Locked in jail for having ID stolen

[mowgus]

I've just been contacted by a Canadian friend who is trying to get help for their friend who was put in jail for having their ID stolen at Swampy.

She apparently fell asleep while waiting for her plane and woke up to find everything stolen including her passport and other ID. When she alerted the authorities, they actually put her in Jail for two days! What the hell?! I guess I'm not surprised because it is Thailand, the land of <deleted> but, has anyone else ever heard of being locked up for having lost their ID? She's out now, but unable to go home.

Edited April 22, 2014 by metisdead
Derogatory slur edited out of post.

[Mrjlh]

Hopefully she has contacted the Canadian Embassy by now. But stop to think about it, if you woke up in a foreign airport with no ID, no Money, no way of proving who you are, what do you think the authorities are going to do? That's life and unfortunately it's on her.

Edited April 20, 2014 by Mrjlh

[55Jay]

Stolen inside departures or she was sleeping outside in the check in hall?

[beachproperty]

Since she was waiting for a plane ....I assume she went through all the check points etc.

AND then fell asleep (lesson learned ....don't fall asleep ANYWHERE unless your goods are protected!)

As for the police taking her into custody.....she was in a secure zone without identification....so they held her till could be proven otherwise....I think the same would happen anywhere in the world ...I for one am glad the police did their job for once.

Sorry to hear it happened ....And sorry to be so harsh but the idiot here seems to be your friend and NOT the Thai authorities as you so quickly assume.

Edited April 20, 2014 by beachproperty

[Totster]

The embassy will be able to issue travel documents.

Lost, Stolen, Inaccessible, Damaged or Found Passports

If your passport has been lost or stolen, you need to report it immediately to the passport issuing office nearest you. If the loss/theft occurred in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos or Burma (Myanmar), please notify the nearest Canadian or Australian office or send an e-mail to [email protected] and an Operations Officer at the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa will assist you. Officers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For each lost/stolen passport, you must report the matter to the nearest police station and obtain a detailed police report. You will be required to submit the original police report in support of your application. After reporting the lost/stolen passport to our office or to the Operations Officers, and to the police, you can begin preparing an application form for issuance of a new passport if you need to travel.

How to Apply for a Replacement Passport

A person who is applying for a replacement of a Canadian passport that was lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found must:

1. Complete application form and follow the instructions:www.ppt.gc.ca/planification/203.aspx?lang=eng
2. The required fee. Please note that we are unable to accept credit card payment at this time.

Note: If you are not in possession of an original proof of citizenship (a birth certificate for applicants born in Canada or citizenship certificate for applicants born outside of Canada), a family member or friend can submit on your behalf the document at the nearest Passport Office in Canada or Canadian Office abroad (with your file number).

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/thailand-thailande/consular_services_consulaires/passport_services_passeport.aspx?lang=eng

[art vandelay]

sounds like there may be more to this...

why did they throw her in jail instead of helping her?

how is she able to contact people from jail?

why did she contact her friend and not her embassy?

why doesn't her friend contact the embassy? or a lawyer?

[nonthaburial]

Try looking at it from a different angle and viewpoint, and try to understand the difficulties here. To start with you have not identified the nationality of the so called victim, although you have said your friends are Canadian. Nor have you said whether she was flying domestic or international.

If the victim was non Thai and flying internationally, then it is understandable that she would have to be prevented from flying due to the fact she had no passport and effectively she could not have cleared immigration at her intended destination. She would have been refused entry and her carrier would be legally bound to fly her back to Bangkok.

So the obvious course of action would be for her to go to her embassy in Thailand to get an emergency passport, but hold on, how can she re enter Thailand without her passport or any form of ID ? Next best thing and less of an hassle for authorities is to hold her at Swampy and get an embassy official to the airport, to issue an emergency passport.

The use of the word jail is from you, it's more than likely she was placed in a relatively comfortable holding facility. But at the end of the day, it will teach her to be vigilant in future.

[art vandelay]

why doesn't her friend contact her family back home and get them to contact the authorities to liaise with the thai authorities?

there seem to be some fairly obvious practical things the friend could be doing...?

[SeaVisionBurma]

Troll & baiting posts removed.

[Spoonman]

immigration take your picture when you pass through. Iam sure she could have identified herself there.

Edited April 20, 2014 by Spoonman

[ezzra]

Seems a bit strange, every spot of the airport is covered by surveillance cameras, what prevent

the authorities from checking to see what really happened there??? just common sense...

[technologybytes]

There is too much missing from this story to make an objective assessment.

You know what, it just sounds fishy to me.. this friend of a friend stuff does not help either.

Either give the full story, or don't bother.

The police don't just lock someone who is genuinely asking for help an a victim of crime..

[h90]

Hopefully she has contacted the Canadian Embassy by now. But stop to think about it, if you woke up in a foreign airport with no ID, no Money, no way of proving who you are, what do you think the authorities are going to do? That's life and unfortunately it's on her.

And the jail at least has a place to sleep and eat.....

[how241]

Seems a bit strange, every spot of the airport is covered by surveillance cameras, what prevent

the authorities from checking to see what really happened there??? just common sense...

+1...Thailand always seems to have video of everything.

[poooket]

Seems a bit strange, every spot of the airport is covered by surveillance cameras, what prevent

the authorities from checking to see what really happened there??? just common sense...

Maybe the cameras are not working.

See that often in the news when they try to identify someone, either the camera was not working, under maintenance or just a fake.

[Maroon Watcher]

The embassy will have to issue an emergency "passport" (Certificate) to get her home...

[Forethat]

If I may speculate; if someone for unknown reason is found to have lost his/her passport and all forms of ID at the gate or at least after have gone through immigration and security, that person is unable to board a plane due to international security policies. That would be a typical scenario in which it'd be easy for someone who's not familiar with "the Thai way of minding your speech and manner" to lose one's temper and exercise the kind of behaviour typically not appreciated amongst Thais.

But I'm only speculating.

[Maroon Watcher]

AND... before you travel anywhere - keep at least one copy of anything important.

1. Passport

2. Insurance

3. Accommodation details

3. Home/Away Contact details

4. Work Permit (If any)

Especially On an email file...

[djvolak]

sounds like there may be more to this...

why did they throw her in jail instead of helping her?

how is she able to contact people from jail?

why did she contact her friend and not her embassy?

why doesn't her friend contact the embassy? or a lawyer?

They threw her in jail because she was in a secure area of the airport without ID. Any other country would do the same till the find out who you are for sure.

They will let you make a call or 2 at the police station.

She contacted her friend because she had that number memorized not the embassy's. I am sure the police would have given it when asked but when in a situation like that you call who you think is going to help quickest. That would be your friend who knows you.

I am sure by now she has contacted her embassy. It would be ok for her friend to try but they are not going to do much when you call and tell them hey my friend lost her passport.... They will want her to come in so they can verify. Not everything is shady that gets posted on here.

[kwaussie]

One has to treat their passport like gold, she should have had bum bag, arm thru handbag, even stuffed passport down bra if no pockets, she obviously hadn't checked thru as plane cant take off in case baggage has bomb on board

[BudRight]

Try looking at it from a different angle and viewpoint, and try to understand the difficulties here. To start with you have not identified the nationality of the so called victim, although you have said your friends are Canadian. Nor have you said whether she was flying domestic or international.

If the victim was non Thai and flying internationally, then it is understandable that she would have to be prevented from flying due to the fact she had no passport and effectively she could not have cleared immigration at her intended destination. She would have been refused entry and her carrier would be legally bound to fly her back to Bangkok.

So the obvious course of action would be for her to go to her embassy in Thailand to get an emergency passport, but hold on, how can she re enter Thailand without her passport or any form of ID ? Next best thing and less of an hassle for authorities is to hold her at Swampy and get an embassy official to the airport, to issue an emergency passport.

The use of the word jail is from you, it's more than likely she was placed in a relatively comfortable holding facility. But at the end of the day, it will teach her to be vigilant in future.

This is false. When she arrived in Canada she could make a verbal declaration of citizenship and be interviewed to establish her citizenship of declaration. That's what a passport IS; a document in lieu of verbal declaration. The request for expediency, implicit or explicit in the passport is what makes it easier to travel with one than without.

[unanimosity]

Hopefully she has contacted the Canadian Embassy by now. But stop to think about it, if you woke up in a foreign airport with no ID, no Money, no way of proving who you are, what do you think the authorities are going to do? That's life and unfortunately it's on her.

What kind of moronic statement is that? You believe it should be on her that the police refused to roll back the surveillance videos and issue an APB for the perp that committed what surely amounted to grand larceny? You are totally local, whether you know it or not, to make such a moronic statement.

[EBlair48]

The police don't just lock someone who is genuinely asking for help an a victim of crime..

Was it about 5 or 6 years ago the police were in on a shoplifting scam at Suv.. airport. In fact a cop even owned the motel the victims were taken to to be extorted for money. Seems whan purchases were made staff at the shops would slip the bags items not paid for, the hapless tourists were so intimidated, they just paid.

Oh yeah Thai cops are to be trusted. [ rolls eyes smiley ] Sorry, yes cops all over the world are corrupted pigs, but more are in Thailand- it's an industry, and a well known industry.

There is too much missing from this story to make an objective assessment.

You know what, it just sounds fishy to me.. this friend of a friend stuff does not help either.

Either give the full story, or don't bother.

The police don't just lock someone who is genuinely asking for help an a victim of crime..

Edited April 20, 2014 by EBlair48

[RBOP]

a friend of a friend...Nuff said.

[ToddWeston]

Try looking at it from a different angle and viewpoint, and try to understand the difficulties here. To start with you have not identified the nationality of the so called victim, although you have said your friends are Canadian. Nor have you said whether she was flying domestic or international.

If the victim was non Thai and flying internationally, then it is understandable that she would have to be prevented from flying due to the fact she had no passport and effectively she could not have cleared immigration at her intended destination. She would have been refused entry and her carrier would be legally bound to fly her back to Bangkok.

So the obvious course of action would be for her to go to her embassy in Thailand to get an emergency passport, but hold on, how can she re enter Thailand without her passport or any form of ID ? Next best thing and less of an hassle for authorities is to hold her at Swampy and get an embassy official to the airport, to issue an emergency passport.

The use of the word jail is from you, it's more than likely she was placed in a relatively comfortable holding facility. But at the end of the day, it will teach her to be vigilant in future.

This is false. When she arrived in Canada she could make a verbal declaration of citizenship and be interviewed to establish her citizenship of declaration. That's what a passport IS; a document in lieu of verbal declaration. The request for expediency, implicit or explicit in the passport is what makes it easier to travel with one than without.

The issue is there isn't a non stop flight, she would have to transit in Europe or elsewhere in Asia in order to get on a flight which lands in Canada. Those transit stops even within a secure zone require postive proof of identity before she would be allowed to board.

I think she may have been held in a sterile area at the airport and not behind bars.

Edit: Another problem most likely was the Embassy was closed on Good Friday and Ottawa would have been the main contact when the Embassy is closed.

Edited April 20, 2014 by ToddWeston

[H1w4yR1da]

The police don't just lock someone who is genuinely asking for help an a victim of crime..

Was it about 5 or 6 years ago the police were in on a shoplifintg scam at Suv.. airport. In fact a cop even owned the motel the victims were taken to to be extorted for money. Seems staff at the shops would put in items not paid for, the hapless tourists were so intimidated they paid.

Oh yeah Thai cops are to be trusted. [ rolls eyes smiley ] Sorry, yes cops all over the world are corrupted pigs, but more are in Thailand- it's an industry.

Yeah, it seems anyone with an ounce of sense understand what the Thai police are all about. Except resident Thai-can-do-no-wrong crowd on this forum that is.

[nonthaburial]

Try looking at it from a different angle and viewpoint, and try to understand the difficulties here. To start with you have not identified the nationality of the so called victim, although you have said your friends are Canadian. Nor have you said whether she was flying domestic or international.

If the victim was non Thai and flying internationally, then it is understandable that she would have to be prevented from flying due to the fact she had no passport and effectively she could not have cleared immigration at her intended destination. She would have been refused entry and her carrier would be legally bound to fly her back to Bangkok.

So the obvious course of action would be for her to go to her embassy in Thailand to get an emergency passport, but hold on, how can she re enter Thailand without her passport or any form of ID ? Next best thing and less of an hassle for authorities is to hold her at Swampy and get an embassy official to the airport, to issue an emergency passport.

The use of the word jail is from you, it's more than likely she was placed in a relatively comfortable holding facility. But at the end of the day, it will teach her to be vigilant in future.

This is false. When she arrived in Canada she could make a verbal declaration of citizenship and be interviewed to establish her citizenship of declaration. That's what a passport IS; a document in lieu of verbal declaration. The request for expediency, implicit or explicit in the passport is what makes it easier to travel with one than without.

The issue is there isn't a non stop flight, she would have to transit in Europe or elsewhere in Asia in order to get on a flight which lands in Canada. Those transit stops even within a secure zone require postive proof of identity before she would be allowed to board.

I think she may have been held in a sterile area at the airport and not behind bars.

Edit: Another problem most likely was the Embassy was closed on Good Friday and Ottawa would have been the main contact when the Embassy is closed.

You are quite right, however, and as I pointed out earlier, there is no mention of the victims nationality. The OP stated his friends were Canadian and from that comment everyone has assumed she is also Canadian. This lack of information just muddies the waters.

[OxfordWill]

Did she get rude and obnoxious with the officials? Thats actually illegal in the airport (1 year max jail term for insulting an immigration, customs or other "official" within the airport). And a general no no elsewhere in the country.

Edited April 20, 2014 by OxfordWill

[thejcb]

Since she was waiting for a plane ....I assume she went through all the check points etc.

AND then fell asleep (lesson learned ....don't fall asleep ANYWHERE unless your goods are protected!)

As for the police taking her into custody.....she was in a secure zone without identification....so they held her till could be proven otherwise....I think the same would happen anywhere in the world ...I for one am glad the police did their job for once.

Sorry to hear it happened ....And sorry to be so harsh but the idiot here seems to be your friend and NOT the Thai authorities as you so quickly assume.

No it wouldn't In Heathrow they would just let her go

She would NOT be locked up

It doesnt happen everywhere in the world

Only countries in SE Asia, central Africa and parts of southern America

[kingstonkid]

Notice that the Troll OP is not commenting to clear any of this up>