‘Police nearly tricked me into a confession’

[Lite Beer]

‘Police nearly tricked me into a confession’

editorial image

A Spalding human rights activist has turned to the EU for help after claiming he was almost tricked into signing a confession that allegations he made against a Thai fruit company were untrue.

Andy Hall faces jail and heavy financial penalties over a campaign to protect migrant workers’ at Natural Fruit Ltd.

On Monday, after fresh allegations were made against him over videos posted online, he met with European Union officials in Thailand because he says he has had no practical help from the British Embassy.

He told the Spalding Guardian: “I was almost tricked into signing a false confession on Saturday partly due to my presence at Bangna Police Station over the fresh allegations and the British Embassy refusing to share information or go with me.

“But I don’t think the police realised how fluent my Thai is.

“During the only time I met the vice-consul, he said I was ‘in no different position to an accused phaedophile’ and the embassy wouldn’t intervene unless I could not get a fair trial.

“And they gave me a ‘what to do in a Thai jail’ book.”

Front Line Defenders have expressed deep concern at the police conduct and lawsuits filed against Mr Hall and believes them to be solely motivated by his work as a prominent migrant rights defender in Thailand.

Read More: http://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/news/latest-news/police-nearly-tricked-me-into-a-confession-1-5559713

--Spalding Guardian 2013-10-06

[Bluespunk]

Ah, the BIB and the British embassy at their finest. Just beautiful boys, just beautiful. Viva human rights, viva the rule of law, viva the embassies concern about its citizens. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Wait, no, it could revulsion and nausea, I'll let you know after I finish throwing up.

[theblether]

It's not the job of the Embassy to hold the hands of people that want to go into countries and contravene their laws The sooner my fellow Brits grow up and examine the single line which is most relevant to us in the OP the better.........

and the embassy wouldn’t intervene unless I could not get a fair trial.

Personally, I'm fed up with these spoon fed morons coming over here and thinking that the Embassy is an extension of the welfare state. It's not.

Grow up and face the consequences of your actions.

[tonneke breda]

Disgusting that the Embassy dares to draw the comparison to Pedophiles

[Bluespunk]

It's not the job of the Embassy to hold the hands of people that want to go into countries and contravene their laws The sooner my fellow Brits grow up and examine the single line which is most relevant to us in the OP the better.........

and the embassy wouldnt intervene unless I could not get a fair trial.

Personally, I'm fed up with these spoon fed morons coming over here and thinking that the Embassy is an extension of the welfare state. It's not.

Grow up and face the consequences of your actions.

I thought he was being sued for exposing the exploitation of foreign labour in a human rights report. Didn't realise he'd broken the law. What did he do? Unless exposing human rights violations is a crime of course.

[riki]

The British Embassy. is one of the worst Embassy for help, out of all the western ones here,all my friends here get better help from there Embassy. they should rename it (do it you self Embassy.)

[gl555]

What exactly did the police do to try to 'trick' him into signing a confession? While the Thai police does suck, the article doesn't elaborate on what happened and only paints this fella as the good guy campaigner versus dirty cops.

[Pimay1]

What exactly did the police do to try to 'trick' him into signing a confession? While the Thai police does suck, the article doesn't elaborate on what happened and only paints this fella as the good guy campaigner versus dirty cops.

I'd like to know that also. Every coin has two sides.

[English_M_in_Bkk]

It's not the job of the Embassy to hold the hands of people that want to go into countries and contravene their laws The sooner my fellow Brits grow up and examine the single line which is most relevant to us in the OP the better.........

and the embassy wouldn’t intervene unless I could not get a fair trial.

Personally, I'm fed up with these spoon fed morons coming over here and thinking that the Embassy is an extension of the welfare state. It's not.

Grow up and face the consequences of your actions.

I bet if you were been fitted up by the cops, and they do it all the time, and the Embassy didn't help you that you would be squealing for your rights.

So how about some empathy, bad enough they are comparing him to a pedo. At least he has the balls to actually do something about rights over here that sit and moan about 'Thais' on a forum.

[theblether]

It's not the job of the Embassy to hold the hands of people that want to go into countries and contravene their laws The sooner my fellow Brits grow up and examine the single line which is most relevant to us in the OP the better.........

and the embassy wouldnt intervene unless I could not get a fair trial.

Personally, I'm fed up with these spoon fed morons coming over here and thinking that the Embassy is an extension of the welfare state. It's not.

Grow up and face the consequences of your actions.

I thought he was being sued for exposing the exploitation of foreign labour in a human rights report. Didn't realise he'd broken the law. What did he do? Unless exposing human rights violations is a crime of course.

Laudable as his campaign appears to be, the British Embassy, which by dint is an extension of the British government, cannot allow itself to get drawn into every campaign by every activist Worldwide. It's a ridiculous proposition, we would end up with 20 layers working full time in every Embassy bailing out crackpot British nationals that dream up some new obscure campaign. It can't happen.

Which law did he break? Well I don't know but I lay you odds that defamation would be in the frame somewhere along the line. The guy is fluent in Thai, you would expect him to be wise to some of the archaic and ridiculous laws that riddle this country.

That's as may be , my complaint is a "campaigner" thinking the he can run to the Embassy for help when the going gets tough. What does he expect them to do? Swoop in and bypass Thai law and procedure? Not a chance of that happening, not a chance and rightfully so. Reverse it, what would you say if the Thai government tried to influence the British legal system? You would be manning the barricades.

There are far too many British infants abroad. Seriously, they need to grow up.

[soi41]

It's not the job of the Embassy to hold the hands of people that want to go into countries and contravene their laws The sooner my fellow Brits grow up and examine the single line which is most relevant to us in the OP the better.........

and the embassy wouldnt intervene unless I could not get a fair trial.

Personally, I'm fed up with these spoon fed morons coming over here and thinking that the Embassy is an extension of the welfare state. It's not.

Grow up and face the consequences of your actions.

I thought he was being sued for exposing the exploitation of foreign labour in a human rights report. Didn't realise he'd broken the law. What did he do? Unless exposing human rights violations is a crime of course.

Then it is very simple, he goes to court, present his "evidence" of the alledged human rights violations by the company suing him. But maybe talking to 2 migrant workers outside the gate of the factory, telling him "boss, no good", isn't enough to convince the court.

I am personally 100 % sure, that the factory in question, would never risk the mediaexposure they are getting by taking him to court, if they were in the wrong!

Maybe Mr Hall should start a little closer to home (working for Finnwatch), by helping to Thai berrypickers stranded in Finland, after being exploited by their Finnish employer!

[moe666]

Now he wants help but did he inform the embassy that he would be coming to Thailand on a crusade. People come here on their own without any help from the embassy why do they scream for help when in trouble. During my 10 years in the US Navy we were always told before a port call that we would be at the mercy of the local laws and enforcement if we broke any of the local laws and there wouldn't be a lot they could do about it, this was in the 1960s so not much has changed.

Good on the gentleman and his personal crusade but please do not moan and groan later when the s--t hits the fan.

[Bluespunk]

It's not the job of the Embassy to hold the hands of people that want to go into countries and contravene their laws The sooner my fellow Brits grow up and examine the single line which is most relevant to us in the OP the better.........

and the embassy wouldnt intervene unless I could not get a fair trial.

Personally, I'm fed up with these spoon fed morons coming over here and thinking that the Embassy is an extension of the welfare state. It's not.

Grow up and face the consequences of your actions.

I thought he was being sued for exposing the exploitation of foreign labour in a human rights report. Didn't realise he'd broken the law. What did he do? Unless exposing human rights violations is a crime of course.

Then it is very simple, he goes to court, present his "evidence" of the alledged human rights violations by the company suing him. But maybe talking to 2 migrant workers outside the gate of the factory, telling him "boss, no good", isn't enough to convince the court.

I am personally 100 % sure, that the factory in question, would never risk the mediaexposure they are getting by taking him to court, if they were in the wrong!

Maybe Mr Hall should start a little closer to home (working for Finnwatch), by helping to Thai berrypickers stranded in Finland, after being exploited by their Finnish employer!

Has he not been to court already. I thought this was the third or fourth different case this company has brought. I don't think they've actually denied the charges in the report. I could be wrong of course, I haven't followed the case that closely since the first court appearance. As for the Thais in Finland I believe a number of Finnish human rights groups are helping their case and funnily enough none of them have been sued by the berry picking companies.

[richard10365]

It's probably best to consult with a lawyer before making allegations. How Andy Hall's intends his allegations to sound might be different than how Thai people perceive them.

I think if he wants to make changes, he should work within the system than trying to be a lone crusader. If anything, his actions are being perceived similar to the boy who cried wolf and is possibly making things worse for other migrants who are also being abused. The abusers now think they can do anything and get away with it.

This also might be why the UK Embassy really want's nothing to do with him. There are legitimate NGO's doing good work in Thailand and the UK Embassy does work together with them because these NGOs work within the established Thai culture and system of doing things. Mr. Hall should partner with a respectful NGO group and let them help him to work within the system to protect migrant workers.

Edited October 6, 2013 by richard10365

[GentlemanJim]

Disgusting that the Embassy dares to draw the comparison to Pedophiles

It's not the job of the Embassy to hold the hands of people that want to go into countries and contravene their laws The sooner my fellow Brits grow up and examine the single line which is most relevant to us in the OP the better.........

and the embassy wouldn’t intervene unless I could not get a fair trial.

Personally, I'm fed up with these spoon fed morons coming over here and thinking that the Embassy is an extension of the welfare state. It's not.

Grow up and face the consequences of your actions.

I bet if you were been fitted up by the cops, and they do it all the time, and the Embassy didn't help you that you would be squealing for your rights.

So how about some empathy, bad enough they are comparing him to a pedo. At least he has the balls to actually do something about rights over here that sit and moan about 'Thais' on a forum.

You have zero idea what perspective or context the quote that offends you so much was used.

If you guy's got in the s**t back in the UK tell me, would you honestly expect a representative of Government to come and hold your hand at a police station or in court? Are you completely mental!

Whilst the plight of Andy Hall is one worthy of sympathy, if you come to the country where the defamation laws are the most strict in the world and start shouting your mouth off then you are not only asking for trouble, but you will find it. Advice for Mr Hall and the rest of you out there on planet La La is that if you find yourself in the s**t then you do what everyone else in the world does and you get yourself a lawyer. In the event that Mr Hall does not get a fair trial the Embassy WILL intervene, and they have told him that.

[khunPer]

There must be more to this story, than revealed in the news article?

[Kerryd]

The arrogance borders on unbelievable.

Too many people go into foreign countries, get in trouble with the locals and then whine like little b<iatches> when their governments don't immediately send in the troops (literally) to bail their dumb @sses out.

Perhaps the vice-consul should have also informed this arrogant &lt;deleted&gt; that it is NOT the Embassy's duty to intervene in every case where their citizens are possibly guilty of breaking local laws (and everyone knows how the Thais LOVE their Defamation lawsuits). Nor is it their DUTY to intervene in every (or any for that matter) civil or criminal case involving one of their citizens. (See below for quotes directly from UK Embassy websites.)

"He said: “This is political persecution – harrassment. I am a human rights activist and my government must and should protect me. It’s their duty."

"It’s an insult to my dignity and international human rights standards that a private individual can bring so many malicious cases against me for revealing their multiple illegality,’"

But apparently he thinks he should be able to make allegations against others with impunity ?

Or is it only him that is entitled to Due Process ? Have his (alleged) allegations been proven, anywhere, in a court of law ? Does he think that because he decides he's a "human rights activist" that gives him ANY sort of right to violate local laws ?

And "waaaaaaa" my Embassy isn't charging in here with troops and government lawyers so I'm going to go to the EU". Pathetic.

Maybe he does have a case. However if he did and he is a "human rights activist" as he claims, then he should KNOW the proper venues to go through, and he should KNOW that he needs evidence, not just hearsay, and he should KNOW what is likely to happen if he makes allegations that (possibly) violates local laws.

The most my embassy would do if something I did landed me in a similar situation, would be to give me a list of "approved" lawyers that I could hire (and pay for myself) to get me out of the mess I created.

From a quick review of various UK Embassy websites, it is quite clear what their "duty" is, and isn't. For example:

We cannot:

>Investigate crimes, get you out of prison, prevent

the local authorities from deporting you after your

prison sentence, or interfere in criminal or civil

court proceedings;

> Give you legal advice or translate documents,

although we can give you details of people

who may be able to help you in these cases,

such as English-speaking lawyers or professional

translators/interpreters;

Note that NOTHING there is changed, in ANY way, by someone claiming to be a "human rights activist".

Time to put on your "big boy pants" and deal with the mess your got yourself in.

[English_M_in_Bkk]

Are these the same Thai Visa posters that moan about this how this law should be changed, there is no rule of law in Thailand, Thai corruption, disgraceful scams etc. etc.?

Now a man who is actually speaking out for migrant workers gets shot down in flames and told to shut up while in country - bunch of hypocrites. Like I said, you lot would be squealing like pigs if it was you in the vice.

[FarangTalk]

Well done Mr. Hall.

It takes integrity and bravery to speak out and expose this kind of persecution against migrant workers in the face of the usual lying, duplicitous and abusive nature of many of the employers here.

Thais are bullies, and I was always told to stand up to bullies. The justice system (as well as other facets of the culture and system) works on extortion and bullying, in lieu of proper investigative methods, honesty and transparency.

The factory will now bully with defamation lawsuits, using their connections in the Police to coerce Mr. Hall to bend to their will. If unsuccessful, threats and possibly even violence will be the next resort.

Westerners that stick their nose in and expose blatant Thai criminality are often killed; Michael Wansley springs instantly to mind.

It's the way it works here. No surprise there are expats that find it hard to think properly have no problem with this behaviour.

Personally, I find it disgusting and I admire Mr. Hall for his efforts.

[Thai at Heart]

It's not the job of the Embassy to hold the hands of people that want to go into countries and contravene their laws The sooner my fellow Brits grow up and examine the single line which is most relevant to us in the OP the better.........

and the embassy wouldnt intervene unless I could not get a fair trial.

Personally, I'm fed up with these spoon fed morons coming over here and thinking that the Embassy is an extension of the welfare state. It's not.

Grow up and face the consequences of your actions.

I thought he was being sued for exposing the exploitation of foreign labour in a human rights report. Didn't realise he'd broken the law. What did he do? Unless exposing human rights violations is a crime of course.

Then it is very simple, he goes to court, present his "evidence" of the alledged human rights violations by the company suing him. But maybe talking to 2 migrant workers outside the gate of the factory, telling him "boss, no good", isn't enough to convince the court.

I am personally 100 % sure, that the factory in question, would never risk the mediaexposure they are getting by taking him to court, if they were in the wrong!

Maybe Mr Hall should start a little closer to home (working for Finnwatch), by helping to Thai berrypickers stranded in Finland, after being exploited by their Finnish employer!

Once you've been tarred by a human rights report, you probably have little option but to sue and hope he pleads guilty in order to get a reduced sentence.

If any foreign companies deal with this company these days I would be very surprised.

[Thai at Heart]

The arrogance borders on unbelievable.

Too many people go into foreign countries, get in trouble with the locals and then whine like little b<iatches> when their governments don't immediately send in the troops (literally) to bail their dumb @sses out.

Perhaps the vice-consul should have also informed this arrogant &lt;deleted&gt; that it is NOT the Embassy's duty to intervene in every case where their citizens are possibly guilty of breaking local laws (and everyone knows how the Thais LOVE their Defamation lawsuits). Nor is it their DUTY to intervene in every (or any for that matter) civil or criminal case involving one of their citizens. (See below for quotes directly from UK Embassy websites.)

"He said: This is political persecution harrassment. I am a human rights activist and my government must and should protect me. Its their duty."

"Its an insult to my dignity and international human rights standards that a private individual can bring so many malicious cases against me for revealing their multiple illegality,"

But apparently he thinks he should be able to make allegations against others with impunity ?

Or is it only him that is entitled to Due Process ? Have his (alleged) allegations been proven, anywhere, in a court of law ? Does he think that because he decides he's a "human rights activist" that gives him ANY sort of right to violate local laws ?

And "waaaaaaa" my Embassy isn't charging in here with troops and government lawyers so I'm going to go to the EU". Pathetic.

Maybe he does have a case. However if he did and he is a "human rights activist" as he claims, then he should KNOW the proper venues to go through, and he should KNOW that he needs evidence, not just hearsay, and he should KNOW what is likely to happen if he makes allegations that (possibly) violates local laws.

The most my embassy would do if something I did landed me in a similar situation, would be to give me a list of "approved" lawyers that I could hire (and pay for myself) to get me out of the mess I created.

From a quick review of various UK Embassy websites, it is quite clear what their "duty" is, and isn't. For example:

We cannot:

>Investigate crimes, get you out of prison, prevent

the local authorities from deporting you after your

prison sentence, or interfere in criminal or civil

court proceedings;

> Give you legal advice or translate documents,

although we can give you details of people

who may be able to help you in these cases,

such as English-speaking lawyers or professional

translators/interpreters;

Note that NOTHING there is changed, in ANY way, by someone claiming to be a "human rights activist".

Time to put on your "big boy pants" and deal with the mess your got yourself in.

It was on another thread, but apparently, one of the mandates of the embassy is protect britsh NGO employees responsible for exposing human rights or blatent illegality. This would include for example under cover journalists.

Why do spies so often go under the guise of journalists?

[Globeman]

It's not the job of the Embassy to hold the hands of people that want to go into countries and contravene their laws The sooner my fellow Brits grow up and examine the single line which is most relevant to us in the OP the better.........

and the embassy wouldn’t intervene unless I could not get a fair trial.

Personally, I'm fed up with these spoon fed morons coming over here and thinking that the Embassy is an extension of the welfare state. It's not.

Grow up and face the consequences of your actions.

This isn't some guy who decided to smuggle drugs and then expects the assistance of the British embassy.. .this is someone facing what are most likely trumped up charges being handled by a corrupt police force - because he shared information that doesn't suit vested interests.

So what is the embassy/consulate for, anyway? Oh yes, the corporate welfare bums...

[unanimosity]

The arrogance borders on unbelievable.

Too many people go into foreign countries, get in trouble with the locals and then whine like little b<iatches> when their governments don't immediately send in the troops (literally) to bail their dumb @sses out.

Perhaps the vice-consul should have also informed this arrogant &lt;deleted&gt; that it is NOT the Embassy's duty to intervene in every case where their citizens are possibly guilty of breaking local laws (and everyone knows how the Thais LOVE their Defamation lawsuits). Nor is it their DUTY to intervene in every (or any for that matter) civil or criminal case involving one of their citizens. (See below for quotes directly from UK Embassy websites.)

"He said: This is political persecution harrassment. I am a human rights activist and my government must and should protect me. Its their duty."

"Its an insult to my dignity and international human rights standards that a private individual can bring so many malicious cases against me for revealing their multiple illegality,"

But apparently he thinks he should be able to make allegations against others with impunity ?

Or is it only him that is entitled to Due Process ? Have his (alleged) allegations been proven, anywhere, in a court of law ? Does he think that because he decides he's a "human rights activist" that gives him ANY sort of right to violate local laws ?

And "waaaaaaa" my Embassy isn't charging in here with troops and government lawyers so I'm going to go to the EU". Pathetic.

Maybe he does have a case. However if he did and he is a "human rights activist" as he claims, then he should KNOW the proper venues to go through, and he should KNOW that he needs evidence, not just hearsay, and he should KNOW what is likely to happen if he makes allegations that (possibly) violates local laws.

The most my embassy would do if something I did landed me in a similar situation, would be to give me a list of "approved" lawyers that I could hire (and pay for myself) to get me out of the mess I created.

From a quick review of various UK Embassy websites, it is quite clear what their "duty" is, and isn't. For example:

We cannot:

>Investigate crimes, get you out of prison, prevent

the local authorities from deporting you after your

prison sentence, or interfere in criminal or civil

court proceedings;

> Give you legal advice or translate documents,

although we can give you details of people

who may be able to help you in these cases,

such as English-speaking lawyers or professional

translators/interpreters;

Note that NOTHING there is changed, in ANY way, by someone claiming to be a "human rights activist".

Time to put on your "big boy pants" and deal with the mess your got yourself in.

It was on another thread, but apparently, one of the mandates of the embassy is protect britsh NGO employees responsible for exposing human rights or blatent illegality. This would include for example under cover journalists.

Why do spies so often go under the guise of journalists?

Access.

[GentlemanJim]

Are these the same Thai Visa posters that moan about this how this law should be changed, there is no rule of law in Thailand, Thai corruption, disgraceful scams etc. etc.?

Now a man who is actually speaking out for migrant workers gets shot down in flames and told to shut up while in country - bunch of hypocrites. Like I said, you lot would be squealing like pigs if it was you in the vice.

Well done Mr. Hall.

It takes integrity and bravery to speak out and expose this kind of persecution against migrant workers in the face of the usual lying, duplicitous and abusive nature of many of the employers here.

Thais are bullies, and I was always told to stand up to bullies. The justice system (as well as other facets of the culture and system) works on extortion and bullying, in lieu of proper investigative methods, honesty and transparency.

The factory will now bully with defamation lawsuits, using their connections in the Police to coerce Mr. Hall to bend to their will. If unsuccessful, threats and possibly even violence will be the next resort.

Westerners that stick their nose in and expose blatant Thai criminality are often killed; Michael Wansley springs instantly to mind.

It's the way it works here. No surprise there are expats that find it hard to think properly have no problem with this behaviour.

Personally, I find it disgusting and I admire Mr. Hall for his efforts.

Are you two having difficulty reading?

Nobody is having a go at this guy for sticking up for Human Rights, the fact is that the UK Government are not in a position to help anyone that decides to do things of their own accord. IF Andy Hall's human rights are infringed and he is mistreated in terms of the normal handling one would expect in a legal proceeding, then the Government will step in. Most of the dullards that complain that the 'British Embassy' are 'no good and do nuffin for anyone' are amongst the group of 'expats' that left the UK for no other reason than they were in the s**t back home with the taxman or the law and now expect that simply because they are in a foreign country the UK Government should wipe their &lt;deleted&gt; for them.

The Foreign Office did not put Embassy's around the world to help infantile expats with 'lost credit cards', no money left in the bank, got drunk and lost my passport and can't afford a ticket home! If you do anything that will make you the subject of a legal dispute then you need to get a lawyer. Claiming to be a Human Rights 'Activist' is no defence as just like any other 'Activist' (animal rights activist for example) some of them are a little over zealous with their methods and do things which require them to be banged up. Now Andy Hall may well be on to something and I had followed his story and felt for him and his cause, but if this news article is accurate then he has lost all credibility in my eyes and knows nothing about the correct way to expose wrong doings. He needs to grow up and some of you on TV need to grow a pair. The Embassy is not some nurse maid for you to suckle up to the teat every time you get yourself in difficulty by following your own choices.

The British Embassy are without a doubt the best organization in this country for Brits in trouble. They will direct all the appropriate help in your direction and do whatever they can within the law and within diplomatic law to assist you. They will NOT go outside the law. There is no other Embassy from no other nation in this country whose staff will visit you as often as British Embassy staff if you are in Prison awaiting trial. I KNOW because I have seen it (and for others who wish to see it, it is possible) visits to sick and infirm, visits to completely ungrateful kn*bs in prison (who I might add are always EXTREMELY grateful when they get out having seen the treatment other foreign expats get) who complain 'why am I being held, get me out of here, the coppers would just give me a warning back home for smoking dope' !!! and after listening to that tripe the Embassy staff give soap, sandwiches, cigarettes and money ALL out of their own pocket to aid the individual. They then fill in paperwork to get the individual emergency funds from the charity prisoners abroad. Do they need to do that? Nope, but they will. Do they need to travel 5 hours to see you if you get blind drunk and raped on the beach at a full moon party, nope but they do AND make sure the individual is cared for with compassion and given every effort to ensure their security until they can get out of hospital or flown home. Some of you have ZERO idea of what is done out here apart from getting drunk in bars every day. Little wonder such uneducated 'opinions' seem to surface on here. Some of you really need to look at your excuses for a life and go get a real one.

Edited October 6, 2013 by GentlemanJim

[GentlemanJim]

The British Embassy sucks more than The Nation newspaper. Disgusting, again.

... and certainly takes every opportunity to suck what it can out of British nationals needing nothing more than a rubber stamp and a signature....!

And who pays for the person to be sat there to do the stamping? who pays for the desk and the chair and the paperwork and the carpets and the rent and the holiday pay and the money that pays for all those people sat waiting to give letters and stamps where only 10 people a year pitch up but they complain bitterly if their is no service. Do you have any concept of the system needed to provide a service and the costs involved? Or are you just another cheap expat on the run from troubles at home that wants everything for nothing provided on a plate for you?

[technology]

It's not the job of the Embassy to hold the hands of people that want to go into countries and contravene their laws The sooner my fellow Brits grow up and examine the single line which is most relevant to us in the OP the better.........

and the embassy wouldnt intervene unless I could not get a fair trial.

Personally, I'm fed up with these spoon fed morons coming over here and thinking that the Embassy is an extension of the welfare state. It's not.

Grow up and face the consequences of your actions.

I thought he was being sued for exposing the exploitation of foreign labour in a human rights report. Didn't realise he'd broken the law. What did he do? Unless exposing human rights violations is a crime of course.

Which law did he break? Well I don't know but

Says it all right there.

Can't be bothered to find out even the most basic of the particulars, but that doesn't stop him from lambasting the fellow up one side and down the other.

[SOTIRIOS]

What exactly did the police do to try to 'trick' him into signing a confession? While the Thai police does suck, the article doesn't elaborate on what happened and only paints this fella as the good guy campaigner versus dirty cops.

...intimidation....coercion.....misrepresentation of facts....

[kiwiinasia]

Typical "Give me" type bludger pretending to be a Human Rights Activist.

If you stir the pot, be prepared to get burnt.

[slipperylobster]

Yay.....Expat Brigade musters at soi 6, Pattaya for morning colors.....protecting Thailand's fairest damsels. (Referring to the Brit Photo)

[tingtongfarang]

I feel we should be thankful that people like mr Hall exist and are prepared to take the risks of stirring the pot, Hope he gets support from the EU,

Of course the police would not had gone to the trouble of tricking a confession without payment.