Swedes in Jail in Thailand
BY LOUISE BIHL FRANDSEN


Photo: www.news.com.au

BANGKOK: -- Exactly 20 Swedes are in jail in Thailand at the moment. ‘They are often put in custody for so called overstays’, Helena Wahlström from the Foreign Ministry in Sweden said earlier this month. But according to the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok none of the cases reported had to do with so called visa overstays.

Today more than 200 Swedes are in jail all over the world. Exactly 20 of them are doing time in Thailand. According to the Foreign Ministry in Sweden it is difficult to say if the number is unusual high compared with earlier years. But Helene Wahlström, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is quoted in Sydsvenskan earlier this month for saying that:

“[…] You can see tendencies for a certain country, like Thailand, which has strong regulations against staying longer than the visa allows. And Swedes are often put in custody for so called overstays,” Helena Wahlström says.

But according to the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok none of the crimes reported were about visa overstays.

“We have exactly 20 cases of Swedes sitting in jail in Thailand at the moment. There are no specific pattern in what crimes they got arrested for. It is all sorts of crimes. But none of them have to do with visa overstays,” a spokesperson from the Swedish Embassy says.

ScandAsia has been in contact with Helena Wahlström, but she does not wish to comment on the specific quote.

Read the full interview with Helena Wahlström in Sydsvenskan:
http://www.sydsvenskan.se/sverige/over-200-svenskar-fangslade-utomlands/

Source: http://scandasia.com/swedes-in-jail-in-thailand/

-- ScandAsia 2015-02-10

It seems Scandasia does not like Helene Wahlstrom.

The beds look comfortable!

That is one of the most pointless articles I have read.

That is one of the most pointless articles I have read.

Apparently some Swedes get sent to jail for overstaying, but none are in jail just now for overstaying.

But sometimes it happens. So if you know a Swedish guy tell him to be careful.

Slow news day in Sweden then and a lazy reporter to boot. That's 5 minutes of my day I won't get back.

What a totally rubbish article. In fact, why did Admin even bother to quote it ??

The last 'Swede' I talked to in Bangkok was a dodgy Iranian with a Swedish passport. Been there over 20 years and spoke zero Swedish.

The last 'Swede' I talked to in Bangkok was a dodgy Iranian with a Swedish passport. Been there over 20 years and spoke zero Swedish.

10% of all "Swedes" fits the same category.

AC for falang??

The last 'Swede' I talked to in Bangkok was a dodgy Iranian with a Swedish passport. Been there over 20 years and spoke zero Swedish.

Well being in Thailand he will be right at home with some expats being unable to speak a word of Thai.

I wonder if there are any Thais in Swedish jails, and if they have to take a dump with everyone watching.

So no Swedes in prisons for overstays then. Well glad that's been cleared up then. Been worrying me for a while now. Cheers scandasia.

single cells?

much more "comfortable" than I have heard - like 20 or 60 people together in one room - toilet=a hole in the floor

single cells?

much more "comfortable" than I have heard - like 20 or 60 people together in one room - toilet=a hole in the floor

60 in a room? Sounds like a recipe for mashed swedes.

This 'article' is just so bad. Thanks

So no Swedes in prisons for overstays then. Well glad that's been cleared up then. Been worrying me for a while now. Cheers scandasia.

More than 850 Britons are locked up in prisons overseas for drugs-related offences - with some facing the death penalty or sentences of up to 39 years.

http://news.sky.com/story/1171473/hundreds-of-brits-jailed-abroad-on-drug-charges

I wonder if there are any Thais in Swedish jails, and if they have to take a dump with everyone watching.

Don't know how many Thais are in Swedish jails but the cells looks more classy:

http://freethoughtblogs.com/taslima/2013/12/04/sweden-is-closing-its-prisons-what-about-a-prisonless-world/

Geez the swedes get the good rooms with farang toilet and running water, no wonder they want to get admitted.

Geez the swedes get the good rooms with farang toilet and running water, no wonder they want to get admitted.

This News is Startiling...

I wonder if there are any Thais in Swedish jails, and if they have to take a dump with everyone watching.

Don't know how many Thais are in Swedish jails but the cells looks more classy:

http://freethoughtblogs.com/taslima/2013/12/04/sweden-is-closing-its-prisons-what-about-a-prisonless-world/

looks like an Aussie prison and the the 2 thais extradited to Aust for murder didn't want to go because they claimed Aussie prisons weren't of the high standard offered in Thailand.

So no Swedes in prisons for overstays then. Well glad that's been cleared up then. Been worrying me for a while now. Cheers scandasia.

More than 850 Britons are locked up in prisons overseas for drugs-related offences - with some facing the death penalty or sentences of up to 39 years.

http://news.sky.com/story/1171473/hundreds-of-brits-jailed-abroad-on-drug-charges

That is a story that should be told.

My post was more in sarcasm at the banality of the "Swedes in gaol" story.

So no Swedes in prisons for overstays then. Well glad that's been cleared up then. Been worrying me for a while now. Cheers scandasia.

More than 850 Britons are locked up in prisons overseas for drugs-related offences - with some facing the death penalty or sentences of up to 39 years.

http://news.sky.com/story/1171473/hundreds-of-brits-jailed-abroad-on-drug-charges

Only one Aussie doing time in Thailand, indonesia appears to be thier international prisons/place of execution of choice.

single cells?

much more "comfortable" than I have heard - like 20 or 60 people together in one room - toilet=a hole in the floor

Have also been wondering where this photo was taken, police holding cells maybe?

That is one of the most pointless articles I have read.

I agree, we all appear to have been told nothing more than there are 20 Swedes in Thai jails.

Why does the article feature a photo of Alcatraz? Are the Swedes detained there?

That is one of the most pointless articles I have read.

Apparently some Swedes get sent to jail for overstaying, but none are in jail just now for overstaying.

But sometimes it happens. So if you know a Swedish guy tell him to be careful.

And remember; the overstays are only "so called" according the article....

are there any Lichtensteinians in jail for breaking the speed limit? just askin'...

I wonder if there are any Thais in Swedish jails, and if they have to take a dump with everyone watching.

Don't know how many Thais are in Swedish jails but the cells looks more classy:

http://freethoughtblogs.com/taslima/2013/12/04/sweden-is-closing-its-prisons-what-about-a-prisonless-world/

looks like an Aussie prison and the the 2 thais extradited to Aust for murder didn't want to go because they claimed Aussie prisons weren't of the high standard offered in Thailand.

Nothing like an Aussie prison. Where's the bed, desk, tv, xbox/playstation (yes I'm serious).