New Zealand teen jailed in Thailand

[Docno]

These incidents reflect badly on all foreigners visiting Thailand, even though it is an individual committing the crime, on a subconscious level in the Thai public mind these crimes tarnish the image of all visitors. We are honoured guests, and as guests should behave properly and maintain high personal standards regardless of how the local corruption situation may be.

Shameful.

Nah, I think Thais are smart enough to distinguish the antics of a drunk (whatever the nationality) vs normal tourists.

I wish that were the case, but that's not how stereotyping works. We are more prone to attribute negative qualities to the 'other' (whomever that might be) than to our own group. This is especially true in the case of minorities: we are more likely to associate infrequent behaviour (e.g. theft) with numerically smaller groups (the "illusory correlation"). This is exacerbated by the fact that it's mostly criminal behaviour that gets into the news... the good things that a typical westerner does in Thailand just aren't newsworthy. All this conspires to create a negative stereotype of a minority group, in this case 'farangs'. Just reflect on your first reaction to seeing a middle eastern male with a long beard, white cap, and robe and sandals in our post-911 world.

[DocN]

Not that I condone idiocy, but a drunken 18-year old stole a phone...and gave it back!

That lands him in jail?!

God, I am so happy I haven't seen far worse crimes here, that went unpunished!(# redbull)

[Lancelot]

He gave the phone back like that's gonna make it all better. It's like robbing a bank and then giving the money back - hey, no harm no foul. I also love how the media always paints these teen fwits as victims : shame the prison must be terrible; hes got a job and works really hard - obviously not hard enough if he decided to steal a phone in Thailand. Thieves make my blood boil-the lowest form of respect and highest form of laziness. Somnamna

Sent from my GT-S7270 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I don't like thieves either and some times they are Thai...

My motorbike was stolen at night and there was a good facial pic of one of the thieves- but the cops wouldn't come out to investigate and even resisted me making a written report.

If the thief would have given my bike back, it sure would have been better

If the NZ kid actually stole the drivers phone, then yea he needs to face justice. But five years in a Thai prison? Shouldn't the punishment fit the crime?

Thais stealing from tourists/expats and its ha ha, mai pen rai. Steal from a Thai and its possibly five years in jail.

Beam me up Scotty...

[Mister Fixit]

anyone know the age of majority here?

Twenty.

[cmiuc]

probably if he hadn't resisted arrest then we wouldn't even be reading this... but young punks... gotta let those hormones out to see who is the bigger man... you know, 'the cave man thinking'... well no matter how small thai's are they still will win... so gotta respect the laws of any country... night or day hehe...

give him a 'spanking' and send him home to mommy and daddy...

[brewsterbudgen]

We are honoured guests, and as guests should behave properly and maintain high personal standards regardless of how the local corruption situation may be.

Agree with the second part, but this is right up there with the most puke-worthy comments on this site.

Yes. But just the usual trolling remarks designed to get a reaction. I've learnt to ignore them (but it's not easy!).

[Showbags]

I learn something ever day here. Now when I plan to rob a bank, I will make sure it's daylight outside.

Good for you! That's when the banks are typically open. A night-time break in would require some smarts, and boy, you aren't there yet.

Duh...public holidays and sundays !!!

[Showbags]

Did he give the phone back at night or day time ?

[deecee10]

Slow news day.

[Johnnie99]

He will certainly be enjoyed in prison here.

[FireMedic]

How about this: Don't take other people's stuff. I think Thailand needs to start canning like in Singapore. These thieving turd teenagers both Thai and farang would stop stealing immediately.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caning_in_Singapore

[laurentbkk]

all this for a drunken teen who lost it for few hours ....... and he is in jail which is understandable of course .... where is the heir of red bull at the moment ? in jail or still in Singapore to treat his flu ?

[JRSoul]

silly boy but we were all young once... send him home - slap on wrist and ban for ten years coming here should be enough (hopefully)

Yes we were all young once but we weren't all thieves or got into confrontations with authorities. He did the crime in Thailand and deserves to face Thai punishment.

Maybe he should get elected. You seem to have a much more lenient attitude to elected thieves.

[brewsterbudgen]

He will certainly be enjoyed in prison here.

What makes you think that? Is there any evidence the foreigners in Thai prisons are abused by other prisoners? Or are you just regurgitating another silly cliche?

[fredKroket]

These incidents reflect badly on all foreigners visiting Thailand, even though it is an individual committing the crime, on a subconscious level in the Thai public mind these crimes tarnish the image of all visitors. We are honoured guests, and as guests should behave properly and maintain high personal standards regardless of how the local corruption situation may be.

Shameful.

I wouldn't say we're honoured guests, merely guests and quite possibly a nuisance and worse in most Thais eyes... I do agree we're honoured to be here, but that term usually represents someone who is very much welcomed.

[NongKhaiKid]

He gave the phone back like that's gonna make it all better. It's like robbing a bank and then giving the money back - hey, no harm no foul. I also love how the media always paints these teen fwits as victims : shame the prison must be terrible; hes got a job and works really hard - obviously not hard enough if he decided to steal a phone in Thailand. Thieves make my blood boil-the lowest form of respect and highest form of laziness. Somnamna

Sent from my GT-S7270 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

If interviewed by the media when he gets home I wonder how it will be reported ? Yes the law and conditions are very different to NZ, yes there are double standards but will his part in the saga been downplayed ?

[chooka]

silly boy but we were all young once... send him home - slap on wrist and ban for ten years coming here should be enough (hopefully)

Yes we were all young once but we weren't all thieves or got into confrontations with authorities. He did the crime in Thailand and deserves to face Thai punishment.

Maybe he should get elected. You seem to have a much more lenient attitude to elected thieves.

A thief is a thief and they all should face the law when caught

[geriatrickid]

These incidents reflect badly on all foreigners visiting Thailand, even though it is an individual committing the crime, on a subconscious level in the Thai public mind these crimes tarnish the image of all visitors. We are honoured guests, and as guests should behave properly and maintain high personal standards regardless of how the local corruption situation may be.

Shameful.

Please get a grip. I knew from the minute I saw his ugly mug what he was. I have nothing to be ashamed of, particularly since he has nothing to do with me. Considering the amount of petty crime in Thailand, I doubt any Thai is going to blame any foreigner for this specimen,

anyone know the age of majority here?

18 is the age to get called up for service and die in the south. Majority enough for you?

Had he not been a westerner/tourist, he wouldnt be treated like a Soi Dog

At every turn, Thailand shames itself again!

Get a grip. Aside from his most likely being white trash and a lovely piece of business, Thais are treated much worse on a daily basis. There's two sets of justice in Thailand. One for the poor and one for the rich. Have a read again of Simple1's post. Even his family and friends didn't want him. They weren't willing to post a manageable amount of money for his bail. Maybe they are happy to be rid of prince charming.

[rkidlad]

Did he give the phone back at night or day time ?

Unfortunately, he gave it back at night. Which is a shame really, because if he had waited 'til day time, he'd be out by now probably.

"Honoured guests"? That did make me chuckle.

[BigRick]

Must have not known the rules of Thailand you have to be Thai to lie cheat and steal and get away with it.

[darrendsd]

Had he not been a westerner/tourist, he wouldnt be treated like a Soi Dog

At every turn, Thailand shames itself again!

Get real, the lad committed an offence and you turn it into Thailand's fault?

What do you expect the Police to say? Oh you are a foreigner so we won't arrest you because it will make Thailand look bad

Some peoples hatred of this place is simply staggering, why are you here?

[thesetat2013]

These incidents reflect badly on all foreigners visiting Thailand, even though it is an individual committing the crime, on a subconscious level in the Thai public mind these crimes tarnish the image of all visitors. We are honoured guests, and as guests should behave properly and maintain high personal standards regardless of how the local corruption situation may be.

Shameful.

Shameful as it may be thailand is a haven for foriegners breaking the law while they are here. Illegal workers teaching are too numerous to count. Tax evaders would be a close second yet noone seems to care about these laws and enforcing them. Petty theft if a phone stolen at night seems to carry quite a severe punishment here.

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[abhaya]

I think most of us have done something really stupid things as kids, the luckier ones never got caught and grew out of it. Hopefully he gets a light sentence (he doesn't deserve 5 years), gets scared straight.

[Gone]

Let's remember folks, he is still a kid. Yes he did wrong but a 1-5 year prison sentence is just wrong.

He will have the opportunity to settle before his case goes to the Prosecutor and he better do so and just move on.

If he shows the taxi driver some remore, politeness etc. he might get off by compensating him. I hope so.

Yes theft is wrong but as an 18-year-old kid I can only imagine how he felt when he was being arrested (scared as hell) and also being intoxicated wouldn't help.

I think no matter what happens his "stealing" days are over.....lesson learned (we can only hope).

[RichardtenBrinke]

Up to 5 years in prison for stealing an item at night...... I recall a few months ago about somebody stabbed someone else and get off fined for THB.500 .....

[LarryBird]

It's funny how people on here do nothing but bitch and complain about Thai police, but then when a faring acts out of line, you all jump on the bandwagon for them to receive a form of primeval Thai justice.

[ginjag]

Was the Red Bull incident, day or night,???? if it was a solar eclipse what then.

[smileydude]

A foreign girl last year had the experience of getting a taxi ride home, the taxi driver took the highway, then faked a breakdown, told her to wait on the other side of the concrete barrier as it was safer, then asked to borrow her i-phone as his had no credit. You can probably guess what happened next, he drove off and surprise surprise, the police didn't hardly show a blind bit of notice, 4 hours in the police station, waiting for them to have breakfast and get round to the paper work.

I suppose they thought she was lucky not to have been raped as she is very pretty.

Unlike the poor foreign girl in Samui a few years ago, violently raped by a taxi driver, what happened to him, caught but never charged. His brother was a policeman.

Justice in Thailand is not fairly metted out because the people who are trusted to uphold it are incompetent, indifferent and partial to banknotes.

Except for a few good men I have nothing but disdain for Thai police having experienced it first hand from having my house burgularized twice and my workplace once. I'm talking about 3 different places, house in Bangkok, house in Pattaya and work in Samutprakarn and despite being 3 different police precincts, in all 3 incidents the police extorted me for money "if i wanted the case to be pursued". Talk about nationwide uniformity on extortion!

Oh and btw I'm Thai so they give everyone equal treatment when it comes to extortion as long as they think you can pay up.

There is difference in severity for theft crimes according to the time of day? Seriously this has got to have been made up to extort more money no?

[surfinglife]

where does an 18-year old get the money to go on the p&%s in Thailand? When I was 18 my paper round money wouldn't buy me a bus ticket to the airport.....

[american12bthai]

jail and prison are two different things. he wont see prison. relax.