Prominent Belgian expat among Phuket Immigration arrests

[Lite Beer]

Prominent Belgian expat among Phuket Immigration arrests
Phuket Gazette -

PHUKET: Prominent Belgian expat Georges Sirre, who has lived in Phuket for nine years, was among three foreigners named by Phuket Immigration today to face deportation for previous offenses.

Officers arrested Mr Sirre, 56, at his home in Rawai late yesterday afternoon after receiving a request from the Belgian Embassy in Bangkok, Phuket Immigration Superintendent Sunchai Chokkajaykij told a press conference this morning.

“Mr Sirre broke probation conditions in Belgium after he had been convicted of child molestation charges,” Col Sunchai said.

“Mr Sirre was later released on a good behavior bond, while serving five years’ probation, but he was prohibited from leaving the country [belgium],” Col Sunchai added.

Phuket Immigration revoked Mr Sirre’s permit-to-stay and are making arrangements to deport him.

“He will be sent to Bangkok tonight, and later he will be handed over to Belgian authorities,” Col Sunchai told the Phuket Gazette.

Mr Sirre was not presented at the press conference today, unlike fellow suspects American Forrest Wayne and Swedish national Johan Daniel Wetzelmayr.

Mr Wayne, 41, was arrested at the Bel Aire Resort on Sainamyen Road in Patong, near Patong Hospital (map here) on Sunday.

He was wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in Houston, Texas (story here).

Mr Wayne entered Thailand on November 1, and at the time of his arrest was unaware that a warrant had been issued by the Harris County Court on November 4

“We revoked his permit-to-stay and he will be sent to Bangkok tomorrow, where officers from the FBI will take him into custody,” Col Sunchai told the Gazette.

Swede Johan Wetzelmayr, 32, was arrested near Chalong Circle on November 5 and has been in detention at Phuket Immigration for two weeks, waiting for police from Hua Hin to arrive and take him into custody.

“We learned that the Prachuap Khiri Khan Court issued an arrest warrant against him for allegedly stealing a motorbike in Hua Hin,” Col Sunchai said.

“We contacted Hua Hin Police. They will arrive in Phuket tomorrow to take Mr Wetzelmayr into custody and return him to Hua Hin where he will face trial,” he added.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Prominent-Belgian-expat-among-Phuket-Immigration-arrests-22827.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-11-19

[NomadJoe]

It's interesting that it took Belgium 9 years to track down their guy while the US did it in just 14 days.

[Showbags]

Why was he so prominent ?

[andreandre]

It's interesting that it took Belgium 9 years to track down their guy while the US did it in just 14 days.

It is interesting, but the US case they were just plain lucky if you can believe the series of events published.

Houston cops said they were sure he was still in Houston and were actively looking for him there

But here he was in T/land and if correct thanks to the Thai shop assistant for his assistance he was "found"...NOT in Houston at all..So really the US didn't do it in 14 days at all

http://www.click2houston.com/news/fitness-instructor-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-girl-arrested-in-thailand/-/1735978/23033852/-/mx27djz/-/index.html

[angsta]

I have seen NCIS and I'm surprised it took 14 days. Do any criminal ever escape justice in the USA? Didn't think so...

[Fookhaht]

I have seen NCIS and I'm surprised it took 14 days. Do any criminal ever escape justice in the USA? Didn't think so...

You're right. NCIS always gets their man in under an hour, including commercials.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[lemoncake]

Well i guess Pattaya is NOT the only home for "undesirables"

NO doubt, if this was Pattaya news, there would already be pages of Pattaya bashings

[stevenl]

Well i guess Pattaya is NOT the only home for "undesirables"

 

NO doubt, if this was Pattaya news, there would already be pages of Pattaya bashings

Also here in the threads about the arrest plenty of phuket bashing.

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[stevenl]

Why was he so prominent ?

In addition, what makes any expat prominent?

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[asdecas]

Why was he so prominent ?

In addition, what makes any expat prominent?

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You mean, apart from a good-looking Thai babe?

[Showbags]

Why was he so prominent ?

In addition, what makes any expat prominent?

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You mean, apart from a good-looking Thai babe?

The ones that stand out in a crowd....socks and sandals, hairy backs, 70yo's with pony tails, combovers, 50 year age gaps, slobs...just a few.

[Asian Paul]

He was employed as the manager / chef at (what is no doubt my least favourite restaurant in Phuket) Les Anges restaurant at the Royal Phuket Marina on Thepkasatrii Road. His management there was very poor along with the food and extoriant prices

Good ridence to him.

[ezzra]

Nothing new here, not an earth shattering news, if the immigration authorities

will dig deeper, the will find hundreds more, if not thousands of, wanted

foreigners living among us, some holding elevated position within the farang

communities, it has been like that for many years and it will continue like

that for many more, TIT....

[Kerryd]

lol - "has been in detention at Phuket Immigration for two weeks, waiting for police from Hua Hin to arrive and take him into custody."

Apparently either a) the Hua Hin police are either too busy to go get him, or b) he's not worth the effort to fetch, or c) they figure that leaving him there will be a worse punishment than if they transport him to Hua Hin and he actually goes to court.

(Or "d:" All of the Above.)

[Lupatria]

Why was he so prominent ?

Good question! Especially if one takes in consideration that Belgium is notorious for child molesting, child porn and child trafficking in Europe.

I have nothing against Belgians in general. However, it is just curious that this little nation is more recognized for those crimes than for their french fries by now.

[newermonkey]

"13-year-old girl in Houston, Texas"

People can marry a 13yo in some southern states in the USA so whats the big deal here? unless its rape (which would need to be proven)

[newermonkey]

Why was he so prominent ?

In addition, what makes any expat prominent?

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You mean, apart from a good-looking Thai babe?

You are suggesting sexual feelings towards a Thai BABE ? If you are into Babies you should hand yourself into the nearest police station or get some serious psychological help!

[Showbags]

"13-year-old girl in Houston, Texas"

People can marry a 13yo in some southern states in the USA so whats the big deal here? unless its rape (which would need to be proven)

When I first read this post...I did not read 'southern'....makes sense now.

Does that include cousins?

Hands up who would want to marry a 13yo ?

Edited November 20, 2013 by Showbags

[Suradit69]

I have seen NCIS and I'm surprised it took 14 days. Do any criminal ever escape justice in the USA? Didn't think so...

You're right. NCIS always gets their man in under an hour, including commercials.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Don't knock NCIS (or Misomer Murders or Wallander for that matter), if it weren't for them our resident ThaiVisa criminologists and police procedural experts wouldn't be able to offer their in depth criticisms of how Thai police operate in comparison to REAL police in farang utopia.

[keestha]

Nothing new here, not an earth shattering news, if the immigration authorities

will dig deeper, the will find hundreds more, if not thousands of, wanted

foreigners living among us, some holding elevated position within the farang

communities, it has been like that for many years and it will continue like

that for many more, TIT....

Right. Sometimes it can come as kind of a shock, a "prominent" expat suddenly disappearing because he has done #$@!& in his home country or even in Thailand itself, most likely nobody knowing about this.

A German guy had been running a pub in Hua Hin for some time, even making it into a popular travel guide. But then one day he was standing in front of his shop, and a German tourist from his home town passing by was shocked to recognize him as a person being wanted for rape. He called the German embassy, and the same day the guy was arrested.

On another occasion I was at the lawyers' office in Hua Hin, when she suddenly had to go because a well known Italian running a restaurant had been arrested, officials of the Italian embassy accompanying the BIB. Word was the local Italian community knew more, but kept their lips sealed.

Another example would be the Norwegian accused of murdering his Thai girlfriend a few years ago, he was prominent at least in this forum.

[MMarlow]

Why was he so prominent ?

In addition, what makes any expat prominent?

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You mean, apart from a good-looking Thai babe?

You are suggesting sexual feelings towards a Thai BABE ? If you are into Babies you should hand yourself into the nearest police station or get some serious psychological help!

So should you. See your post #16.

[NamKangMan]

I thought Rawai was a nice part of Phuket to live.

I'm glad I live in Patong. :)

[chrisinth]

It's interesting that it took Belgium 9 years to track down their guy while the US did it in just 14 days.

Must have read about it on someone's FaceBook page..............................

Edit: Perhaps Mr. Eddie Snowden was right after all............

Edited November 20, 2013 by chrisinth

[BradinAsia]

Why was he so prominent ?

In addition, what makes any expat prominent?

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You are suggesting sexual feelings towards a Thai BABE ? If you are into Babies you should hand yourself into the nearest police station or get some serious psychological help!

You mean, apart from a good-looking Thai babe?

Newermonkey, based on my understanding of modern colloquial usage, BABE does not mean babies -- by any stretch.

[NomadJoe]

I have seen NCIS and I'm surprised it took 14 days. Do any criminal ever escape justice in the USA? Didn't think so...

We do have the highest prison population per capita in the world. 716 per 100,000 people. Thailand; 381, The UK; 148, Japan; 54.

[NomadJoe]

"13-year-old girl in Houston, Texas"

People can marry a 13yo in some southern states in the USA so whats the big deal here? unless its rape (which would need to be proven)

The laws are changing around that. You'll find that not so much true anymore. In most if not all jurisdictions where it is legal, not only parents permission must be given, but also a judges. Judges only grant permission in cases where the two people wanting to get married are close in age, not 13 and 41. According to reports, the "assaults' , happened over several months in a hotel. So while probably consensual, still rape statutorily as a minor cannot legally give consent.

[tragickingdom]

It's interesting that it took Belgium 9 years to track down their guy while the US did it in just 14 days.

It might be because the Belgians are not tapping into everybody's phone-lines, need permission to check internet connections and mail accounts and more of those basic human right issues which are not present in the US. Moreover, this gentleman was not on any list at all, they did not sought his arrest.

The man probably just learned his lesson that when in Asia you should stay away from other white-noses, they can't be trusted in most cases. I bet it was a tip off to the embassy from a fellow Belgian that woke up the dogs. As soon as the authorities are aware that he left the country they need to take action especially when children are involved.

I bet that if the guy would not have established himself in Phuket and avoided other white people his bond would simply have expired and he would have been fine. It is strange however that he got a passport, unless the information is flawed and he was not allowed to travel to countries like Thailand and Cambodia what often happens.

[Berkshire]

"13-year-old girl in Houston, Texas"

People can marry a 13yo in some southern states in the USA so whats the big deal here? unless its rape (which would need to be proven)

The laws are changing around that. You'll find that not so much true anymore. In most if not all jurisdictions where it is legal, not only parents permission must be given, but also a judges. Judges only grant permission in cases where the two people wanting to get married are close in age, not 13 and 41. According to reports, the "assaults' , happened over several months in a hotel. So while probably consensual, still rape statutorily as a minor cannot legally give consent.

Sex with a minor is always considered statutory rape. I don't know any jurisdiction in the US that would not consider 13 yrs old a minor. But as you say, sex between 2 minors? Different ball of wax.

[Wat dee]

Crem de la Phuket !

[A1Str8]

<deleted>..another molester. How many live among us?