DOG DAYS: Phuket murder fugitive 'Mick the Pom' living openly in sunny Philippines

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DOG DAYS: Phuket murder fugitive 'Mick the Pom' living openly in sunny Philippines
Phuket Gazette


British national Michael Taylor, now living freely in the Philippines, is still wanted for the stabbing murder of his Thai girlfriend Jantra Weangta in 2004.

PHUKET: -- British murder fugitive Michael John Taylor, better known in Phuket as “Mick The Pom”, has been found alive and well in the Philippines, and now uses the online monikers “Mick Doggard”, or just “Mickdog” for short.

Taylor, who celebrated his 50th birthday on September 20 this year, remains wanted for the murder of his girlfriend Jantra Weangta, 27, who was found stabbed to death in Taylor’s rented bungalow near Chalong Pier on August 17, 2004.

Ms Jantra died from a single stab wound to the heart.

Nearby, police found a large Bowie knife and a pair of bloodstained trousers, and quickly arrested Taylor for the murder.

Taylor denied the accusation and told police that around the time Ms Jantra was estimated to have been killed, he was drinking at the Moonlight Bar in Karon and then having sex on the beach with a katoey (ladyboy), 21-year-old Fonnoi Khonsau.

He said that he found Ms Jantra dead on the bed when he and Mr Fonnoi went to the house.

By the time Taylor’s much-delayed trial started over a year later, the prosecution had lined up 13 witnesses to testify against him, including Pornthip Rojanasunand, Thailand’s leading forensic investigator, who was to present DNA evidence.

Despite the fact that he faced a murder charge, Taylor had been released on bail after a Chanote land title deed valued at 400,000 baht was posted as surety.

In 2006, mid-trial, he disappeared.

Taylor was later seen by a Phuket Gazette reader on the streets of his hometown of Hull, in northern England.

The British Embassy in Bangkok has refused to confirm or deny whether or not he re-entered the UK after he absconded from Thailand, and neither that embassy nor the British embassy in Manila nor the Home Office in the UK have explained to the Gazette how Taylor continues to travel abroad.

Taylor’s lawyer, Somsak “Sam” Chattay, confirmed to the Gazette in 2006 that Taylor’s passport was held at the Chalong Police Station during the trial.

The Gazette has a copy of Taylor’s previous passport, showing it was due to expire on June 12 this year. For Taylor to be legally travelling today as a British national, he must have been issued a new passport by the UK authorities while he was still wanted for murder in Thailand.

The news of Taylor’s latest whereabouts was brought to the Gazette’s attention after patrons at the Dogs Offshore Bar in the beach resort town of Pundakit, about 160km west of Manila and just over an hour’s driver from Subic Bay, heard him bragging about the killing to patrons in the bar.

Asked who to contact with such information, the British Embassy in Bangkok refused to provide any assistance in bringing one of its own nationals to justice.

“The alleged offence was committed in Thailand, and therefore the whereabouts of the alleged offender is likely to be of interest to the Thai authorities. We would suggest that any information on the case be shared with the Thai authorities,” an email from the embassy said.

“This is a bilateral matter between Thailand and the Philippines authorities and the Royal Thai Police are the correct body to take this issue forward,” said an earlier email.

No embassy representative was willing to officially claim responsibility for either email.

The Gazette on August 31 informed Phuket Provincial Police Chief Choti Chavalwivat, who retired on September 30, as well as Phuket Provincial Chief Public Prosecutor Chiengsean Panhya and Chalong Police Superintendent Kritapas Daztharasorn.

However, the Gazette hitting the streets this weekend will mark six weeks of no action by any Phuket law enforcement authority to bring Taylor to justice – despite having been given a photo, the arrest warrant for murder and for jumping bail, a phone number, Facebook page, website address and even a map of where to find him.

After being informed and shown documentary evidence of Taylor’s whereabouts on August 31, Maj Gen Choti told the Gazette it was a matter for the Public Prosecutor, not the police.

However, he assured he would report the information to Chief Prosecutor Chiengsean as soon as possible.

Three days later, while chasing an update, the Gazette broke the news of Taylor’s whereabouts to Mr Chiengsean, who repeatedly confirmed that he had yet to receive any notification from Gen Choti.

Even then, Mr Chiengsean was adamant that arresting a murder fugitive – even one that absconded on bail during trial – was a matter for the police.

Noting the failure of communication and a lack of common understanding between police and the chief prosecutor in matters involving the arrest of murder fugitives, the Gazette brought the case to the attention of Col Kritapas, who as Superintendent of the Chalong Police heads the police unit that brought the case to trial.

He denied any further responsibility for bringing a murder suspect arrested in his jurisdiction to justice.

“It is beyond police authority to arrest anyone outside of the country. Police have done their job. The suspect was arrested and handed over to the prosecutor,” Col Krittapas said.

“Also, the suspect escaped while on court bail, not police bail… This is clearly a matter for the prosecutor,” he added.

Nigh daily calls – by phone and in person – by the Gazette to all three top law-enforcement authorities related to the case have since yielded no confirmation that the Royal Thai Police in Phuket are willing to take any action to arrest Taylor.

At last report, the Gazette learned Taylor was heading offshore again to work – most likely in the oil and gas industry.

His online posts appear on “rovworld.com”, a site for offshore workers.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/DOG-DAYS-Phuket-murder-fugitive-Mick-the-Pom-living-openly-in-sunny-Philippines-22481.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-10-11

[LivinginKata]

Keystone Cops comes to my mind. Although there is nothing amusing about a dead lady and a possible murderer on the loose

[Kerryd]

Well, what's to be expected ? The police know the location(s) of 2 other well known fugitives and have made no attempts to have them arrested and returned either, and they are Thai nationals !

"Someone else's problem" I guess.

Gotta wonder though if the Philippines wants a foreign fugitive living in their country...........

[madmitch]

Another example of the pathetic justice system in this country.

And also shows the Phuket police as the lazy so and sos we all know they are.

[BigBadGeordie]

Why would you bother going after an "innocent" man, he has yet to have been proven of any crime, despite the fact that he has gone on the run? When the Royal Thai Police will not even arrest a CONVICTED man. Even though the head of the Bangkok Police visited him and has a photo of that visit on his office wall

Oops sorry stupid question!

[uty6543]

On what travel documents did he leave Thailand? Or did he buy his passport back from the police? I regret to say I do not think he is a wanted man in Thailand anymore.

[Arkady]

It is in fact a matter for the attorney general to make a request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for extradition. The ministry should then make a request for extradition through its embassy in Manila to the Philippines Foreign Ministry.

The guy had sex on the beach with a lady boy and then took the lady boy to his house to visit his girlfriend whom they found mysteriously murdered. What a charming fellow. Gives a new meaning to the Sex of the beach cocktail.

[gopis108]

Obviously someone recievd the surety that he posted so now they are happy with their profit and also dont want to lose it so better let sleeping dogs lie in their shoddy minds.

[wanderluster]

where is the money to be made??? work your ass off, getting this guy to jail in thailand for what??????? there is no money to be made from this....

so why do it

[HUAHIN62]

Another example of the pathetic justice system in this country.

And also shows the Phuket police as the lazy so and sos we all know they are.

Not only that, what about the British attitude to justice. It took the UK 110 years to extradite its first citizen to Thailand to stand trail.

The UK will do nothing to bring this man to justice and if he should murder another person the blood will be on their hands.

[Pomthai]

Nothing appears nice about this guy. For certain he should face justice and a court and be tried for his alleged actions.

However the Gazette has turned this into a witch hunt. What ever happened to inocent until proven guilty?

/playing devils advocate...

[LomSak27]

“The alleged offence was committed in Thailand, and therefore the whereabouts of the alleged offender is likely to be of interest to the Thai authorities. We would suggest that any information on the case be shared with the Thai authorities,” an email from the embassy said.

“This is a bilateral matter between Thailand and the Philippines authorities and the Royal Thai Police are the correct body to take this issue forward,” said an earlier email.

No embassy representative was willing to officially claim responsibility for either email.

A lot of Brits enjoy complaing about unfair justice in Thailand - problem is when your own country practices unfair justice, you have little ground to whinge.

[somtampet]

i BET THE THAIS ARE SO FED UP WITH THESE MILLIONS OF FARANGS WHO ABUSE THE THAI SYSTEM.Murder,rob,extort,scam,ALCOHOLISM,drugs,u dont see the thais doing this

[marell]

Sort of appears that at least one British national in a bind may have gotten some government support.

[Frank James]

“Also, the suspect escaped while on court bail, not police bail… This is clearly a matter for the prosecutor,” he added."

OK, so in the US if this happened (I know, this ain't the US, but bear with me) it would be a matter of a very pissed-off bail bondsman sending his nastiest boys after this esteemed UK national, and bringing him back, by any means necessary. Relying on the police, or the state dept. to do it...well, we know where that's going to end up.

Are there no bounty hunters in this country? That's a surprise.

"Mickdog" ...wow.

[FDog]

Nothing appears nice about this guy. For certain he should face justice and a court and be tried for his alleged actions.

However the Gazette has turned this into a witch hunt. What ever happened to inocent until proven guilty?

/playing devils advocate...

Well that's the problem isn't it. Can't get him to face justice as he's on the run. Why shouldn't it be a witch hunt, hunt him down until he does face court and justice. His life should be made miserable until that happens.

[uty6543]

Sort of appears that at least one British national in a bind may have gotten some government support.

He will have not have had any help from the British government. It is up to the Thai authorities to prosecute this man.

[tragickingdom]

The police is probably right. Not they but the prosecutor should issue an international arrest warrant, the Philippines would probably extradite him so will England as it does not attach too much value to human rights and a honest trial (that is if he wouldn't appeal to the European human rights court). It is inconceivable that Northern European countries would deliver him to Thailand, they rather would prosecute him in Europe. That is probably also the problem, the Thai police investigation standards are so low that most evidence is probably rejected by the courts and especially with a murder that has been committed 9 years ago it will be an uphill struggle. Still the prosecutor should pursue as he owes that to the family of the girl and the dead girl herself.

The fact that they never went after him is most probably on purpose: It is about saving face. Pretty sad for the victim.

[Carrerakiss]

Bail for a murder suspect. Anyone see a recurring theme in this story?

[Carrerakiss]

Nothing appears nice about this guy. For certain he should face justice and a court and be tried for his alleged actions.

However the Gazette has turned this into a witch hunt. What ever happened to inocent until proven guilty?

/playing devils advocate...

Well that's the problem isn't it. Can't get him to face justice as he's on the run. Why shouldn't it be a witch hunt, hunt him down until he does face court and justice. His life should be made miserable until that happens.

Since his whereabouts were discovered as a result of him bragging at a bar about having done the killing, my normal innocent until proven guilty sympathies, are some what muted.

Witch hunt about fits the bill methinks. But it won't come to anything.

[sunshine51]

If "Mickdog" is bragging about his past kills while in the PI...he should at least

have some very good connections in his pockets otherwise he'll just end up

a dead whiteman who was hit for less than 5K Pesos. Think life's cheap in LOS?

Spend some time in the PI...very soon will you realise life, especially foreigners

lives...are cheaper than dog shit.

[Emdog]

Have to say this about Brit embassy: they are fair and balanced. Won't help citizen when faced with injustice (the human rights guy) and won't help Thai government get justice. Both require the same amount of hard work and dedication: none. Have another watercress sandwich.

[Carrerakiss]

If "Mickdog" is bragging about his past kills while in the PI...he should at least

have some very good connections in his pockets otherwise he'll just end up

a dead whiteman who was hit for less than 5K Pesos. Think life's cheap in LOS?

Spend some time in the PI...very soon will you realise life, especially foreigners

lives...are cheaper than dog shit.

Who's going to pay 5k pesos to take out this POS? The sad reality, nobody cares, so nobody will bother to pay a hit man, extradite him, whatever.

I'm surprised at PG making such a big deal out of this. Hardly the norm in Thailand to air some dirty linen in public. They better not give the bIb or prosecutors office any excuse to get even with them. They certainly won't have any friends at either place.

[Maggusoil]

Another example of the pathetic justice system in this country.

And also shows the Phuket police as the lazy so and sos we all know they are.

Pathetic. That was the exact word that came immediately . . . money rather than justice being the operative ingredient

[pacovl46]

On what travel documents did he leave Thailand? Or did he buy his passport back from the police? I regret to say I do not think he is a wanted man in Thailand anymore.

I don't know about the UK, but if you're German then you don't need a passport if you want to fly back straight to Germany from any country in the world. All you need is an explanation why you don't have a passport right now. For example, if your passport was stolen you can go to the embassy and show them your ID card together with a police report that says your passport was stolen and they will issue a provisional passport that takes 2 days to be issued. If it's really an emergency they will issue a provisional one right away, but when you arrive in Germany your ID card will be enough.

[Baerboxer]

Another example of the pathetic justice system in this country.

And also shows the Phuket police as the lazy so and sos we all know they are.

Not only that, what about the British attitude to justice. It took the UK 110 years to extradite its first citizen to Thailand to stand trail.

The UK will do nothing to bring this man to justice and if he should murder another person the blood will be on their hands.

Try engaging brain before writing nonsense.

The murder was committed in Thailand. The suspect is/was in the Philippines. The British police, courts, embassy, government have no jurisdiction in this. He has not been convicted yet by the way.

The British Embassy provided the correct advice - this is a matter for the Thai authorities who must request extradition through the appropriate channels. As usual the Thai authorities don't seem very interested, and if they were couldn't organize a piss up in a brewery between them. No idea who should do what, as long as its not themselves.

If he was residing in the UK, then again the Thai authorities would have to request extradition, which must go through the UK legal system.

As to you last statement - maybe there wouldn't be any issues if the Thai authorities had not somehow let him disappear mid-way through trial.

The accused happens to be British, That does not make Britain, it's government or legal system responsible for his actions overseas,

How many extradition requests has Britain turned down from the Thai government prior to extraditing Aldhouse ?

[dunque]

Another example of the pathetic justice system in this country.

And also shows the Phuket police as the lazy so and sos we all know they are.

Not only that, what about the British attitude to justice. It took the UK 110 years to extradite its first citizen to Thailand to stand trail.

The UK will do nothing to bring this man to justice and if he should murder another person the blood will be on their hands.

Good luck getting the US to extradite anyone - supported the IRA for years. Also along with some other unsavoury states, the US refuses to belong the the ICC world too.

[Baerboxer]

Nothing appears nice about this guy. For certain he should face justice and a court and be tried for his alleged actions.

However the Gazette has turned this into a witch hunt. What ever happened to inocent until proven guilty?

/playing devils advocate...

Good point. Don't see the Gazette, or any other news media, aggressively following up on why a fugitive convicted criminal has not been extradited, or why his sister's government fail to answer questions on illegally issuing a new Thai passport to said crook. Nor do they seek extradition of the Red Bull heir hiding out very openly in Singapore. Assume he won't return now until all statutes of limitations have run out or charges dropped for some reason.

Wonder whose pushing this one and for what agenda?

[HUAHIN62]

Another example of the pathetic justice system in this country.

And also shows the Phuket police as the lazy so and sos we all know they are.

Not only that, what about the British attitude to justice. It took the UK 110 years to extradite its first citizen to Thailand to stand trail.

The UK will do nothing to bring this man to justice and if he should murder another person the blood will be on their hands.

Try engaging brain before writing nonsense.

The murder was committed in Thailand. The suspect is/was in the Philippines. The British police, courts, embassy, government have no jurisdiction in this. He has not been convicted yet by the way.

The British Embassy provided the correct advice - this is a matter for the Thai authorities who must request extradition through the appropriate channels. As usual the Thai authorities don't seem very interested, and if they were couldn't organize a piss up in a brewery between them. No idea who should do what, as long as its not themselves.

If he was residing in the UK, then again the Thai authorities would have to request extradition, which must go through the UK legal system.

As to you last statement - maybe there wouldn't be any issues if the Thai authorities had not somehow let him disappear mid-way through trial.

The accused happens to be British, That does not make Britain, it's government or legal system responsible for his actions overseas,

How many extradition requests has Britain turned down from the Thai government prior to extraditing Aldhouse ?

There is unfortunately no info available on how many extradition request have been refused in the past but in a 110 years there must have been a number. Any one that flee a country in the middle of a murder case looks a little bit guilty, dont you agree? Any government have the right to refuse the issuing of a passport when a citizen is suspected of being involved in a crime. By refusing him a passport the UK would have made a extradition request much easier. An Interpol arrest warrant will be the only way to get this guy as he would be running from country to country with his new passport in hand.

If you want to see to which extend the UK legal system is protecting people against extradition research the Dewani case. He is alledged to have paid people to kill his wife on their honeymoon. South Africa have been seeking extradition of this guy since December 2010 with zero results thus far.

[djvolak]

“Also, the suspect escaped while on court bail, not police bail… This is clearly a matter for the prosecutor,” he added."

OK, so in the US if this happened (I know, this ain't the US, but bear with me) it would be a matter of a very pissed-off bail bondsman sending his nastiest boys after this esteemed UK national, and bringing him back, by any means necessary. Relying on the police, or the state dept. to do it...well, we know where that's going to end up.

Are there no bounty hunters in this country? That's a surprise.

"Mickdog" ...wow.

While asking questions one might ask who now owns that land he put up as bond? Might explain the lack of interest on the part of the authorities eh?