Thai Court upholds sentence on Dutch child molester

[webfact]

Court upholds sentence on Dutch child molester
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a 37-year prison sentence on a 56-year-old Dutch man charged with molesting a 12-year-old boy on grounds that evidence and witness testimony - including the boy and police - was convincing.

Dutch national Willem Gerard Knoppien and Thai accomplice Thanes Bualuang, 37, were accused of conspiring to take the minor, under 15, away from his parents and molesting him.

The lawsuit stated Thanes lured the victim to Knoppien's house in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district for a cleaning job. Knoppien then molested the boy on four occasions, after which he paid Thanes Bt200 and the boy Bt120 each time.

The primary court in July 2009 jailed Knoppien for 37 years and Thanes for 26 years and eight months, then Knoppien appealed. After the Appeal Court upheld his sentence, Knoppien appealed to the Supreme Court, leading to yesterday's verdict.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Court-upholds-sentence-on-Dutch-child-molester-30246480.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-29

[andygunther]

I wish they used the death penalty for these pigs

[Paulzed]

"Willem Gerard Knoppien and Thai accomplice Thanes Bualuang"

Its good to see that the Thai Court has done the wright thing and upheld the sentence.

These sick disturbed animals, have no place in human society as they can not possibly be Human, how many other children did these two dogs victimise before getting caught?

How can a normal thinking human get any pleasure out of victimising an innocent, defenceless child??

If I were the judge, my sentence would be "Give them one hundred lashes of the rattan and then tie them to an ants nest and leave them there to rot".

[optimistic]

Do enjoy your vacation.. now you have been granted permanent residency for the rest of your miserable life, you need not bother about visa extension anymore <deleted>hole

[AGareth2]

heard of similar stories

but not the sentence

good

hope it helps to stop the abuse

[keestha]

As usual, the hang em high brigade seems to have full confidence in the Thai justice system.

.

[o2eZy]

name for them is Rock Spiders and they will get what's coming to them in prison

[JohnThailandJohn]

They appear to have his age wrong. I am guessing he is about 66 years old now and around 59 when arrested in 2007. Not sure where the 56 is coming from. Here is a link of his testimony to the court during the trial ... https://sites.google.com/site/willemknoppienbangkok/translations-made-of-court-documents-on-behalf-of-daorit-thongnim/2009-06-04-testimony-wgk-1st-defendant

"Magazines that have pornographic photos of naked boys and were detected in my room at Hua Hin District belonged to my friend who had passed away for 12 years."

Edited October 29, 2014 by JohnThailandJohn

[Mr Yim]

If he's 56, then I'm a Dutch man

Edited October 29, 2014 by Mr Yim

[JeremyBowskill]

Why waste tax payers money? 2 house bricks (not the Thai ones), a blow torch and a really blunt butter knife is all I would need to fix this guys problems.

Although Bravo, much better than the 2 year holiday camp he would have got in the UK.

Edited October 29, 2014 by JeremyBowskill

[Bluespunk]

Why waste tax payers money? 2 house bricks (not the Thai ones), a blow torch and a really blunt butter knife is all I would need to fix this guys problems.

Although Bravo, much better than the 2 year holiday camp he would have got in the UK.

2 years for raping a child in the UK?

Don't think that's what happens.

[JohnThailandJohn]

Anybody remember the actual case? Trying to figure out why he got such a severe sentence based on typical sentences for similar acts. He got 37 years and the other defendant received 26 years which seems extreme too. The victim was only 12 but doesn't appear he was forced and seems to have happened twice. (http://www.chinapost.com.tw/print/216669.htm )

Can't help but wonder if he had cooperated if he'd already be free. If he is innocent can't blame him for fighting but would guess he just simply thinks he is smarter than everyone else and can beat the system. But seems clear after 5 years in jail he has already lost. Maybe I am wrong but thought others get like 3 to 5 year sentences for similar deeds then kicked back to their home country to deal with authorities there.

Edited October 29, 2014 by JohnThailandJohn

[CraigSchuler]

Let the pervert rot!

[JeremyBowskill]

Why waste tax payers money? 2 house bricks (not the Thai ones), a blow torch and a really blunt butter knife is all I would need to fix this guys problems.

Although Bravo, much better than the 2 year holiday camp he would have got in the UK.

2 years for raping a child in the UK?

Don't think that's what happens.

Really? Perhaps you could tell my cousin that then, this is exactly how much bird the beast that molested his little daughters ended up doing. Bare in mind if you are a good boy, you pretty much never serve full term in the uk!!

[Bluespunk]

Why waste tax payers money? 2 house bricks (not the Thai ones), a blow torch and a really blunt butter knife is all I would need to fix this guys problems.

Although Bravo, much better than the 2 year holiday camp he would have got in the UK.

2 years for raping a child in the UK?

Don't think that's what happens.

Really? Perhaps you could tell my cousin that then, this is exactly how much bird the beast that molested his little daughters ended up doing. Bare in mind if you are a good boy, you pretty much never serve full term in the uk!!

I cannot comment on your cousins case. However for the type of offence committed by this guy here are the sentencing guidelines for the UK

"Relevant Sentencing Council Guideline (if any)

1. Guidelines effective for offences sentenced on or after the 14th May 2007.
2. The starting points are for an adult offender, of previous good character who was convicted after trial.
3. There is no distinction in the starting points for penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth.

Type/nature of activity: Repeated rape of same victim over a course of time or rape involving multiple victims

• Starting points: 15 years custody

  Sentencing ranges: 13 - 19 years custody"

Edited October 29, 2014 by Bluespunk

[JohnThailandJohn]

Many conflicting reports ...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/156770-thai-police-nab-dutch-paedophile-suspect/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/280960-dutch-man-given-37-years-over-paedophilia/

[JeremyBowskill]

Why waste tax payers money? 2 house bricks (not the Thai ones), a blow torch and a really blunt butter knife is all I would need to fix this guys problems.

Although Bravo, much better than the 2 year holiday camp he would have got in the UK.

2 years for raping a child in the UK?

Don't think that's what happens.

Really? Perhaps you could tell my cousin that then, this is exactly how much bird the beast that molested his little daughters ended up doing. Bare in mind if you are a good boy, you pretty much never serve full term in the uk!!

I cannot comment on your cousins case. However for the type of offence committed by this guy here are the sentencing guidelines for the UK

"Relevant Sentencing Council Guideline (if any)

1. Guidelines effective for offences sentenced on or after the 14th May 2007.
2. The starting points are for an adult offender, of previous good character who was convicted after trial.
3. There is no distinction in the starting points for penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth.

Type/nature of activity: Repeated rape of same victim over a course of time or rape involving multiple victims

• Starting points: 15 years custody

  Sentencing ranges: 13 - 19 years custody"

Thanks for that, I will let him know rumpole of the bailey has looked over it. I'm sure it will provide great comfort to him.

[JohnThailandJohn]

Why waste tax payers money? 2 house bricks (not the Thai ones), a blow torch and a really blunt butter knife is all I would need to fix this guys problems.

Although Bravo, much better than the 2 year holiday camp he would have got in the UK.

2 years for raping a child in the UK?

Don't think that's what happens.

Really? Perhaps you could tell my cousin that then, this is exactly how much bird the beast that molested his little daughters ended up doing. Bare in mind if you are a good boy, you pretty much never serve full term in the uk!!

I cannot comment on your cousins case. However for the type of offence committed by this guy here are the sentencing guidelines for the UK

"Relevant Sentencing Council Guideline (if any)

1. Guidelines effective for offences sentenced on or after the 14th May 2007.
2. The starting points are for an adult offender, of previous good character who was convicted after trial.
3. There is no distinction in the starting points for penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth.

Type/nature of activity: Repeated rape of same victim over a course of time or rape involving multiple victims

• Starting points: 15 years custody

  Sentencing ranges: 13 - 19 years custody"

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/jun/04/graham-ovenden-suspended-sentence-sexual-offences

4 June 2013 An internationally renowned artist has been given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, after being found guilty of a string of sexual offences against former child models.

Edited October 29, 2014 by JohnThailandJohn

[Bluespunk]

Really? Perhaps you could tell my cousin that then, this is exactly how much bird the beast that molested his little daughters ended up doing. Bare in mind if you are a good boy, you pretty much never serve full term in the uk!!

I cannot comment on your cousins case. However for the type of offence committed by this guy here are the sentencing guidelines for the UK

"Relevant Sentencing Council Guideline (if any)

1. Guidelines effective for offences sentenced on or after the 14th May 2007.
2. The starting points are for an adult offender, of previous good character who was convicted after trial.
3. There is no distinction in the starting points for penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth.

Type/nature of activity: Repeated rape of same victim over a course of time or rape involving multiple victims

• Starting points: 15 years custody

  Sentencing ranges: 13 - 19 years custody"

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/jun/04/graham-ovenden-suspended-sentence-sexual-offences

4 June 2013 An internationally renowned artist has been given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, after being found guilty of a string of sexual offences against former child models.

None of which involved rape or any form of penetration or sexual activity beyond touching, mostly through clothes. I'm not defending what overton did, far from it, I'd gaol the bastard for years, but it is not the same.

Edited October 29, 2014 by Bluespunk

[Bluespunk]

2 years for raping a child in the UK?

Don't think that's what happens.

Really? Perhaps you could tell my cousin that then, this is exactly how much bird the beast that molested his little daughters ended up doing. Bare in mind if you are a good boy, you pretty much never serve full term in the uk!!

I cannot comment on your cousins case. However for the type of offence committed by this guy here are the sentencing guidelines for the UK

"Relevant Sentencing Council Guideline (if any)

1. Guidelines effective for offences sentenced on or after the 14th May 2007.
2. The starting points are for an adult offender, of previous good character who was convicted after trial.
3. There is no distinction in the starting points for penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth.

Type/nature of activity: Repeated rape of same victim over a course of time or rape involving multiple victims

• Starting points: 15 years custody

  Sentencing ranges: 13 - 19 years custody"

Thanks for that, I will let him know rumpole of the bailey has looked over it. I'm sure it will provide great comfort to him.

You seem to think I'm defending what this scumbag did or saying their sentence was justified.

I'm not.

I'm saying that the offence this dutch guy was gaoled for carries a lot more than 2 years.

Respond to this post as you will but this my last on this to you as you seem to feel I am trying to justify weak sentences, I'm not.

[cms22]

What this man did was evil and should be punished. But all the violence that these TV members espouse really sickens me. Horrible people.

[jaltsc]

"Thanes lured the victim to Knoppien's house in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district for a cleaning job. Knoppien then molested the boy on four occasions..."

I would hope the bag he is carrying is holding his goodies. Never to be used again on an innocent child.

Edited October 29, 2014 by jaltsc

[JohnThailandJohn]

Really? Perhaps you could tell my cousin that then, this is exactly how much bird the beast that molested his little daughters ended up doing. Bare in mind if you are a good boy, you pretty much never serve full term in the uk!!

I cannot comment on your cousins case. However for the type of offence committed by this guy here are the sentencing guidelines for the UK

"Relevant Sentencing Council Guideline (if any)

1. Guidelines effective for offences sentenced on or after the 14th May 2007.
2. The starting points are for an adult offender, of previous good character who was convicted after trial.
3. There is no distinction in the starting points for penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth.

Type/nature of activity: Repeated rape of same victim over a course of time or rape involving multiple victims

• Starting points: 15 years custody

  Sentencing ranges: 13 - 19 years custody"

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/jun/04/graham-ovenden-suspended-sentence-sexual-offences

4 June 2013 An internationally renowned artist has been given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, after being found guilty of a string of sexual offences against former child models.

None of which involved rape or any form of penetration or sexual activity beyond touching, mostly through clothes. I'm not defending what overton did, far from it, I'd gaol the bastard for years, but it is not the same.

Understand your point but I just believe what you wrote about sentencing is fully correct. Technically it may be but I just doubt it is always carried out and there is ways around it such as suspended sentences and plea bargains to reduce charges. I honestly don't know the UK but know in the US when it is not forced (lack of a better word) sentences sometimes can be fairly low. There are constant high publicity news stories with teachers having sex with their teen students and they seem to be out within a year or two. And there really is no worse crime in the US perception wise. This victim was only 12 and shy of being a teen but best I can tell he was a willing (as much as a young child can be) participant. I just don't see a sentence more than 5-years in most US States unless there are other circumstances.

I am with you, not making excuses or down playing or anything but the sentence just seems extreme compared to even other cases in Thailand. Don't we typically read these stories here were the molester only gets a few years? I could be wrong but could swear there have been numerous stories like this with foreigners only caught with one victim in similar circumstances only getting a couple years sentence. So, I am just wondering what caused the long sentence in this case? A crack down and more harsher sentences doesn't seem to be the case as he was sentenced years ago.

Edited October 29, 2014 by JohnThailandJohn

[robblok]

As usual, the hang em high brigade seems to have full confidence in the Thai justice system.

.

I have confidence though i find the sentence a bit high compared to what people get for murder here. Does not mean I find his sentence to high but if you hear about Thais getting out after 7 years for murder this seems a bit high.

[xanderbkk]

John Thailand, I agree with you.
I find it shocking to see the "hang m' high" comments of many of the posters as they have no clue where they are talking about.
In the case of the Koh Tao murders everyone is convinced the police made lots of blunders and the so called murderers are most likely shapegoats but when it comes to child abuse it is evident the guy who got arrested did it. Of course i am against child abuse but in this case things are not what they seem to. The arrested guy, Mr Willem , indeed 66 now, was involved in a business conflict and had two attempts to kill him shortly before the accusations. A Dvd was made later by his lawyer where the victim denied anything had happened and he was brought to Bangkok and been threatened that he would not see his parents back anymore if he would not cooperate. There was no lawyer present. Sure, Mr Willem is or was a stubborn man who thought there was no problem at all. He got bail and even went to Holland and Cambodia and just came back because he felt all should be cleared. No, he got convicted and the nightmare started. Did he do it or not? I was not there so I do not know. Only thing I know is that in Thailand things are not always what they seem to be so please do not draw your conclusions too fast.

[godden]

No visa runs for you matey.

[JohnThailandJohn]

As usual, the hang em high brigade seems to have full confidence in the Thai justice system.

.

I have confidence though i find the sentence a bit high compared to what people get for murder here. Does not mean I find his sentence to high but if you hear about Thais getting out after 7 years for murder this seems a bit high.

There are numerous contradictions to this story in the news. Something seems missing. I wonder if this guy had lots of victims but this was the only kid they could get to testify or something. One source said Interpol tipped off police here. How in the heck would Interpol know about this? Maybe Interpol had info on this guy but it was obtained in a way that couldn't be released publicly but shared with Thai authorities. Extreme speculation but was just reading about how the US has been monitoring phone calls and in bed with the phone companies for decades and used to tip off local police of drug deals and such but police had to come up with their own information (excuse) to stop a car full of drugs or whatever. I guess is was very common back in the 80s. Bottom line the sentence doesn't seem to fit what is typical for this kind of thing given it appears he had no history of this type of thing or any problems with police his entire life (so he claimed to the court).

[noitom]

He'll find out that Thai prisoners know how to lay pipe.

[AGareth2]

Anybody remember the actual case? Trying to figure out why he got such a severe sentence based on typical sentences for similar acts. He got 37 years and the other defendant received 26 years which seems extreme too. The victim was only 12 but doesn't appear he was forced and seems to have happened twice. (http://www.chinapost.com.tw/print/216669.htm )

Can't help but wonder if he had cooperated if he'd already be free. If he is innocent can't blame him for fighting but would guess he just simply thinks he is smarter than everyone else and can beat the system. But seems clear after 5 years in jail he has already lost. Maybe I am wrong but thought others get like 3 to 5 year sentences for similar deeds then kicked back to their home country to deal with authorities there.

The victim was 12!

I think you might have a problem John!

[xanderbkk]

John Thailand , Agree with you and some other posters that it is much too easy to condemn people without knowing the facts.
In this case it is not what it seems to be but is far more complicated. At the Koh Tao murders everyone is convinced the two suspects got framed. Maybe in this case it could be the same.