Homeless Swede found on Bangkok street

[mortenaa]

He's been living on the streets around Nana since April. No money. Overstayed his visa. His medical condition is really bad. All he wants is to go back to Sweden. He used to be a successful chef in Sweden (background checks), but after a work accident in 2008,is life seems to have gone down the drain.

A friend is now helping him (also Swedish). He put him in a hotel, gave him some clean clothes and located his belongings and passport, which a really great Pakistani guy we met last night, had taken care for him. He has also arranged escort at the airport (to follow him all the way on board the plane) once we can get finds to clear his overstay and ticket back home. 40K is needed. If any of you guys want to help, please PM me.

[SoiBiker]

He's all over FaceBook already, and from the comments, it's seems thais believe every single things journalists are writing, not even the slightest doubt about what's been written.....TIT

Maybe they don't have access to the extensive farang barfly network who know this guy personally.

[gemini81]

What visa does he have? probably an over stayer so put him in the IDC and see how he likes that.

We will remember that in your times of misfortune, Stalin.

[Strangebrew]

My first trip to Thailand taught me alot met lady online made date to visit she offered her place for me to stay. Not even at her place a day she comes up with lame thing of if I respect her I would give her half my money, I turn around and if you respected me you would have never asked that of me. grabbed my bags hopped in cab went to hotel. two days later rented condo. another day Had more tat than I needed. couple weeks later ran into begging to come stay with her just no way .

[Guest]

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What visa does he have? probably an over stayer so put him in the IDC and see how he likes that.

You have a heart of gold.

Well, you have extended the courtesy of presuming a heart ... so good on you.

What is missing here is that this poor soul is mentally unstable to an alarming degree. Although I do not know what the best course is to solve this unfortunate case ... rest assured ... prison / hell is not a remedy.

To Mr. "Throw him in prison" all I can remind you is "But for the grace of God go (you) "

Edited August 25, 2014 by Guest

[Suradit69]

Thailand:

Makes a hard man humble and a soft man crumble.

Surely the Swedish Embassy would have some information about the guy. Even if he no longer has any relatives (like me) there would still be records, as well as verifiable information (like, where was he living in Sweden, driver's license, job, etc).

So many similar stories. Repeat visitor. "Tricked" out his entire life savings. No plane ticket. No passport. Overstayed visa. (No relatives/friends or none that can afford to send money.)

And people wonder why so many foreigners in Thailand studiously avoid other foreigners.

"Tricked" out his entire life savings.

Can't speak about this particular person or what mental issues he is struggling to deal with, but blaming Thailand or Thais for his situation or that of any foreigner who comes here unable to manage his own affairs or control his impulses is ridiculous.

If he really has mental issues then he ought to have his affairs managed for him by the generous nanny state he came from. I know clueless farang love to claim that this or that is a Thai scam and some "girl" with a few years education outsmarted them, but seriously if you think you are an adult capable of looking after yourself you should be embarrassed to proclaim you were "tricked" by someone who has spent her entire life matching wits with a water buffalo. And, if someone is legitimately unable to deal with day to day personal financial matters then someone at home ought to be protecting him ... either family or the courts or welfare system.

[Arjay]

BANGKOK: -- A foreign man who had been fooled out of all his money has been found homeless on the street of Bangkok.

"Recently- the reporters revealed that a social network site had posted a picture of a foreigner and appealed for help from anyone. The picture was of a foreigner who had been fooled by a Thai girl and was begging in and around Nana district.

According to the source he was identified as Mr Leif Christer a 45 year old Swedish man. He was homeless and was staying near the road in Nana district. Someone questioned him and he claimed that he had been fooled by a Thai girl. He had no money and had lost his passport.

The Mirror Foundation had made a statement about this after they had been notified. They revealed that Mr.Leif Christer had traveled to Thailand 3 times before and had no relatives back in his homeland.

Also he was an alcoholic and was suffering from a depressive disorder. They confirmed that the story was true and he had been tricked out of all his money.

The Mirror Foundation indicated that the Swedish embassy didn’t believe the story because they couldn’t find any data on his relatives.

Also Mr. Leif Christer didn’t want to go back home because he was afraid that he might be blacklisted and wouldn’t be able to travel to Thailand again. Plus he had no money to cover the 40,000 baht travelling cost so the Mirror Foundation will help him according to humanitarian moral."

That's what you get when you think with your middle leg. He's an alcoholic suffering from depression?... So he pissed it all away. No wonder the Thai lady left him. He does want to be blacklisted?...So he come back and do it again. No sympathy for this loser...He can go back an scam the Swedish taxpayers.

[tkramer]

"Personally I think more warnings should go out to foreigners men in their home countries wishing to Thailand, marry and the pitfalls that lie ahead."

Never try to intervene in somebody else's karmic journey or lessons. You do not understand their ' bigger picture'.

Edited August 25, 2014 by tkramer

[sustento]

What about all the homeless turnips?

[euroflash]

Speaking of quality Swedes, another one has just been busted for ATM skimming:

http://tinyurl.com/pb6xepp

Per Johan Robin Bentley, 27.

Apparently, he told the press he is an heir to the Bentley dynasty

[TechnikaIII]

He should be got back to Sweden by whatever means possible and then have his passport revoked. Give him freedom to travel again and he will be back causing more problems. Easily sorted if the Swedish Government gets off its arse.

Yeah ! You go and tell the Swedish Government !

[shirtless]

The right thing to do here is send him back to Sweden , He cant stay in this state forever,

[Jeremy50]

Plenty local beggars’ fighting for every baht without the Swedish starting to muscle in on the event get him off the street lock him up or have him deported and blacklisted he is just an embarrassment to all decent foreigners living here.

Are you so out of touch that you don't know that there are at least 6 westerners sleeping rough in Bangkok? And about 20 in Pattaya, all with similar stories to tell as this guy. It is estimated there are 200 western men sleeping rough around Thailand.

This Swede has been around for years, he used to come into Subway on Sukhumvit to beg. People would give him 100 baht to go away, he smelt so bad.

Another sleeps rough in Nong Khai and has a full face tattoo. I have seen Thais run away form him he looks so scary. Well, you make your bed, you lie in it, whether it's mistaking a thieving prostitute for a girlfriend, turning your self into a drunken idiot, or covering you face and body with ugly markings.

[gemini81]

The right thing to do here is send him back to Sweden , He cant stay in this state forever,

He has been in this state for a long time dude, and many stay that way...like snake man on sukhumvit, or the guy with his pubes hangin' out in Thong Lor....

[Monkeyrobot]

A Thai friend showing me this story on social media said she read in the comments that an Austrian expat previously paid for his flight home. The swede then later returned to Thailand to get himself back into the same destitute state.

Yes you are correct.

[Evolare]

I'm Swedish once your in the system you can't disappear even you unregister your adress the social security number or personnummer as we call it in sweden is thre for ever even if you die its connected to everything we do in sweden if he refuses to give it out is another story.

[Paulzed]

"BANGKOK: -- A foreign man who had been fooled out of all his money"

No!..... surely not in a country where 95% of the population are Buddhists....I don't believe it.

[Mannao]

Hi.. i Am swedish.. this is the real deal about the situvation... Sweden Goverment will not help him home.. He need to cover the coast him self and its around 25000 bath for a one way ticket. He can get a pink passport at the swedish ambassde if he can show who he is .. or show any prof that he is swede... when he arive in sweden he can get swedish welfare thats around 25000bath/mounth... so it is possible for him to beg and save to the ticket.. he can also go to the swedish churches and get help. We have one of the best welfare in the world in sweden.. the problem is that alot of homless people dont want to go home becouse it &lt;deleted&gt; cold in sweden in wintertime.. this has been all over the news for a long time in sweden... so nr he need to start to think.. stop drinking.. and do what he need to do.. becouse there is sulotion to his problem.. he just dont want to see them..

[biplanebluey]

since the foreigner is not entitled to any special rights or privileges, if they intend to stay in Thailand. The second one would be buying property, which as most know, gives you virtually no rights in ownership.

FAIL.

And fail in a big way! You need to catch up on laws, and not what your bar-girl intelligence leads you to believe.

You are, as you write, one of the mosts that don't know about buying a home with rights.

Yes ,thanks Doc.I have a home ----and yellow book-----and no bugger can throw me out.

[geronimo]

A Thai friend showing me this story on social media said she read in the comments that an Austrian expat previously paid for his flight home. The swede then later returned to Thailand to get himself back into the same destitute state.

He obviously wants to be here then. Leave him where he is and he'll either pull out of it, or he won't.

[penwithcris]

I wondered what had happened to Sven Goran Eriksson?

[Patsycat]

He's been living on the streets around Nana since April. No money. Overstayed his visa. His medical condition is really bad. All he wants is to go back to Sweden. He used to be a successful chef in Sweden (background checks), but after a work accident in 2008,is life seems to have gone down the drain.

A friend is now helping him (also Swedish). He put him in a hotel, gave him some clean clothes and located his belongings and passport, which a really great Pakistani guy we met last night, had taken care for him. He has also arranged escort at the airport (to follow him all the way on board the plane) once we can get finds to clear his overstay and ticket back home. 40K is needed. If any of you guys want to help, please PM me.

Thank you for an update. It seems most people who read these threads do not read everything, as shown on the comments posted after yours.

Guys, read before adding stupid posts!!

I wish this man all the best for when he eventually gets home.

[Maggusoil]

Thailand:

Makes a hard man humble and a soft man crumble.

Surely the Swedish Embassy would have some information about the guy. Even if he no longer has any relatives (like me) there would still be records, as well as verifiable information (like, where was he living in Sweden, driver's license, job, etc).

So many similar stories. Repeat visitor. "Tricked" out his entire life savings. No plane ticket. No passport. Overstayed visa. (No relatives/friends or none that can afford to send money.)

And people wonder why so many foreigners in Thailand studiously avoid other foreigners.

Previous posters in this thread have indicated he's done this before. He's a serial repeat hobo and chooses to live this way.

I've talked to homeless people in large cities of rich western countries. They prefer to live on the street. It is very difficult to understand.

I have been living a stone's throw from the largest street people's "village" in Australia. Most of them have drug, alcohol or mental problems. Many of them cannot or will not spend money on accommodation they cannot or will not take care of. This way they avoid house work. Or any sort of work. Its often easier to anaesthetise. Medication is an easy option in a country with reasonably good weather and the nights won't kill you.

This guy obviously has problems. He needs help, but not the sort we can provide. He needs to motivate himself for that.

[neverdie]

^ Patsy, He will be back, no doubt !

Edited August 25, 2014 by neverdie

[GinBoy2]

He's been living on the streets around Nana since April. No money. Overstayed his visa. His medical condition is really bad. All he wants is to go back to Sweden. He used to be a successful chef in Sweden (background checks), but after a work accident in 2008,is life seems to have gone down the drain.

A friend is now helping him (also Swedish). He put him in a hotel, gave him some clean clothes and located his belongings and passport, which a really great Pakistani guy we met last night, had taken care for him. He has also arranged escort at the airport (to follow him all the way on board the plane) once we can get finds to clear his overstay and ticket back home. 40K is needed. If any of you guys want to help, please PM me.

Thank you for an update. It seems most people who read these threads do not read everything, as shown on the comments posted after yours.

Guys, read before adding stupid posts!!

I wish this man all the best for when he eventually gets home.

Patsycat, I always respect your posts as some of the more rational comments that appear on TVF, so be gentle with me. This gentlemen from the comments both here and the Bangkok Post has, over time been given several opportunities to get back to Sweden. In fact one guy paid for a trip back, then he returned again. Like most addicts, of any persuasion he probably will lie, cheat, deceive to get the next fix, be it drugs or drink. From the various other social media sites discussing this, it also would appear that he has mental issues to boot.

I too hope he gets home, but more importantly I hope, wherever it may be, he gets the help he needs. The 'swindled out of life savings' story is a nonsense, we all at some level know that, makes good tabloid fodder however. But this is a sick fella that needs help. I hope he realizes that the help he desperately needs will be better for him in Sweden rather than the alternative of sleeping on a street in Soi Nana.

[Soutpeel]

What about all the homeless turnips?

I have it on good authority that Baldrick opened a shelter for homeless turnips...

[Deli]

For his own safety: No re - entry to LoS permitted.

[Billy The Kid]

I knew my neighbour of mine who went to Thailand decade ago with his redundancy money 100,000 , opens a bar in Pattaya , until he was skint and a goodbye by his Thai girl , luckily his parents bought him a one way flight home. He never went back to a Thailand again, still living with his parent , and jobless . Something similar but this Swede had no family, give him a chance lad , I don't think he will be allowed to go back to Thailand again if he goes home to Sweden. Never ever fall in love in Thailand but ok if you can afford to lose. Best of luck to the Swede . And fair play to foundations to enlighten his plight.

[tomyumchai]

What visa does he have? probably an over stayer so put him in the IDC and see how he likes that.

You have a heart of gold.

yes he does, i assume in the idc he will get regular food and be kept away from his alcohol addiction? he can then be sent home to get help in his home country.

[GinBoy2]

I knew my neighbour of mine who went to Thailand decade ago with his redundancy money 100,000 , opens a bar in Pattaya , until he was skint and a goodbye by his Thai girl , luckily his parents bought him a one way flight home. He never went back to a Thailand again, still living with his parent , and jobless . Something similar but this Swede had no family, give him a chance lad , I don't think he will be allowed to go back to Thailand again if he goes home to Sweden. Never ever fall in love in Thailand but ok if you can afford to lose. Best of luck to the Swede . And fair play to foundations to enlighten his plight.

Well that is quite the classic. Guy, probably never owned, run, worked in a bar in his life decides to sink his life savings in a bar in Pattaya. Take a trip to Pattaya, its full of sorrowful farangs propping up bars, confused why their failed bar/restaurant/massage parlor/jetski rental didn't make them millionaires!