Detained in Thailand, Cannabis Coffeeshop Pioneer Asks Dutch King for Rescue

[performance]

This is a joke and not the laughing kind. These Thai are breaking international law and human rights violations. The rest of the world should act against this farce immediately. He has not broken any law. But you Thais have again shown yourself to believe your above the law. Your Buddha you should pray  to him for the sins you have done against the innocent.

[elgordo38]

50 minutes ago, gdgbb said:

 

Regardless of how many years is sentenced by a Thai court there is a maximum that any prisoner can actually serve.  He won't serve 103 years (even if he survived that long, which he obviously wouldn't)

Thanks for the enlightenment. WOW 103 added to my age would be 181. I might even make the Guinness Book of Records in 2 ways. I think like the first or second episode of the Walking Dead when the 181st year arrives I would be locked in a cell with no one else around. 

[SoFarAndNear]

1 hour ago, gdgbb said:

 

To save us all having to "hunt to far", perhaps you could tell us who "bought his mansion and cars for a ridiculous price on a auction and what happen to all his moneys that was confiscated"?

 

Exactly this is the reason why this case will probably be swept under the table. Not just because a few corrupt officials more because it would be a full face loss for Thailand if they have to revoke his sentence and admit that the money is gone....

[performance]

2 hours ago, Rough Rider said:

Thailand with all its corrupt laws and corruption is the worse place to be in when they assume you are guilty of any wrong doings. He and his wife are in jail because the Thai corrupt officials assume they were laundering money made from the sales of cannabis in the Netherlands. But again you don't have to hunt to far to find out who bought his mansion and cars for a ridiculous price on a auction and what happen to all his moneys that was confiscated. The corruption in Thailand will never be removed because the most corrupt people in Thailand is the people that make the laws and enforce them by enrich themself with money from the poor and foreigners. 

 

Dear Sir

You are exactly and precise on the money. This has also complimented the failure of the current government. He must view his morning face wash in shame. But I suppose they will never leave this country and are protected by sections here lol 

[gdgbb]

6 minutes ago, SoFarAndNear said:

 

Exactly this is the reason why this case will probably be swept under the table. Not just because a few corrupt officials more because it would be a full face loss for Thailand if they have to revoke his sentence and admit that the money is gone....

 

What do you mean, "exactly"?  That's not what I meant at all.  I was asking who it was that the other poster was accusing of buying up his assets.

[wanderluster]

what happened to all the millions of baht that he brought over here?

[chinostar]

I know the story and he's absolutely innocent. Perhaps some trouble with the Dutch tax, but his business was totally legal! Thai authorities are xenophobic and love to nail foreigners.

[elgordo38]

20 minutes ago, chinostar said:

I know the story and he's absolutely innocent. Perhaps some trouble with the Dutch tax, but his business was totally legal! Thai authorities are xenophobic and love to nail foreigners.

Especially foreigners that seem to have a few sheckles. I just hope he did not come here and shout from the rooftops "I am the Netherlands King of Cannabis" That for sure will get catch the authorities attention. Shooting your mouth off in a foreign country never comes to any good just supposing. 

[farcanell]

3 hours ago, gdgbb said:

 

Money laundering, not shopping.

 

But... if, as is reported, the money was earned legally ( per Dutch police.... no charges)

and... if taxes correctly paid ( per Dutch IRS... no charges)

then no crime was committed

ergo... no money laundering.

 

coming here, with ill gotten gains, and spending said gains... now that's money laundering. ( which seems not to be the case here)

 

money laundering is a BS charge... the real charge, if one needs one at all, is that money being imported into Thailand, was garnered from an overseas (legal ) business, which is not similarly recognized As being legal in Thailand.... but I bet that law doesn't exist in LOS. 

[sambum]

12 hours ago, Thechook said:

If what he did in the Netherlands wasn't ilegal there and he hasn't committed any offence in Thailand, why the 103 yr sentence?  

 

I went to the casino when in Australia and spent $10.00 on the pokies which is totally legal there so does that now mean I can be arrested in Thailand because it's ilegal here? (Won $312.00 which I brought back to Thailand )

 

Very good point! What would the situation be if you spent that money on the Lottery here?

[metisdead]

Troll posts containing false allegations regarding altering quoted content have been removed as well as the replies. 

[stevenl]

And for the real story ...  http://www.chiangraitimes.com/dutchman-johan-van-laarhoven-and-tukta-his-thai-wife-innocent-in-bangkok-prison.html

That is his story, not the full story.

[Thechook]

42 minutes ago, sambum said:

 

Very good point! What would the situation be if you spent that money on the Lottery here?

Probably as I acquired an amount of $302 legally in Aust from a punt but which is ilegal by thai law and I gave that money to my wife to buy a thai lottery ticket and we won, we could probably be charged with money laundering. 

[Wilsonandson]

Who's looking after his 2 children whilst he and his missus are banged up? Social services?

[sambum]

1 minute ago, Thechook said:

Probably as I acquired an amount of $302 legally in Aust from a punt but which is ilegal by thai law and I gave that money to my wife to buy a thai lottery ticket and we won, we could probably be charged with money laundering. 

 

Absolutely farcical because you are probably right! Goes hand in glove with arresting Bridge players because there were too many packs of cards owned by one individual!

 

[SoFarAndNear]

29 minutes ago, stevenl said:

That is his story, not the full story.

 

And it is the only story because no one ever denied it. Thai media turned absolutely away. The only head news was the big raid 2-3 years ago and his conviction last year. No official statement of any official has ever been given in his case. 

[metisdead]

2 hours ago, metisdead said:

Troll posts containing false allegations regarding altering quoted content have been removed as well as the replies. 

 

More posts have been removed regarding allegations of altering a post.  The post in question did not alter the quoted content.  The member copied the content from a post and insert it in his post and replied to it.  That is allowed.  What is not allowed is when you quote a post and then alter the quoted content of the quoted post.:

 

16) You will not make changes to quoted material from other members posts, except for purposes of shortening the quoted post. This cannot be done in such a manner that it alters the context of the original post.
 

 

Some more off topic posts and replies have been removed as well. 

Edited October 25, 2016 by metisdead

[greenchair]

This is another magic trick, where billions of baht are seized and sold off before the case even went to trial. Recent cases are yingluck to lose her assets of 38 billion, before she has been convicted. 

The zero dollar tour company, that all assets were sold off to thai tour companies before the trial even begins, all those family members are in prison too. 

Be quite a miracle if this guy ever gets out alive. 

[George FmplesdaCosteedback]

15 hours ago, kalbo123 said:

This guy did nothing wrong in Thailand accept spending his legally earned cannabis money in the Netherlands in Thailand.

Does this mean all foreign (legal) cannabis sellers are outlaws in Thailand?

What does this mean for other people who have a profession abroad, but forbidden in Thailand?

Dutch government should take action in getting this guy out of jail asap!

 

 

He should have a lawyer that can tell him how his legally earned money is deemed illegal in Thailand. He must have upset someone to get himself in this mess.

There must be a specific law that covers money earned from the selling of narcotics, inside Thailand or elsewhere in the world.

Some offenses can be prosecuted in a state, province or country other than where it was committed, even if legal where it was committed.

Google it there's lots to look at.

[Bob9]

Seems to me that the issue missed by many is that he was denying providing the Dutch Govt with information after they had concluded their investigations over 4-5 years, and that he had taken all the money he could and fled to Thailand. For several years the Thai Govt did not respond/help the Dutch Govt (insert obvious reason), but once the Military took over they did respond and they investigated.  Another win for the Junta as far as I can see.  I now see a lot of 'corruption' being dealt with by the Junta, that was being ignored by previous Thai Govts (insert obvious reason again).  

[balo]

There must be something more to this story . I have never heard of anyone being sentenced to 103 years in prison for money laundering. Even serial killers get less here.

 

[billybog]

It seems someone in the netherlands had a issue with him. he stretched the truth a bit and it has bit him in the ass. The fact that they are in jail...is criminal on the both countries. Hope they are released, but chances are they will be there for quite some time.

[plyr4real]

Sorry the guy paid up but did not get out......this story is an iceberg for real....we are seeing very little of it

 

he did not get caught shipping in Thailand

 

hotels and condos in Thailand

 

Best of luck hopefully you can pay the Dutch and get results

[farcanell]

2 hours ago, Bob9 said:

Seems to me that the issue missed by many is that he was denying providing the Dutch Govt with information after they had concluded their investigations over 4-5 years, and that he had taken all the money he could and fled to Thailand. For several years the Thai Govt did not respond/help the Dutch Govt (insert obvious reason), but once the Military took over they did respond and they investigated.  Another win for the Junta as far as I can see.  I now see a lot of 'corruption' being dealt with by the Junta, that was being ignored by previous Thai Govts (insert obvious reason again).  

 

An interesting assertion.

 

he sold the company, then the authorities started investigating.... something along that time line anyway 2011, I think was mentioned... and why provide info anyway, after the conclusion of an extensive investigation that led to no charges

 

if he sold the company, he has no real reason to comment on the business of the companies... many companies, during buyouts, implement non disclosure causes, perhaps that's why he won't comment, not that I actually read that he won't comment... just more curious about why he should comment on a company now belonging to another, and under the control of another

 

the given reason to make a plea now is due to pardons given at the passing of the monarch

 

this is a Draconian outdated lose for the junta... another black mark on their rule

Edited October 25, 2016 by farcanell

[atyclb]

Going by the logic here any/all doctors that have performed elective abortions legally in their national jurisdictions can be arrested and imprisoned upon entering thailand.

[stevenl]

 
And it is the only story because no one ever denied it. Thai media turned absolutely away. The only head news was the big raid 2-3 years ago and his conviction last year. No official statement of any official has ever been given in his case. 

Flawed reasoning, not denying it or officially reacting to it does not make it true or complete.

[navara]

I suspect something else is going on, must be, this is so strange.

 

As far I know Mr. van Laarhoven had a LEGAL 'coffeeshop' in the Netherlands for 30 years (he was one of the first) and sold softsdrugs. He sold his company to be able to retire in Thailand with is Thai wife. He sent his savings to Thailand (I do not know when and how much) and they started to have a life here.

 

But for some mysterious reason a 'officier van Justitie' (a lawyer from the Justice department of Den Hage) had sent a request for criminal investigation to the Dutch Embassy for this man. The Dutch Embassy sent this request to the Thai police, who arrested Mr. van Laarhoven and his wife.

 

They were convicted for money laundering. Drugs money laundering. (I have no insight how the Thai court came to this conclusion) and most strange it is, that his wife also got sentenced for 21 years. So, why this punishment? 

 

I do not understand a thing about this case! 

[performance]

On 10/25/2016 at 6:06 AM, Nasrullah said:

Absolutely absurd!...how is this even possible....

 

Ok...i've just read the article......He's been convicted more or less of money laundering.

 

Selling cannabis in netherlands legal (coffee shops etc)But the thais view this as an illegal act so any proceeds gained

and spent in thailand is 'money laundering'........Oh dear!......

 

What about all those bikies that have taken residence in LOS..A background check on them would make interesting

reading.

 

The man is a victim of the arbitrary thai justice system-which stinks!!

 

Show some cojones(netherlands)and get your man out of this hell hole.Don't forget you are public servants ,so serve 

your public.

They wanted to rob him which they did..They then had help from the corrupt courts. which also took part. NOW you know why I do not trust Thais. if was me I take at least one on the table with me to hell.

[performance]

14 hours ago, Thechook said:

Probably as I acquired an amount of $302 legally in Aust from a punt but which is ilegal by thai law and I gave that money to my wife to buy a thai lottery ticket and we won, we could probably be charged with money laundering. 

Who cares  this Thailand is a corrupt grey void. They are not even close to western civilization..They would not know where you went did or do. It's not there business what you do in your country. in fact they probably would be denied a visa to Australia. They had information and setup a sting to obtain assets. Someone he knew or talked to. We call them a dog.

[Rimmer]

Some off topic posts have been removed