Amazing fall from grace for Pattaya big shot Luke Cook - respected expat to death row in Thailand

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Amazing fall from grace for Pattaya big shot Luke Cook - respected expat to death row in Thailand

 

Picture: Facebook Luke Cook

 

Media around the world has been commenting on the story of Australian Luke Cook, 34, who has been sentenced to death for trying to import half a ton of methamphetamine into Australia.

 

While Thaivisa sources close to Cook said that his wife Kanyarat Wechapitak, 40, was a "controlling and unpleasant person".

 

She is also facing death though it is believed the sentences will be commuted. 

 

Cook and Kanyarat ran the Jolly's Piss Stop Bar and Restaurant and the attached Jolly's Hotel in Soi Bua Khao in Thailand's world famous seaside resort. 

 

They attracted the attention of local media in Pattaya and their bar and hotel operation was featured on YouTube. 

 

Cook was living the high life in Pattaya leasing yachts but was mixed up in drugs with Wayne Schneider who was murdered and found buried by the side of a road.

 

He was also an associate of Antonio Bagnato who has been convicted of the murder of Schneider. 

 

Photo: Narcotics Suppression Bureau

 

Cook was involved at one time with the Hell's Angels biker gang in Perth and met other criminals through that association. 

 

In December of last year after a previous conviction Cook and his wife were nabbed at Suvarabhumi airport and charged with trying to import 500 kgs of "ice" into Australia. 

 

The drugs were dumped off the coast of Chonburi after Thai authorities got wind of the shipment to Australia from China via Thailand. 

 

An insider source who knew Cook well and asked not to be named told Thaivisa that Kanyarat was an unpleasant and controlling wife who kept her hands on business matters. 

 

She was described to Thaivisa as an attention seeker who would hog the karaoke microphone at the couple's bar and who aspired to a hi-so life. 

 

Together the couple had luxury properties, BMWs, Mercedes Benz, Ducatis and even a personal yacht. 

 

The West Australian media down under itemized Cook's extravagant lifestyle and fall from grace from the expat everyone wanted to get to know to the convicted criminal of today. 

 

On YouTube a two to three minute video starts with a friendly "G'day" and extols the virtues of a trip to Jolly's for the "complete experience" in Pattaya. Good meals, pool, TVs for sports and 450B rooms were all laid on for customers. 

 

But when the 2015 methamphetamine plot was discovered by Thai police it all turned sour for Cook and his wife. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-11-14

 

[CelticBhoy 6,153]

" . . . the expat everyone wanted to get to know . . .   '

 

Bet there's been some facebook unfriending now!

[georgegeorgia 662]

Is this bar still going?

is the owner still there , it would be good to get his side ?

 

 

[allane 1,160]

I'm not sure what the definition of a "respected expat" is, but I think I'm glad I'm not one of them.

[CelticBhoy 6,153]

9 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Is this bar still going?

is the owner still there , it would be good to get his side ?

 

 

You may just have a bit of a wait there pal  . . .  

[petermik 16,306]

7 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Is this bar still going?

is the owner still there , it would be good to get his side ?

 

 

The business is now being "run" by his wifes family I am reliably informed

[georgegeorgia 662]

Reading the story in the news its alleged he was paid 10 million for his part, i wonder how many of us would do the same?

 

so please dont cast the first stone unless u never sinned

[watcharacters 4,501]

 

Looks like Mr. Cook had a decent hotel/resto/bar business going.

 

Too bad he got lured into the criminal elements and fast/easy money.

 

He actually  sounds like an OK chap in this video.

 

 

 

[georgegeorgia 662]

Yes i guess he wont be leaving for awhile anyway, sounds like a nice man and very polite , pity he got mixed up with bikies , drugs ,criminals etc 

 

its alleged he drove the killer of the drug importer to the cambodian border,well its not alleged anymore i guess

 

i am told the Australian Feds had undercover guys in pattaya , im not sure if its true , i reckon that Glitter man  could of been undercover cop.

[Peterw42 13,041]

Not sure why the media keeps referring to this crime as "importing drugs into Australia" , He was caught with drugs in Thailand. The intended destination was maybe Australia but the boat could have ended up in Tahiti.

 

Everyone seems to be ignoring the real crime here

 

"an attention seeker who would hog the karaoke microphone"

[eggers 1,167]

Gets what he & she deserve ...Life in Thai BKK Hilton hopefully!! They had No conscience about selling drugs into AUS, that would've ruined many young lives!!

 

 

[Berkshire 15,685]

So this "Pattaya big shot," living the high life with luxury properties, BMWs, Mercedes Benz, Ducatis and even a personal yacht....and the best he could do for female companionship was this 40 yr old hi-so wannabe?  I mean, come on dude.  I could do better on my worst day. 

[Khun Loong 302]

Respected by who? Other scumbag low life losers in Pattaya?

[Kinnock 3,561]

Drugs, murder, smuggling ..... yeah, yeah, yeah .... hogging the karaoke microphone ..... throw away the key!

[georgegeorgia 662]

Im not sure what jail he will be in but by far the worse jail i visited was the Bang Kwang Jail in Bangkok about 6 years ago.

 

This is a jail that they nickname the Big Tiger because it eats you up.

 

I have visited many jails  ( volunteer and part time work for a charity) but I have never encountered such rude nasty thai people as i did visiting in there and they were the officers, they just didnt care about people mmany of them not a ounce of kindness, they would snarl their faces at you and sometimes not even answer.

 

these officers are not like ordinary thais ,they look yiu direct in the eyes as they snarl and talk down to you.

 

i was once enquiring where a certain prisoner was and his welfare, the senior officer kept saying “ huh , ! Huh ! Screwing his face up 

Like it was pains for him to talk to me.he was a half indian thai officer with a turban on ,he slammed a door in my face as i was asking about a prisoners welfare.

 

They even had some nickname for one low bassstard thai prison guard , apparently his nickname reflected  on how he liked to hurt and punish prisoners. 

and anyone thinking Bang Kwang is like Pattaya jail better grow up fast ,its nothing like it.

 

 

i remember one guy telling me that once the large crowded room cell is locked at night they do not open until morning even if your bleeding to death ! Terrible place !