempting to sell spa products to a plainclothes officer.

Immigration officers arrested Russian national Alexander Pushkarer at a shop on the Patong beach road at about 7pm.

“We were informed by one of our officers that a foreigner was working illegally at a shop,” Capt Angkarn Yasanop of Phuket Immigration told the Phuket Gazette.

After watching Mr Pushkarer sell souvenirs, clothes and spa products to tourists, the officers sent in a fellow member dressed in plainclothes to pretend to be a customer.

Once Mr Pushkarer presented himself as a staffer at the store, the plainclothes cop exposed himself as an officer of the law and placed Mr Pushkarer under arrest.

“We asked to see his passport and work permit,” Capt Angkarn said.

“He entered Thailand on a visa-on-arrival on June 23, 2013 and is allowed to stay in the country until July 22, 2013,” he said.

“However, he admitted he did not have a work permit,” Capt Angkarn added.

Mr Pushkarer was taken to Patong Police Station and subsequently charged with working without a work permit.

“After he has been served a fine by the court, he will be handed back to Phuket Immigration. We will transfer him to Bangkok and he will be deported from there,” Capt Angkarn said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Russian-arrested-in-Phuket-for-illegally-hawking-spa-products-21679.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-07-18

[chooka]

Russian arrested in Phuket for illegally hawking spa products

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A 22-year-old Russian man was arrested by Immigration Police in Patong last night after he was caught attempting to sell spa products to a plainclothes officer.

Immigration officers arrested Russian national Alexander Pushkarer at a shop on the Patong beach road at about 7pm.

“We were informed by one of our officers that a foreigner was working illegally at a shop,” Capt Angkarn Yasanop of Phuket Immigration told the Phuket Gazette.

After watching Mr Pushkarer sell souvenirs, clothes and spa products to tourists, the officers sent in a fellow member dressed in plainclothes to pretend to be a customer.

Once Mr Pushkarer presented himself as a staffer at the store, the plainclothes cop exposed himself as an officer of the law and placed Mr Pushkarer under arrest.

“We asked to see his passport and work permit,” Capt Angkarn said.

“He entered Thailand on a visa-on-arrival on June 23, 2013 and is allowed to stay in the country until July 22, 2013,” he said.

“However, he admitted he did not have a work permit,” Capt Angkarn added.

Mr Pushkarer was taken to Patong Police Station and subsequently charged with working without a work permit.

“After he has been served a fine by the court, he will be handed back to Phuket Immigration. We will transfer him to Bangkok and he will be deported from there,” Capt Angkarn said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Russian-arrested-in-Phuket-for-illegally-hawking-spa-products-21679.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-07-18

So what is the real story, working in a trinket shop or selling spas to thais?

[BahBahBoBo]

Well , the Anti Russian war has started apparently ... I really hope Putin will ask his people to go in other countries and spend the few billions Euros they spend every year on holidays ...... how many other foreigners work illegally in this country ?

Did you ever stop to think that perhaps the Thai government is being 'prodded' by other outside governments to do this? Because those other outside governments are fearful of the change of 'sphere of influence' taking place? And perhaps the Thai government is merely making a few 'token crackdowns/efforts' as a political 'here take a f*&^n valium'????

[KarenBravo]

Well , the Anti Russian war has started apparently ... I really hope Putin will ask his people to go in other countries and spend the few billions Euros they spend every year on holidays ...... how many other foreigners work illegally in this country ?

Did you ever stop to think that perhaps the Thai government is being 'prodded' by other outside governments to do this? Because those other outside governments are fearful of the change of 'sphere of influence' taking place? And perhaps the Thai government is merely making a few 'token crackdowns/efforts' as a political 'here take a f*&^n valium'????

Oh, I see........because a few Russians are working illegally, the USA is worried that Thailand will move out of it's sphere of influence into the Russian camp.

Makes perfect sense, now you mention it.....

[marell]

Wonder if this guy got busted before...or....after he got paid.

[lee b]

Should the employer not be charged? He/she must of known the guy did not have a permit to work !

[MegaRanter]

Hope it's not near the time for him to get paid that he got busted.

How convenient for the employer.

[chooka]

Well , the Anti Russian war has started apparently ... I really hope Putin will ask his people to go in other countries and spend the few billions Euros they spend every year on holidays ...... how many other foreigners work illegally in this country ?

Did you ever stop to think that perhaps the Thai government is being 'prodded' by other outside governments to do this? Because those other outside governments are fearful of the change of 'sphere of influence' taking place? And perhaps the Thai government is merely making a few 'token crackdowns/efforts' as a political 'here take a f*&^n valium'????

[lemoncake]

Well , the Anti Russian war has started apparently ... I really hope Putin will ask his people to go in other countries and spend the few billions Euros they spend every year on holidays ...... how many other foreigners work illegally in this country ?

Did you ever stop to think that perhaps the Thai government is being 'prodded' by other outside governments to do this? Because those other outside governments are fearful of the change of 'sphere of influence' taking place? And perhaps the Thai government is merely making a few 'token crackdowns/efforts' as a political 'here take a f*&^n valium'????

[Salapoo]

Thais really don't like us Caucasians coming and staying here, do they.

The ones that aren't being advantaged by it of course.

[NamKangMan]

Take a good look at this photo, people.

This is the true face of crime on Phuket.

A Russian working in a shop, selling souvenirs. :) :)