Former Prisoner With 3 University Degrees Arrested Again on Drug Charges
By Khaosod English

Setthapong Thammarak (sitting) at a police press conference in Samut Prakan, 11 June 2015.

SAMUT PRAKAN — A former convict who graduated with three university degrees during his time in jail was arrested for drug dealing in Samut Prakan province early this morning, police say.

Setthapong Thammarak, 38, was arrested in a sting operation at around 3:30 am when he attempted to sell crystal-methamphetamine to undercover police officers, said Pol.Lt. Thanakrit Ruai-ari, an officer at Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station.

According to Pol.Lt. Thanakrit, Setthapong has previously served 18 years in prison on narcotics charges.

Speaking at the police press conference today, Setthapong said he managed to study from his cell and graduate with three Bachelor's Degrees, including one in engineering. [read more here...]

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1434015201


-- Khaosod English 2015-06-11

Fat lot of good his degrees are going to do him now, back to jail rather than use his new knowledge to earn a honest living

Goes to prove higher education is not a measure of intelligence

Setthapong said he managed to study from his cell and graduate with three Bachelor's Degrees, including one in engineering----OP

The other 2 weren't in chemistry by any chance were they......................

Fat lot of good his degrees are going to do him now, back to jail rather than use his new knowledge to earn a honest living

If what he said is true, he tried to get an honest job but no one would hire him. Without work, how is he expected to support himself?

Edited June 11, 201511 yr by GarryP

Fat lot of good his degrees are going to do him now, back to jail rather than use his new knowledge to earn a honest living

If what he said is true, he tried to get an honest job but no one would hire him. Without work, how is he expected to support himself?

That's true but I am sure being out of prison and having to do labour jobs like work on a building site or farm labour until something better comes along than be back in prison.

Goes to prove higher education is not a measure of intelligence

However, he said he was unable to find any work after he was released last year because of his prison record, despite his three university degrees.

[...]

"If society had accepted ex-convicts like me and given me chance to work, I wouldn't have returned to selling drugs and got myself arrested like this," Setthapong told reporters.

Edited June 11, 201511 yr by Morakot

"However, he said he was unable to find any work after he was released last year because of his prison record, "

Rubbish...as if the systems in Thailand are good enough to do background checks.

Like having 3 degrees means anything here. Can pick them up for a couple hundred bht

Fat lot of good his degrees are going to do him now, back to jail rather than use his new knowledge to earn a honest living

If what he said is true, he tried to get an honest job but no one would hire him. Without work, how is he expected to support himself?

I don't believe him. You think they run background checks on manual laborers? Thailand is desperate for workers, he could have done all sorts of jobs and no one would have ever looked in to his past.

What have"degrees" got to do with anything..?.......

That he had a lot of time on his hands?

BTW, Thailand's reported unemployment rate is only .56% in 2014.

The first two were OK but I hope he has recovered from the third degree he received in Jail.

Lets hope one was in criminal law because that seems to be his chosen career path.

Goes to prove higher education is not a measure of intelligence

Usually only very strange people have "multiple" degrees. It's a much better idea to go for a Masters and Ph.D, not pursue post-Baccalaureate study in the basics of another field.

Breaking Bad comes to mind. He should have asked Saul...

Goes to prove higher education is not a measure of intelligence

However, he said he was unable to find any work after he was released last year because of his prison record, despite his three university degrees.

[...]

"If society had accepted ex-convicts like me and given me chance to work, I wouldn't have returned to selling drugs and got myself arrested like this," Setthapong told reporters.

Its usually those without higher education complaining about it. Makes them feel better with themselves.

Normally, the first question would be "What have you been doing since you got your degree?" Sitting in a cell doesn't cut it as work experience.

Sounds very much to me like he's a recidivist who feels comfortable in jail.

Goes to prove higher education is not a measure of intelligence

However, he said he was unable to find any work after he was released last year because of his prison record, despite his three university degrees.

[...]

"If society had accepted ex-convicts like me and given me chance to work, I wouldn't have returned to selling drugs and got myself arrested like this," Setthapong told reporters.

I'm crying right now.

Clearly 3 degrees is not enough for him so he's going back for a 4th

.....going for more degrees obviously.....

Maybe they should see if that prison makes the top 100 universities in Asia.

I got 38 degrees in my house yesterday. Then it rained and I lost 2 degrees.

I am guessing he wanted to peruse a Masters degree.

Paid somebody else to take the exams.

Don't want to be accused of being a 'sherlock', but I wonder if after 18 years inside he's quite comfortable with it, so when outside he's maybe thinking "I'll go for the big money or go back in, not work for a pittance" ?

You can take the monkey out of the jungle but you can't always take the jungle out of the monkey.

he did not find a good job

or were his 3 degrees as much worth as a role of toilet paper ?

Sounds like he should have become a monk. Not only would he be able to get a living wage, but with his 3 degrees and a wealth of criminal experience he could be Abbot by now......

Goes to prove higher education is not a measure of intelligence

Yes, often has little to do with derelict character. I always get a big 555 when posters make mention of a person being well educated. There is 100% difference between having an education and having character and reality in one's head and heart. Also like posters who think an education creates what their minds think it is supposed to create. Maybe they read it somewhere.