Bangkok tourist court opens, 15 more to follow

[Lite Beer]

Bangkok tourist court opens, 15 more to follow

BANGKOK: A new Bangkok court which will specifically handle disputes involving tourists opened on Friday, hoping to emulate the success of similar courts in Pattaya and Phuket.

Office of the Judiciary secretary-general Phattarasak Vannasaeng said the Pattaya and Phuket tourist courts, which both opened late last year, had drawn praise from embassies, consular offices, students, tourists and the media.

He was speaking after presiding over the opening of Bangkok’s first tourist courtroom at the Pathumwan Municipal Court.

It aims to deliver quick and fair rulings in cases involving holiday-makers, Mr Phattarasak said.

Further tourist courts are to be opened in 15 other popular visitor destinations nationwide, the Office of the Judiciary secretary-general said.

In Pattaya, a total of 22 cases, mostly civil suits involving tourists, had been lodged with the tourist court there and most of the cases had already been settled.

In Phuket, 184 cases had been lodged with the tourist court. The cases included 21 civil suits, 134 criminal suits and 29 cases involving consumer protection violations.

Of the 21 civil suits, rulings had already been delivered on 11 suits and 10 other suits were being considered.

Of the 134 criminal suits, 115 had already been settled and the remaining 19 were being considered.

Of the 29 consumer protection cases, court rulings had already been given on 18 cases and the remaining 11 cases were being considered.


-- Phuket News 2014-03-09

[tomyummer]

Just wondering what the proportion of the cases pitted tourist against tourist?

Surely it must be tourists against jet ski operators, bar girls, fake goods vendors, ping pong ball bars with exorbitant beer prices, crooked tuk tuk drivers, taxis not wanting to turn on the meter, and the like.

If the government would properly handle their own corrupt businesses, there probably wouldn't need to have such a court. What other country has this?

[darrendsd]

I would say that most of the examples you have said there would not end up in court

[timewilltell]

All a lot of propaganda. Go to the Phuket version. It is but a sign and no one ever in the office. Just a Thai smokescreen like everything here.

[bigbamboo]

I wonder if they'll have dual sentencing?

"OK, Khun Somchai, that's two weeks jail or a five hundred baht fine. And the same for you Mr. Farang, two weeks jail or a five thousand baht fine."

Edited March 9, 2014 by bigbamboo

[surangw]

what will the "fee" be to keep it out of court?

[noitom]

Have any of these cases been settled in favor of the plaintiff? What were the amounts of settlement judgments? These petty courts would do anything to improve the security, risk, and danger to tourists. These are after the fact window dressing cases that mean absolutely nothing for eliminating Thai crimes and Thai hustles of tourists.

[rickirs]

If Tourist Courts operate without transparency and accountability, they will be no more effective than not operating. And if police decide that the Tourist Court further excuses their own responsibilities to the public to respond to complaints, go out to crime scenes, and investigate allegations, Court proceedings will boil down to "I say-he says" testominy and any judgement will be arbitrary.

[supaprik]

I wonder if they'll have dual sentencing?

"OK, Khun Somchai, that's two weeks jail or a five hundred baht fine. And the same for you Mr. Farang, two weeks jail or a five thousand baht fine."

The way I read it is...two weeks is two weeks, same same to me ( perhaps you meant THE FINE and NOT the sentence )

[soalbundy]

I don't understand this, there are no tourists in Bangkok and the judges are being sued, what use are the courts?

[Dave 74]

Is this the Pattaya court that fined the 19 year old Thai man 500b for stabbing a 70 year old Westerner because they brushed past eachother in the street?

[atyclb]

assuming the plaintiff wins a monetary judgement against a thai entity;

who pays the judgement?

if the defendant is ordered to pay then a nightmare collection process ensues that can cost a lot of time and money

does the state pay with taxpayer money? if so it is like taxpayers subsidizing the criminals

Edited March 10, 2014 by atyclb

[nithisa78]

Have any of these cases been settled in favor of the plaintiff? What were the amounts of settlement judgments? These petty courts would do anything to improve the security, risk, and danger to tourists. These are after the fact window dressing cases that mean absolutely nothing for eliminating Thai crimes and Thai hustles of tourists.

You can't cheat an honest man.

[almafudd]

Have any of these cases been settled in favor of the plaintiff? What were the amounts of settlement judgments? These petty courts would do anything to improve the security, risk, and danger to tourists. These are after the fact window dressing cases that mean absolutely nothing for eliminating Thai crimes and Thai hustles of tourists.

Yes it would be good to know the cases taken to court and the outcomes...

[soalbundy]

Have any of these cases been settled in favor of the plaintiff? What were the amounts of settlement judgments? These petty courts would do anything to improve the security, risk, and danger to tourists. These are after the fact window dressing cases that mean absolutely nothing for eliminating Thai crimes and Thai hustles of tourists.

You can't cheat an honest man.

ํํัYou can't rob or scam or maim or murder an innocent man?????? You haven't been here very long.