Norwegian Chiropractor arrested by Pattaya Immigration Police



PATTAYA: -- On Tuesday afternoon, Immigration Officers conducted an undercover operation at a Chiropractor Clinic in Jomtien which was allegedly being run by a Norwegian who was not licensed to practice in Thailand and had no permit to Work.

The operation centered around the “Back in Motion” Clinic, located on the Second Floor of a shop-house on the Thepprasit Road close to the entrance of Soi 10 which was reportedly run by Mr. Vincens Steen aged 37 from Norway.

An undercover foreign operative was used to purchase a treatment from Mr. Steen who was then arrested by Immigration Officers and taken to the Chonburi Immigration Office in Soi 5 off Jomtien Beach Road.

In addition intravenous drugs were seized at the location and taken into evidence.

Full story: http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/140499/norwegian-chiropractor-arrested-by-pattaya-immigration-police/


-- Pattaya One 2014-08-20

Hopefully the undercover foreign operative had a work permit.

A Norwegian arrested for operating a clinic without a licence



PATTAYA: -- A Norwegian national was arrested in Chon Buri by immigration police for opening a clinic and providing treatment without a licence.

Police raided the clinic which is located on the second floor of a shophouse in Tambon Nong Peue, Banglamung district of Chon Buri and found the Norwegian, identified as Vincent Stoltenizersteen, in the clinic.

The suspect claimed that he was a former medical student and used to work with the therapists of a wellknown soccer team in Thailand. But he could not produce any licence to operate the clinic to the police.

His passport also showed that the suspect entered Thailand with a student’s visa, said police.

Also found in the clinic were several medicines for pain relief and inflammation.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/norwegian-arrested-operating-clinic-without-licence/


-- Thai PBS 2014-08-20

Was there not recently a post commenting on how good the clinic is? Or was for that matter.

The rules are clear , yet many want to break them,

This seems counter productive since there is a strong need for this type of service and the people that can do it are very rare in Thailand. Falong could be able to help Thais in many occupations but the work permits are so difficult to get. I do not imagine that any Thai will step in to fill the void created by putting a Chiropractor out of business.

Seems like someone has been manipulating the system and massaging the rules here.

This seems counter productive since there is a strong need for this type of service and the people that can do it are very rare in Thailand. Falong could be able to help Thais in many occupations but the work permits are so difficult to get. I do not imagine that any Thai will step in to fill the void created by putting a Chiropractor out of business.

What is a FALONG ????

Did the guy even check if he could get a work permit, i dont think so. He had a student visa, so obviously he hasnt the funds, so lets open a clinic, sod the laws, bye bye

I believe only certain nationalities are allowed to practice chiropractic or there's an association that must give clearance.

Vince mentioned once he couldn't afford the "optional" clearance gift.

This seems counter productive since there is a strong need for this type of service and the people that can do it are very rare in Thailand. Falong could be able to help Thais in many occupations but the work permits are so difficult to get. I do not imagine that any Thai will step in to fill the void created by putting a Chiropractor out of business.

I cut my own toenails

All jokes aside I agree with you but for this specialist profession it is extremely important that the practitioner knows what they are doing and is fully qualified

He was a big help to me over the past year. Plus he was a very "human" guy - when finished with doctor/patient, he enjoyed a chat about many different things. When he bought his Ninja, he was like a kid with a new toy. He'll be deported, of course, but not sure whether he'll try to get a licence and come back as his family have been at him to return to Norway for some time. Best of luck, Vincens.

He is the best chiropractor I have been to in Pattaya, and better than all but ne I have been to in Saudi Arabia and England.

Big loss to the community.

I know a Chiropractor from Hawaii that looked into the possibility of opening a clinic here. He found out that it was far too difficult for him to do it legally, bordering on impossible. Too bad, I for one would appreciate getting an adjustment once in awhile. Have never found one worth anything legally working in Thailand.

Undercover foreign operative? They are really getting clever now.

If this Vince guy is as good as people say he is he should be able to find a way to sort out this mess he's in now, clear his fines, and come back. If he finds a Thai partner who is is licensed and accredited it wouldn't be too difficult to get a work permit.

Was there not recently a post commenting on how good the clinic is? Or was for that matter.

Yes, I believe I made a "happy ending" pun after a poster reported his approval of this man's treatment.

Not such a happy ending for Stefan

Mark Leoni in Bangkok is a fine chiro. I highly recommend him - thailandchiropractor.com

Leesgems, Mark Leoni told me several years ago about how difficult it was to practise legally in Thailand. But it was not impossible, and the rewards were worth it. I haven't seen Mark for a long time, but I believe he is a very happy and contented man with his lot.

This seems counter productive since there is a strong need for this type of service and the people that can do it are very rare in Thailand. Falong could be able to help Thais in many occupations but the work permits are so difficult to get. I do not imagine that any Thai will step in to fill the void created by putting a Chiropractor out of business.

With all due respect, I am quite positive that if he had wanted to, there are ways for him to have owned and operated such a practice legally with a work permit and with the correct visa. Most of the rest of us have managed to do so.

All the complaints about the proposed limits imposed on Student Visa's . . . this is why. So stop defending him and face the fact that however nice a guy he is, whatever good service he is providing, he is living and working illegally in Thailand, simple as that.

This seems counter productive since there is a strong need for this type of service and the people that can do it are very rare in Thailand. Falong could be able to help Thais in many occupations but the work permits are so difficult to get. I do not imagine that any Thai will step in to fill the void created by putting a Chiropractor out of business.

Do you suggest that laws should be broken?

Are you sure you are a suitable resident of Thailand?

He was a big help to me over the past year. Plus he was a very "human" guy - when finished with doctor/patient, he enjoyed a chat about many different things. When he bought his Ninja, he was like a kid with a new toy. He'll be deported, of course, but not sure whether he'll try to get a licence and come back as his family have been at him to return to Norway for some time. Best of luck, Vincens.

If you enjoy putting your bodily well-being in the hands of an amateur, good luck to you.

Why not choose a local?

The man is a criminal, no matter how nice he seems.

I personally know a European guy who has a remedial massage business in Pattaya, all legal, still has to pay a monthly 'fee' or be closed down by corrupt officials.

This seems counter productive since there is a strong need for this type of service and the people that can do it are very rare in Thailand. Falong could be able to help Thais in many occupations but the work permits are so difficult to get. I do not imagine that any Thai will step in to fill the void created by putting a Chiropractor out of business.

I agree.

there is NO ROOM for small businesses to set up in Thailand.

it forces people to go illegal.

a one-man business cant afford to employ several FULL TIME thai people.

Why cant Thailand create a "Small Business Visa" with perhaps allowance for 1 Thai staff.. (or part time staff).

and (as someone mentioned before), i wonder if the Foreign person that was used in this "sting operation" had a work visa, (because he would have been PAID (possibly) by the Police for his time and effort).

even if the Foreigner that the police used had a Work Visa, then it will have been valid ONLY FOR THE JOB THAT HE WAS PERMITTED TO DO... (not for a secondary job.

I would not be surprised at all if the police broke immigration rules to catch a man that was probably providing a good service that is hard to find in Thailand.

All the "GOOD" Chiropractors i have ever visited in Bkk are all Foreigners!!

Was there not recently a post commenting on how good the clinic is? Or was for that matter.

He is/ was excellent and is accredited just not in Thailand .

From my understanding to get accredited in Thailand he would have to speak really good Thai and pass a few tests.

It's a real shame because he really was is/was excellent , much better than his competition in north Pattaya

He was a big help to me over the past year. Plus he was a very "human" guy - when finished with doctor/patient, he enjoyed a chat about many different things. When he bought his Ninja, he was like a kid with a new toy. He'll be deported, of course, but not sure whether he'll try to get a licence and come back as his family have been at him to return to Norway for some time. Best of luck, Vincens.

If you enjoy putting your bodily well-being in the hands of an amateur, good luck to you.

Why not choose a local?

The man is a criminal, no matter how nice he seems.

1. Name 1 local chiropractor?

2. Who told you he was an armature ?

Were you aware to be qualified chiro in EU takes 4-6 years of study ?

This is why we are all experiencing the visa crackdown, to many people abuse the system and have an unfair advantage over the people that do the right thing.

This seems counter productive since there is a strong need for this type of service and the people that can do it are very rare in Thailand. Falong could be able to help Thais in many occupations but the work permits are so difficult to get. I do not imagine that any Thai will step in to fill the void created by putting a Chiropractor out of business.

Was he a qualified Chiropractor?

This seems counter productive since there is a strong need for this type of service and the people that can do it are very rare in Thailand. Falong could be able to help Thais in many occupations but the work permits are so difficult to get. I do not imagine that any Thai will step in to fill the void created by putting a Chiropractor out of business.

Do you suggest that laws should be broken?

Are you sure you are a suitable resident of Thailand?

Settle down, sunshine, I don't believe he is saying that laws should be broken, just the loss of a valuable service. Vincens was working illegally, as tatsujin says above, it's as simple as that. So he is being duly punished.

This seems counter productive since there is a strong need for this type of service and the people that can do it are very rare in Thailand. Falong could be able to help Thais in many occupations but the work permits are so difficult to get. I do not imagine that any Thai will step in to fill the void created by putting a Chiropractor out of business.

If he was qualified then he should have set up the business legally. There are foreign doctors in Thailand operating within the law. The only one being counter-productive, assuming he was qualified at all, was him. Can you just picture all the righteous indignation here at the hub of counter-productive pontificating if he "treated" someone and caused irreparable damage and it was found out that he wasn't licensed to practice?

Your argument that someone who is operating illegally should be allowed to continue makes absolutely no sense and Thais have a perfectly adequate system for training and licensing medical practitioners without the need for itinerant farang to hold them by the hand. Can you imagine what would happen if some fully qualified Thai doctor opened a clinic in Norway without bothering with any of the legal requirements? Presumably even if this guy was qualified in Norway he wouldn't just rent a storefront shop and start treating people without some licensing procedure.

Falong could be able to help Thais

Simply because they're farang, I suppose. The need for sunscreen must imply omniscience.

This seems counter productive since there is a strong need for this type of service and the people that can do it are very rare in Thailand. Falong could be able to help Thais in many occupations but the work permits are so difficult to get. I do not imagine that any Thai will step in to fill the void created by putting a Chiropractor out of business.

Was he a qualified Chiropractor?

He was obviously not qualified to practice in Thailand without obtaining the required documentation... no matter how magical his fingers might have been.

.

It's a real shame because he really was is/was excellent , much better than his competition in north Pattaya

And that is the base problem.

How dare he be better at something.

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In your eyes does that include the western individual/NGOs and agencies working with Thai authorities to try to capture and prosecute child sex traffickers, endangered species dealers etc etc