Dutch MP’s Campaign to Free Dutchman Jailed for 103 Years in Thailand

[Bluespunk]

He's totally innocent? Never said that. He is again under investigation in the Netherlands so he could well yet be found guilty of something.

However he committed no crime in Thailand.

He was gaoled for spending money that was deemed legally earned in The Netherlands after several years of investigation.

Oh and by the way, I'm not your mate.

You clearly don't want to know.

Yeah, right...

[KKr]

It seems we have quite a few experts on the Dutch Justice on TV.

But nevertheless, let me fill you in on the history of the Dutch "tolerance" policy.

In the 80's, there was a serious problem with hard drug addicts, primarily heroine users.
Heroine is a one shot to addiction drug, and I would not even dare to guess how many people were drunk or drugged, got a shot in the arm by some "friend" and were send to work on the streets to earn next days' dose.
In most cities it was impossible to leave a car radio in a parked car, for after some 30 - 90 minutes the window would be broken and the car ransacked.
Add to that street robberies, burglaries and prostitution by drug addicts, needles in the park and other nuisance, it is clear there was a quite undesirable and uncontrollable situation in the society.
The statement that a junk will do most anything to get his fix is not an exaggeration, and meeting a knife wielding junk is an event with unpredictable outcome.

So, the government decided to distinguish habit-forming and dangerous "hard" drugs like heroin, opium, LSD, other chemicals like amphetamines (Yabaa) where use and possession remained forbidden and prosecuted, from non-habit forming drugs like hashish and marihuana, and then de-criminalise the use of such "soft" drugs, thus preventing contact of users of soft drugs with the criminal circuit pushing hard drugs.
Soft drugs sales are allowed in licensed (thus not engaging in an illegal activity) places, "coffee shops", that are subject to quality control and any laws applicable to similar establishments, for example similar to places selling alcohol what is also a licensed activity.

Simultaneously a comprehensive program was set up providing heroin addicts for free with mogadon that is stopping craving and high-blocking. This program helped quite a few people to re-integrate into society. As a result, the cities over a period of some ten years were brought back to normal, acceptable safety levels.

Unfortunately, the tolerance policy has also lead to smoking-tourism that causes some nuisance, albeit in comparison to drinking tourism relatively little.
Having said that, in general, in the Netherlands the tolerance policy is welcomed in view of the problems that needed to be addressed.

Concerning the topic of a 103 years conviction, IMHO, without access to and the expertise to understand the full file, and without having an in-depth knowledge of Dutch, international and Thai Law and jurisprudence, it is impossible to have an informed opinion on this specific case.

P.S.

A good question is why Alcohol and Tobacco, that are surely habit-forming as we can see around us in many countries, are allowed?
Likely this has its roots in the wide spread tolerance thereof in society, the disregard of violence related to Alcohol, disregard of health issues, and the long history of alcohol and tobacco (ab)use.

[KKr]

I don't understand why his wife got 13 years.

Thai numerology

How much is "seven hundred ten thousand" ??

Correct, 700.000 , you stayed long enough already to understand !

[sjaak327]

no he's not.

''Not long after that, the Dutch prosecutors office (Openbaar Ministerie) launched an investigation into the Grass Company for money laundering. During years of investigation, no evidence was found that could convict Van Laarhoven or his business partners in the Netherlands.[/size]

Van Laarhoven and the Openbaar Ministerie agreed that if they ever again wanted to interrogate him about the case, he would report to the Netherlands within five days of their request.

After a request from a Dutch lawyer working for Openbaar Ministerie, the Thai authorities launched their own investigation into Van Laarhoven. Several days later he and his wife were arrested at their Pattaya home.

Fifteen months later, Van Laarhoven was convicted for spending money in Thailand that he earned by selling cannabis in the Netherlands. It should be noted that the sale of cannabis in coffee shops is legal in the Netherlands and the Dutch gedoogbeleid policy ensures that authorities turn a blind eye when coffee shop owners buy stock from illegal dealers.

The Thai courts verdict, however, ignores that policy, concluding that money earned with the sale of drugs has to be illegal money. Therefore, spending that money is a crime. His assets in Thailand were siezed and his home and vehicles were auctioned off.''

"In the Netherlands, the selling of cannabis is "illegal, but not punishable", so the law is not enforced in establishments following these nationwide rules:

• No advertising
• No hard drug sales on the premises
• No sales to anyone under the age of 18
• No sale of quantities greater than five grams
• No public disturbance"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffeeshop_(Netherlands)

Bang! One argument shot down for relying on false information.

How is that argument shot down. It is NOT punishable as your quote clearly claims. If it was, they should have extradited him to the Netherlands, as that is where the alleged illegal activity took place.

No such request has ever reached the Thai 'justice' system. The fact that an active campaign is currently undertaken by the Netherlands clearly shows what they think of this 'justice'. So should anybody else, a clear miscarriage of justice.

The only reason they prosecuted him is to seize and distribute his assets in Thailand.

[halloween]

Van Laarhoven and the Openbaar Ministerie agreed that if they ever again wanted to interrogate him about the case, he would report to the Netherlands within five days of their request.

After a request from a Dutch lawyer working for Openbaar Ministerie, the Thai authorities launched their own investigation into Van Laarhoven. Several days later he and his wife were arrested at their Pattaya home.

Fifteen months later, Van Laarhoven was convicted for spending money in Thailand that he earned by selling cannabis in the Netherlands. It should be noted that the sale of cannabis in coffee shops is legal in the Netherlands and the Dutch gedoogbeleid policy ensures that authorities turn a blind eye when coffee shop owners buy stock from illegal dealers.

The Thai courts verdict, however, ignores that policy, concluding that money earned with the sale of drugs has to be illegal money. Therefore, spending that money is a crime. His assets in Thailand were siezed and his home and vehicles were auctioned off.''

"In the Netherlands, the selling of cannabis is "illegal, but not punishable", so the law is not enforced in establishments following these nationwide rules:

• No advertising
• No hard drug sales on the premises
• No sales to anyone under the age of 18
• No sale of quantities greater than five grams
• No public disturbance"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffeeshop_(Netherlands)

Bang! One argument shot down for relying on false information.

How is that argument shot down. It is NOT punishable as your quote clearly claims. If it was, they should have extradited him to the Netherlands, as that is where the alleged illegal activity took place.

No such request has ever reached the Thai 'justice' system. The fact that an active campaign is currently undertaken by the Netherlands clearly shows what they think of this 'justice'. So should anybody else, a clear miscarriage of justice.

The only reason they prosecuted him is to seize and distribute his assets in Thailand.

Which part of the "illegal" don't you understand? Dutch authorities might not want to prosecute, but the Thais are certainly interested when they find funds transferred to Thailand are the proceeds of illegal activity, and have every right to prosecute under their money laundering laws.

BTW it was also illegal to give his wife the money to buy their home.

Edit to add - prostitution is illegal in Thailand, but the crime is generally ignored. Does that make it legal?

Edited June 14, 2016 by halloween

[sjaak327]

Van Laarhoven and the Openbaar Ministerie agreed that if they ever again wanted to interrogate him about the case, he would report to the Netherlands within five days of their request.

After a request from a Dutch lawyer working for Openbaar Ministerie, the Thai authorities launched their own investigation into Van Laarhoven. Several days later he and his wife were arrested at their Pattaya home.

Fifteen months later, Van Laarhoven was convicted for spending money in Thailand that he earned by selling cannabis in the Netherlands. It should be noted that the sale of cannabis in coffee shops is legal in the Netherlands and the Dutch gedoogbeleid policy ensures that authorities turn a blind eye when coffee shop owners buy stock from illegal dealers.

The Thai courts verdict, however, ignores that policy, concluding that money earned with the sale of drugs has to be illegal money. Therefore, spending that money is a crime. His assets in Thailand were siezed and his home and vehicles were auctioned off.''

"In the Netherlands, the selling of cannabis is "illegal, but not punishable", so the law is not enforced in establishments following these nationwide rules:

• No advertising
• No hard drug sales on the premises
• No sales to anyone under the age of 18
• No sale of quantities greater than five grams
• No public disturbance"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffeeshop_(Netherlands)

Bang! One argument shot down for relying on false information.

How is that argument shot down. It is NOT punishable as your quote clearly claims. If it was, they should have extradited him to the Netherlands, as that is where the alleged illegal activity took place.

No such request has ever reached the Thai 'justice' system. The fact that an active campaign is currently undertaken by the Netherlands clearly shows what they think of this 'justice'. So should anybody else, a clear miscarriage of justice.

The only reason they prosecuted him is to seize and distribute his assets in Thailand.

Which part of the "illegal" don't you understand? Dutch authorities might not want to prosecute, but the Thais are certainly interested when they find funds transferred to Thailand are the proceeds of illegal activity, and have every right to prosecute under their money laundering laws.

BTW it was also illegal to give his wife the money to buy their home.

Edit to add - prostitution is illegal in Thailand, but the crime is generally ignored. Does that make it legal?

It isn't illegal in the Netherlands, as it isn't punishable, the authorities turn a blind eye under certain conditions and with a very good reason. Funny you should mention prostitution, in your reasoning anyone in that particular business should be punished for money laundering, certainly because that 'illegal' activity is carried out in Thailand. Yet none are.

Again, the campaign undertaken by MP's of the Netherlands leave little to the imagination. If he sold drugs IN Thailand, they might have a very good point, but as far as I'm aware he didn't.

He certainly isn't innocent as the driven snow, but 103 years for money laundering (people making an honest living and use the funds to pay for expenses, apparently is money laundering in Thailand) and selling drugs IN the Netherlands, where it is not considered a criminal act, is ludicrous, end of story.

[Dogmatix]

The owners of Thai gun shops should be careful not to go on holiday to the UK or Australia where selling handguns to private individuals is a serious criminal offence.

Pharmacists could also be prosecuted for selling legitimate over the counter drugs in their home country when they visit another country were those medicines are banned. And what of weed sellers in Colorado and Washington State who are legally registered and paying taxes?

The legal basis for such a long sentence seems based in absurdity.

[domdom]

Hello

Seems like a pissing contest here.. Every one camping on its position, refusing to listen to others..

I would just like to point out these points

. I would be very surprised if his assets have been auctioned, as he appealed and I don't think it is possible to sell as for the time being none final decision has been reached.. What is true and sure is that nearly everything has been seized..

. Money laundry is not only for drug cases.. Not paying taxes, using this money which actually is illegal, as you didn't pay your taxes is money laundry..

. Wife is inside because she lived from this money and also, part of properties were in her name or she was involved (signing documents etc..)...

. Now his partners apparently are in jail also

. Nobody here, neither I knows actually what is going on, which are the evidences etc.. so difficult to decide wether thai justice decision is fair or not

. Only one comment.. 20 million euros profit ??? or even worse 20 millions unpaid taxes.. Do you really think it is possible to make that much of money, even having quite a lot of coffee houses in Holland, if you don't sell more than the limit which authorizes the dutch law ??

Anyway buying huge quantities of properties, luxury cars etc.. was not very smart.. It surely upset quite a lot of people..

Have a nice day

[halloween]

Van Laarhoven and the Openbaar Ministerie agreed that if they ever again wanted to interrogate him about the case, he would report to the Netherlands within five days of their request.

After a request from a Dutch lawyer working for Openbaar Ministerie, the Thai authorities launched their own investigation into Van Laarhoven. Several days later he and his wife were arrested at their Pattaya home.

Fifteen months later, Van Laarhoven was convicted for spending money in Thailand that he earned by selling cannabis in the Netherlands. It should be noted that the sale of cannabis in coffee shops is legal in the Netherlands and the Dutch gedoogbeleid policy ensures that authorities turn a blind eye when coffee shop owners buy stock from illegal dealers.

The Thai courts verdict, however, ignores that policy, concluding that money earned with the sale of drugs has to be illegal money. Therefore, spending that money is a crime. His assets in Thailand were siezed and his home and vehicles were auctioned off.''

"In the Netherlands, the selling of cannabis is "illegal, but not punishable", so the law is not enforced in establishments following these nationwide rules:

• No advertising
• No hard drug sales on the premises
• No sales to anyone under the age of 18
• No sale of quantities greater than five grams
• No public disturbance"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffeeshop_(Netherlands)

Bang! One argument shot down for relying on false information.

How is that argument shot down. It is NOT punishable as your quote clearly claims. If it was, they should have extradited him to the Netherlands, as that is where the alleged illegal activity took place.

No such request has ever reached the Thai 'justice' system. The fact that an active campaign is currently undertaken by the Netherlands clearly shows what they think of this 'justice'. So should anybody else, a clear miscarriage of justice.

The only reason they prosecuted him is to seize and distribute his assets in Thailand.

Which part of the "illegal" don't you understand? Dutch authorities might not want to prosecute, but the Thais are certainly interested when they find funds transferred to Thailand are the proceeds of illegal activity, and have every right to prosecute under their money laundering laws.

BTW it was also illegal to give his wife the money to buy their home.

Edit to add - prostitution is illegal in Thailand, but the crime is generally ignored. Does that make it legal?

It isn't illegal in the Netherlands, as it isn't punishable, the authorities turn a blind eye under certain conditions and with a very good reason. Funny you should mention prostitution, in your reasoning anyone in that particular business should be punished for money laundering, certainly because that 'illegal' activity is carried out in Thailand. Yet none are.

Again, the campaign undertaken by MP's of the Netherlands leave little to the imagination. If he sold drugs IN Thailand, they might have a very good point, but as far as I'm aware he didn't.

He certainly isn't innocent as the driven snow, but 103 years for money laundering (people making an honest living and use the funds to pay for expenses, apparently is money laundering in Thailand) and selling drugs IN the Netherlands, where it is not considered a criminal act, is ludicrous, end of story.

So you simply don't understand the word "illegal"? Unenforced laws simply don't exist to you?

Edited June 14, 2016 by halloween

[Mangostin]

The only reason they prosecuted him is to seize and distribute his assets in Thailand.

And???? His assets were in THAILAND so they belong to THAI, i am sure that people arguing with you will have to agree with this.

He's a dutch being in dutch, end of story.

[Mangostin]

but 103 years for money laundering

Whom hasn't forgot at least once in its life, even a single penny inside his pockets while putting them in for the wash??? You deserve at least 555 years for each time you did, because you falang ! Now tell us where did you parked your Fortuner

[sjaak327]

Which part of the "illegal" don't you understand? Dutch authorities might not want to prosecute, but the Thais are certainly interested when they find funds transferred to Thailand are the proceeds of illegal activity, and have every right to prosecute under their money laundering laws.

BTW it was also illegal to give his wife the money to buy their home.

Edit to add - prostitution is illegal in Thailand, but the crime is generally ignored. Does that make it legal?It isn't illegal in the Netherlands, as it isn't punishable, the authorities turn a blind eye under certain conditions and with a very good reason. Funny you should mention prostitution, in your reasoning anyone in that particular business should be punished for money laundering, certainly because that 'illegal' activity is carried out in Thailand. Yet none are.

Again, the campaign undertaken by MP's of the Netherlands leave little to the imagination. If he sold drugs IN Thailand, they might have a very good point, but as far as I'm aware he didn't.

He certainly isn't innocent as the driven snow, but 103 years for money laundering (people making an honest living and use the funds to pay for expenses, apparently is money laundering in Thailand) and selling drugs IN the Netherlands, where it is not considered a criminal act, is ludicrous, end of story.

So you simply don't understand the word "illegal"? Unenforced laws simply don't exist to you?

This is my home country, I'm quite sure you have no idea what the hell you are talking about. The tolerance of soft drugs is in the law, so it is NOT illegal, end of story. Neither is the law unenforced, that law is quite clear to anyone in that business, and no that does not include you, as you quite clearly show by your incorrect use of the term illegal. Soft drugs are not illegal in the Netherlands.

The guy had a legitimate, tax paying business, and no charges are pending in the Netherlands. Stop beating a dead horse, the Thai justice system has it wrong, yet again.

[sjaak327]

The only reason they prosecuted him is to seize and distribute his assets in Thailand.

And???? His assets were in THAILAND so they belong to THAI, i am sure that people arguing with you will have to agree with this.

He's a dutch being in dutch, end of story.

I don't think any government in the world can claim that assests owned by individuals are their assests. What a ludicrous argument.

[Andrew65]

Hang on a minute. A friend of a friend of mine (who used to hang-out in Bangkok) was recently busted in the UK for a crime, connected to a charity, that was worth around £5 million.

He got a 12 year prison sentence.

The crime was something that defrauded HMRC (the taxman) of millions of pounds.

So far, £850,000 has been seized from this guy, much more will be, subsequently.

Don't kid yourselves into thinking that Thailand is the only country that seizes the proceeds of (trans-nationall) crime.

Much of what this guy did was "trans-national", don't for a minute think that he/us will get away with these things! They'll nail your ass, in one country or another.

It would seem that Berty knows what I am talking about.

Edited June 14, 2016 by Andrew65

[Bluespunk]

Hang on a minute. A friend of a friend of mine (who used to hang-out in Bangkok) was recently busted in the UK for a crime, connected to a charity, that was worth around £5 million.

He got a 12 year prison sentence.

The crime was something that defrauded HMRC (the taxman) of millions of pounds.

So far, £850,000 has been seized from this guy, much more will be, subsequently.

Don't kid yourselves into thinking that Thailand is the only country that seizes the proceeds of (trans-nationall) crime.

Much of what this guy did was "trans-national", don't for a minute think that he/us will get away with these things! They'll nail your ass, in one country or another.

It would seem that Berty knows what I am talking about.

As said in the OP, he was investigated for a number of years and NO charges were preferred.

No evidence of a crime was found.

He had committed no crime at the time of his arrest, trial and conviction in Thailand...

[halloween]

Which part of the "illegal" don't you understand? Dutch authorities might not want to prosecute, but the Thais are certainly interested when they find funds transferred to Thailand are the proceeds of illegal activity, and have every right to prosecute under their money laundering laws.

BTW it was also illegal to give his wife the money to buy their home.

Edit to add - prostitution is illegal in Thailand, but the crime is generally ignored. Does that make it legal?It isn't illegal in the Netherlands, as it isn't punishable, the authorities turn a blind eye under certain conditions and with a very good reason. Funny you should mention prostitution, in your reasoning anyone in that particular business should be punished for money laundering, certainly because that 'illegal' activity is carried out in Thailand. Yet none are.

Again, the campaign undertaken by MP's of the Netherlands leave little to the imagination. If he sold drugs IN Thailand, they might have a very good point, but as far as I'm aware he didn't.

He certainly isn't innocent as the driven snow, but 103 years for money laundering (people making an honest living and use the funds to pay for expenses, apparently is money laundering in Thailand) and selling drugs IN the Netherlands, where it is not considered a criminal act, is ludicrous, end of story.

So you simply don't understand the word "illegal"? Unenforced laws simply don't exist to you?

This is my home country, I'm quite sure you have no idea what the hell you are talking about. The tolerance of soft drugs is in the law, so it is NOT illegal, end of story. Neither is the law unenforced, that law is quite clear to anyone in that business, and no that does not include you, as you quite clearly show by your incorrect use of the term illegal. Soft drugs are not illegal in the Netherlands.

The guy had a legitimate, tax paying business, and no charges are pending in the Netherlands. Stop beating a dead horse, the Thai justice system has it wrong, yet again.

I have given you a link, admittedly Wiki, stating that soft drug sale is illegal but not punished under guidelines. If it is your country, why can you not show me a link confirming what you say?

FYI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffeeshop_(Netherlands)

[halloween]

Hang on a minute. A friend of a friend of mine (who used to hang-out in Bangkok) was recently busted in the UK for a crime, connected to a charity, that was worth around £5 million.

He got a 12 year prison sentence.

The crime was something that defrauded HMRC (the taxman) of millions of pounds.

So far, £850,000 has been seized from this guy, much more will be, subsequently.

Don't kid yourselves into thinking that Thailand is the only country that seizes the proceeds of (trans-nationall) crime.

Much of what this guy did was "trans-national", don't for a minute think that he/us will get away with these things! They'll nail your ass, in one country or another.

It would seem that Berty knows what I am talking about.

As said in the OP, he was investigated for a number of years and NO charges were preferred.

No evidence of a crime was found.

He had committed no crime at the time of his arrest, trial and conviction in Thailand...

Why do you insist at looking at Dutch law? He was convicted in Thailand of money laundering, money gained from illegal, if tolerated, business in the Netherlands, but also illegal and far from tolerated in Thailand. Thai courts DO NOT use a dutch POV.

[Bluespunk]

Hang on a minute. A friend of a friend of mine (who used to hang-out in Bangkok) was recently busted in the UK for a crime, connected to a charity, that was worth around £5 million.

He got a 12 year prison sentence.

The crime was something that defrauded HMRC (the taxman) of millions of pounds.

So far, £850,000 has been seized from this guy, much more will be, subsequently.

Don't kid yourselves into thinking that Thailand is the only country that seizes the proceeds of (trans-nationall) crime.

Much of what this guy did was "trans-national", don't for a minute think that he/us will get away with these things! They'll nail your ass, in one country or another.

It would seem that Berty knows what I am talking about.

As said in the OP, he was investigated for a number of years and NO charges were preferred.

No evidence of a crime was found.

He had committed no crime at the time of his arrest, trial and conviction in Thailand...

Why do you insist at looking at Dutch law? He was convicted in Thailand of money laundering, money gained from illegal, if tolerated, business in the Netherlands, but also illegal and far from tolerated in Thailand. Thai courts DO NOT use a dutch POV.

No he was convicted of spending money earned legally in the Netherlands.

Legally.

If the Thai govt disapproved of him spending his legally earned money they should deport him.

Instead they gaoled a man who has committed no crime.

He sold no drugs here.

He was investigated for several years and no evidence of money laundering was found. The money was legally earned in the eyes of the Dutch authorities.

Edited June 14, 2016 by Bluespunk

[nausea]

Nobody will bother you in Thailand if you're poor. I'm very poor, but I scrape by, from day to day.

[Mangostin]

I don't think any government in the world can claim that assests owned by individuals are their assests. What a ludicrous argument.

That's because other govelnments are falang and cannot undelstand, it's impossible they get something wrong here, just don't ask me how i do know, because i don't know, but well it's time for gin kao, sorry, mai pen lai.

[cyberfarang]

I doubt he came to Thailand because he found God and wanted to help the poor and needy with his ill gotten gains.

Sounds like a complete shichster. Leave him in jail to rot.

[Mangostin]

If the Thai govt disapproved of him spending his legally earned money they should deport him.

Yes i do totally agree with that, perhaps they could take him with them on that speed boat i mentioned earlier, so once the officers put their feet on dutch soil, they could start prosecuting all those other people the local government hasn't yet put into prison, as those driving on the right side of the road, those putting road sign in a language which is not thai, farangs owning properties there or doing works which are specifically reserved to thai people only, etc...

[cyberfarang]

Hang on a minute. A friend of a friend of mine (who used to hang-out in Bangkok) was recently busted in the UK for a crime, connected to a charity, that was worth around £5 million.

He got a 12 year prison sentence.

The crime was something that defrauded HMRC (the taxman) of millions of pounds.

So far, £850,000 has been seized from this guy, much more will be, subsequently.

Don't kid yourselves into thinking that Thailand is the only country that seizes the proceeds of (trans-nationall) crime.

Much of what this guy did was "trans-national", don't for a minute think that he/us will get away with these things! They'll nail your ass, in one country or another.

It would seem that Berty knows what I am talking about.

As said in the OP, he was investigated for a number of years and NO charges were preferred.

No evidence of a crime was found.

He had committed no crime at the time of his arrest, trial and conviction in Thailand...

Why do you insist at looking at Dutch law? He was convicted in Thailand of money laundering, money gained from illegal, if tolerated, business in the Netherlands, but also illegal and far from tolerated in Thailand. Thai courts DO NOT use a dutch POV.

No he was convicted of spending money earned legally in the Netherlands.

Legally.

If the Thai govt disapproved of him spending his legally earned money they should deport him.

Instead they gaoled a man who has committed no crime.

He sold no drugs here.

He was investigated for several years and no evidence of money laundering was found. The money was legally earned in the eyes of the Dutch authorities.

I can`t accept anything you are saying as fact, it simply doesn`t add up.

If the man was not involved or changed with committing any criminal acts in the Netherlands or anywhere else, that would mean he has no criminal records, so why would the Thai police had shown interested in his activities or even had known or cared about what he was up to in Holland? When I go for my visa extension I`ve never been asked what was my profession in England. Providing he qualifies to stay in Thailand under the terms and conditions of immigration he should not have had any problems.

Maybe he began doing some criminal deals here? I really don`t know. But I do know there has to be more to this then we have been told.

Edited June 14, 2016 by cyberfarang

[sjaak327]

This is my home country, I'm quite sure you have no idea what the hell you are talking about. The tolerance of soft drugs is in the law, so it is NOT illegal, end of story. Neither is the law unenforced, that law is quite clear to anyone in that business, and no that does not include you, as you quite clearly show by your incorrect use of the term illegal. Soft drugs are not illegal in the Netherlands.

The guy had a legitimate, tax paying business, and no charges are pending in the Netherlands. Stop beating a dead horse, the Thai justice system has it wrong, yet again.

I have given you a link, admittedly Wiki, stating that soft drug sale is illegal but not punished under guidelines. If it is your country, why can you not show me a link confirming what you say?

FYI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffeeshop_(Netherlands)

It defies logic to describe something that is specifically stated in the relevant law as illegal. The coffee shops and their allowed (see the word allowed?) methods of operation are specifically mentioned in the Dutch Opiumlaw:

Coffeeshops zijn alcoholvrije horecagelegenheden waar handel in en gebruik van softdrugs plaatsvindt. Coffeeshops mogen geen reclame maken (affichering: A), geen harddrugs voorhanden hebben of verkopen (harddrugs: H), geen overlast veroorzaken (overlast: O), niet toegankelijk zijn voor en niet verkopen aan jeugdigen (jeugd: J), slechts een beperkte hoeveelheid verkopen per transactie en slechts een beperkte handelsvoorraad hebben (geringe hoeveelheid: G), niet toegankelijk zijn voor en niet verkopen aan anderen dan ingezetenen van Nederland (ingezetenen van Nederland: I), de zogeheten AHOJGI-criteria (zie hierna onder 3.2.2).

http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0032570/2013-01-01

I think it is you who does not understand the word illegal.

from wikipedia:

Illegal, or unlawful, is something that is prohibited or not authorized by law.

Yet it sure seems running a coffeeshop is authorized and specifically described in the Dutch opiumlaw, hence it cannot possibly be an illegal activity.

And even if it was illegal, it defies logic that he is doing time in a Thai jail, for something he didn't even commit in Thailand.

Edited June 14, 2016 by sjaak327

[Andrew65]

Hang on a minute. A friend of a friend of mine (who used to hang-out in Bangkok) was recently busted in the UK for a crime, connected to a charity, that was worth around £5 million.

He got a 12 year prison sentence.

The crime was something that defrauded HMRC (the taxman) of millions of pounds.

So far, £850,000 has been seized from this guy, much more will be, subsequently.

Don't kid yourselves into thinking that Thailand is the only country that seizes the proceeds of (trans-nationall) crime.

Much of what this guy did was "trans-national", don't for a minute think that he/us will get away with these things! They'll nail your ass, in one country or another.

It would seem that Berty knows what I am talking about.

As said in the OP, he was investigated for a number of years and NO charges were preferred.

No evidence of a crime was found.

He had committed no crime at the time of his arrest, trial and conviction in Thailand...

Why do you insist at looking at Dutch law? He was convicted in Thailand of money laundering, money gained from illegal, if tolerated, business in the Netherlands, but also illegal and far from tolerated in Thailand. Thai courts DO NOT use a dutch POV.

No he was convicted of spending money earned legally in the Netherlands.

Legally.

If the Thai govt disapproved of him spending his legally earned money they should deport him.

Instead they gaoled a man who has committed no crime.

He sold no drugs here.

He was investigated for several years and no evidence of money laundering was found. The money was legally earned in the eyes of the Dutch authorities.

OK, let me use another example. If someone sexually abuses children in a foreign country, they will be busted for it in their home country as well as where they committed the crime.

Technically speaking, what he did in Holland was not legal, it's just that a blind-eye is turned, in what is maybe the most "liberal" (stupid) country in the world.

My home country Great (ha ha ha) Britain is the money-laundering capital of the world, greedy piggies like Panama-Papers-Dave & Boris aren't about to change that.

[sjaak327]

No he was convicted of spending money earned legally in the Netherlands.

Legally.

If the Thai govt disapproved of him spending his legally earned money they should deport him.

Instead they gaoled a man who has committed no crime.

He sold no drugs here.

He was investigated for several years and no evidence of money laundering was found. The money was legally earned in the eyes of the Dutch authorities.

OK, let me use another example. If someone sexually abuses children in a foreign country, they will be busted for it in their home country as well as where they committed the crime.

Technically speaking, what he did in Holland was not legal, it's just that a blind-eye is turned, in what is maybe the most "liberal" (stupid) country in the world.

My home country Great (ha ha ha) Britain is the money-laundering capital of the world, greedy piggies like Panama-Papers-Dave & Boris aren't about to change that.

Yes they will, and normal procedure would be extradition to the country where the crime was committed. In this case that is pretty hard to do, as the subject did not commit a crime in the Netherlands. He ran a fully legitimate coffee shop, which operation is specifically described in the dutch Opiumlaw. what he did in the Netherlands was indeed legal and as far as we know now, he specifically stayed within that opiumlaw.

The dutch government isn't merely turning a blind eye (such as the Thai do when it comes to prostitution) they have created a framework in the opiumlaw with criteria that must be followed to be allowed to run a coffee shop.

[Andrew65]

No he was convicted of spending money earned legally in the Netherlands.

Legally.

If the Thai govt disapproved of him spending his legally earned money they should deport him.

Instead they gaoled a man who has committed no crime.

He sold no drugs here.

He was investigated for several years and no evidence of money laundering was found. The money was legally earned in the eyes of the Dutch authorities.

OK, let me use another example. If someone sexually abuses children in a foreign country, they will be busted for it in their home country as well as where they committed the crime.

Technically speaking, what he did in Holland was not legal, it's just that a blind-eye is turned, in what is maybe the most "liberal" (stupid) country in the world.

My home country Great (ha ha ha) Britain is the money-laundering capital of the world, greedy piggies like Panama-Papers-Dave & Boris aren't about to change that.

Yes they will, and normal procedure would be extradition to the country where the crime was committed. In this case that is pretty hard to do, as the subject did not commit a crime in the Netherlands. He ran a fully legitimate coffee shop, which operation is specifically described in the dutch Opiumlaw. what he did in the Netherlands was indeed legal and as far as we know now, he specifically stayed within that opiumlaw.

The dutch government isn't merely turning a blind eye (such as the Thai do when it comes to prostitution) they have created a framework in the opiumlaw with criteria that must be followed to be allowed to run a coffee shop.

Yes, but the point I'm making is that it's not legal in Thailand. Such protestations do have a tendency to fall on deaf-ears where the "authorities" are concerned.

[prestburypark]

I don't understand why his wife got 13 years.

To get her out of the way while the pigs feed at the trough. This is simply robbery and false imprisonment.

The sums of money available to steal from this couple, under the pretence of anti-drugs righteousness , were too large for the sharks to resist.

The blood was put in the water by the reprehensible prosecuting attorney in Holland, hope he sleeps well at night while his victims rot in intolerable conditions in Thai jails.

Whatever little harm this man may or may not have done by selling weed, the harm to him and his loved ones done by the system is the real crime here.

The sentence reflects the complete sacrifice of this mans life ( and his poor wife) to grab his assets and live high of the hog on the part of those hypocrites who are now wallowing

in the luxury of spending the very same "drug" money they found to be illegal, maybe those now owning the proceeds from the sale of his assets should get 203 years, scumbags

thieving corrupt lowlife sons of female dogs.

I can only hope that the Dutch government makes every possible diplomatic move open to them to save this fellas life and get him home safe. Sometimes I just totally despise Thailand.

[Bluespunk]

@cyberfarang

Reach the full story the OP links to.

He was investigated in the Netherlands and no charges were laid.

There is no evidence he committed crimes here.

He spent money legally in the Netherlands.

He should not be in gaol.

The only thing that does not add up is his treatment here.

Edited June 14, 2016 by Bluespunk

[Bluespunk]

@Andrew65

You

OK, let me use another example. If someone sexually abuses children in a foreign country, they will be busted for it in their home country as well as where they committed the crime.

Technically speaking, what he did in Holland was not legal, it's just that a blind-eye is turned, in what is maybe the most "liberal" (stupid) country in the world.

My home country Great (ha ha ha) Britain is the money-laundering capital of the world, greedy piggies like Panama-Papers-Dave & Boris aren't about to change that.

Me

Ridiculous comparison. He did nothing wrong.