Eighty year old Frenchman pays 50,000 bail for flouting Pattaya beach regulations

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, keith101 said:

The sign next to them clearly states 1 year imprisonment or fine not exceeding 100,000 baht or both , so if he paid 50.000 its only half of what he could of had to pay .  

It wasn't an official fine, and they couldn't leave it at that but had to extort a further 2000 baht. Lowlifes.

It is about time the right to fine people was taken from the police, then we can call these requests for money for what they are.

Edited May 4, 2020 by jacko45k

[Oldie]

12 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

It wasn't an official fine, and they couldn't leave it at that but had to extort a further 2000 baht. Lowlifes.

It is about time the right to fine people was taken from the police, then we can call these requests for money for what they are.

If I understood it correctly he did not pay a fine yet but just a bail. They are no "lowlifes". They are here to enforce laws. This is their duty. Otherwise the government could send them home. 

[jacko45k]

5 minutes ago, Oldie said:

If I understood it correctly he did not pay a fine yet but just a bail. They are no "lowlifes". They are here to enforce laws. This is their duty. Otherwise the government could send them home. 

You didn't.....

They paid but got no receipt.

He told them they wouldn't get this back 

Edited May 4, 2020 by jacko45k

[time2093]

2 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

what happened to the guy who said he was in the mafia?  

He was the one that called his Thai buddy to show up as the bondsmen.

Edited May 4, 2020 by time2093

[jimn]

1 hour ago, sapson said:

Absolute disgraceful bar stewards!

 

80 years old should have been sent on his way with a warning for standing near the beach with friends.

 

Ripped for 50k by a bail guy, a future court date and and passport retained.

 

Ripped by the escort home just extortion at its finest.

 

Have they no common sense or shame? ..... guess the redundant jet ski scam is leaving empty coffers that need replenishing!

 

One for the international press I think to see Thailands finest at work!!

They were repeat offenders. There everyday flouting the ban. In fact they were also moved on about 30 minutes before but came back when they thought the police were gone. Its people like this who ignore the regulations, who will ultimately influence whether we return to some sort of normal

[yuyiinthesky]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

She said police were rude and offhand and would not allow her to take pictures of documents for evidence purposes. She found this most irregular.

 

Then she said that a bail bondsman suggested they pay 50,000 baht to him to expedite matters. He told them they wouldn't get this back and the matter would go to court. They paid but got no receipt.

This 50000 is not bail, and not fine. Do not misunderstand.

 

It is nothing new, but the usual game they play in Pattaya: catch a foreigner, for whatever reason (usually working without work permit or something similar), lock him up, and if he does not want to stay locked up in that dirty hole in Soi 9 until Monday morning then offer him to get out immediately after paying a fee of 50000. 

This is extortion, corruption, but not bail or fine, no receipt.

[jimn]

His visa did not expire May 15th, but his permission to stay did. But in any case his stay is extended to 31st July under the emergency measures. So its a non issue and certainly not worth 6 years of his wife's life lol.

[yuyiinthesky]

2 minutes ago, jimn said:

They were repeat offenders. There everyday flouting the ban. In fact they were also moved on about 30 minutes before but came back when they thought the police were gone. Its people like this who ignore the regulations, who will ultimately influence whether we return to some sort of normal

And that justifies to extort 50000 THB corruption payment from them?

[sprq]

Idiotic and abusive enforcement of the lockdown rules. On-the-spot fines of 1,000 or 2,000 baht and sending home would be completely adequate in these circumstances, but you can't expect Thai laws or Thai police to be sensible.

[yuyiinthesky]

33 minutes ago, Oldie said:

If I understood it correctly he did not pay a fine yet but just a bail. They are no "lowlifes". They are here to enforce laws. This is their duty. Otherwise the government could send them home. 

You misunderstood. If it would be bail, they would get a receipt, and the bail paid back to them who they appear at the court date.

This is extorted money, corruption. "Sorry, you stay locked up, court is closed now, on Monday the judge can look and decide on bail. But if you pay 50000 under the table, you can go home right away."

Thus the "lowlifes". 

[jimn]

3 minutes ago, yuyiinthesky said:

And that justifies to extort 50000 THB corruption payment from them?

The notice on the beach clearly states offenders "could face 1 year imprisonment or up to 100,000 baht fine". He got off light

[jimn]

3 minutes ago, sprq said:

Idiotic and abusive enforcement of the lockdown rules. On-the-spot fines of 1,000 or 2,000 baht and sending home would be completely adequate in these circumstances, but you can't expect Thai laws or Thai police to be sensible.

The warning notice was clear. They chose to ignore it, repeatibly. Their own fault I am afraid.

[yuyiinthesky]

1 minute ago, jimn said:

The notice on the beach clearly states offenders "could face 1 year imprisonment or up to 100,000 baht fine". He got off light

He "got off light" by paying 50000 "expedition fee" without receipt on top of whatever fines are still coming? Seriously?

[time2093]

1 hour ago, Kerryd said:

My very first call would be to my (Thai) lawyer.

Then a newspaper (or 4 or more). 

Then to the Tourist Police to investigate the "bail bondsman" for fraud. According the story - he was charging them 50,000 baht and saying they still have to go to court, where he would still face a possible 100,000 baht fine. (No, the money they gave the bail guy would NOT count towards their potential fine. That money is "supposed" to be just to get you out of jail until your court date.)

All with NO proof that he'd paid the bail guy anything (and no way to get it back). And the BS of releasing people after curfew, and then charging them to escort them home so they don't get busted for violating curfew ? I think the media (here and abroad) would have a field day with that one. Not to mention the lawyer.

The Tourist Police are supposed to be looking after tourists after all, and investigating things like people fraudulently ripping off tourists.
I recall a story on ThaiVisa a long time ago where (supposedly) the Tourist police were called about an incident where a foreigner had been arrested and thrown in jail. The TP investigated, determined that the tourist was innocent and had the RTP release him.

And few years ago (about 12 now), a Thai guy I know got busted in a raid on the go-go he was managing. The cops arrested him (while the owner snuck out pretending he was just a customer) on suspicion of drug dealing (he wasn't the one doing the dealing).
They told him his bail would be 300,000 baht. Supposedly, as long as he showed up for court (until the trial ended I'm guessing), he'd get the money back. 

(The owner was busted a few weeks later at his house, in Bang Saray I think it was. It was cops from Bangkok who did the bust. For some reason, the local cops were kept out of it.)
(Numpty got caught with a variety of Class 1 drugs, multiple passports and weapons - and plead not guilty !) 

Assuming it was an actually bail bondsman, But with out seeing any kind of ID that he was one or an receipt he paid to one it sounds like an old fashioned Pattaya police scam as the bondman was more likely a cop or a friend of the police as who knows especially to the french man and his wife who were victims of Pattya's finest.

[jimn]

3 minutes ago, yuyiinthesky said:

He "got off light" by paying 50000 "expedition fee" without receipt on top of whatever fines are still coming? Seriously?

Yep if he gets fined 20,000 he is still 30,000 under what it could cost him, or even 1 year inside.

[GlassWayOverHalfFull]

2 hours ago, sapson said:

Absolute disgraceful bar stewards!

 

80 years old should have been sent on his way with a warning for standing near the beach with friends.

 

Ripped for 50k by a bail guy, a future court date and and passport retained.

 

Ripped by the escort home just extortion at its finest.

 

Have they no common sense or shame? ..... guess the redundant jet ski scam is leaving empty coffers that need replenishing!

 

One for the international press I think to see Thailands finest at work!!

The warning is on the sign. The warnings were in the press on a daily basis. He's not a child. He shouldn't have been there. 

[yuyiinthesky]

Funny to see how many here think that it is ok that you get locked up in a dirty hole, where there is just 1 public toilet in the room, where there is no place to sleep, where the room is usually cramped with other arrested people, and then processing gets delayed, you have to stay another night there, or the weekend, in an unhygienic hole. And then a friendly guy tells you he can get you out now if you pay a fee of 50000, no receipt, under the table.

In my eyes this is not ok, this is a bad example of corruption, this is extortion. But it happens in Pattaya for years, I've seen quite a few such cases.

On top of that, the guy is 80 years old. C'mon, have the months in your private lockup without alcohol and bars already made you that cruel to wish bad on an old grandfather?
 

Edited May 4, 2020 by yuyiinthesky

[Oldie]

15 minutes ago, jimn said:

His visa did not expire May 15th, but his permission to stay did. But in any case his stay is extended to 31st July under the emergency measures. So its a non issue and certainly not worth 6 years of his wife's life lol.

If he has a retirement extension then he has to extend. For sure there is a fix for this situation. But anyhow - as long as he is waiting for the court he will not have any problems to stay here ????

[Boomer6969]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I would have refused to pay the fine

Really? When you are 80, even a short duration in a Thai slammer, is a death sentence.. Death for having a chat on the beach with a few friends. T.I.T

[yuyiinthesky]

7 minutes ago, jimn said:

Yep if he gets fined 20,000 he is still 30,000 under what it could cost him, or even 1 year inside.

How do you know that he will get fined 20000 and not 100000?
Are you in on that extortion and know already what was decided?

[Kerryd]

13 minutes ago, time2093 said:

Assuming it was an actually bail bondsman, But with out seeing any kind of ID that he was one or an receipt he paid to one it sounds like an old fashioned Pattaya police scam as the bondman was more likely a cop or a friend of the police as who knows especially to the french man and his wife who were victims of Pattya's finest.

Exactly. If the guy is "legit" then you'd expect he'd furnish a receipt. No receipt probably means one of two things. He pocketed the entire amount and laughed, or he paid the cops what the bail really was (probably 10% of the max fine but that's just a guess) and he pocketed the rest. That's why no receipt.

I wouldn't think the wife had anything to do with it. It's not like every woman married to a foreigner "knows" every scammer in the city. In my experience, the Thai women I've known are very subservient around the police (scared sh**less is more like it) and more likely to agree to almost anything rather than risk angering any of them.

I'm sure a 42/48 year old woman wouldn't have much trouble getting the equivalent of (whatever small cut she'd have ended up with) from her 80 year old husband without all the hassle of staging a bust.

Another reason why the first call I'd make would be to my lawyer. I highly doubt the lawyer would risk their law practise, reputation, license (and possible jail time) just to get a small cut from ripping off a foreign client.


 

[thailand49]

Talking about B.S. guess when you are scared <deleted> you will pay what needs to be paid. My thinking I'm the type that would never put myself in that position because if you do the chances something will happen?

 

At that age he should have just play dumb started coughing lay on the floor fake foaming out of the mouth after a few second open his eye place should be empty, slowly get up and simply walk out a free man.????

 

Before the waiver 90 day reporting, I got to Immigration long line I try my place but after 30 minutes I started to cough the more I cough the faster I moved up next thing I know I was in and out in a minute.????

[yuyiinthesky]

15 minutes ago, time2093 said:

Assuming it was an actually bail bondsman, But with out seeing any kind of ID that he was one or an receipt he paid to one it sounds like an old fashioned Pattaya police scam as the bondman was more likely a cop or a friend of the police as who knows especially to the french man and his wife who were victims of Pattya's finest.

Exactly, the same old story, once again.

Do you know that such a Policeman has to pay a huge amount to be assigned to the good places, such as Pattaya or in Bangkok around Nana Plaza or similar. Usually their family takes a loan, so after that they have to get that money back. 

With the lack of tourists and the lockdowns that is a problem now. The pressure increases, the payments for the loan must be paid.

 

But then heaven/God/Buddha sends this 80 years old stupid guy, to make a big contribution to the loan payment. 
 

[Walker88]

27 minutes ago, jimn said:

They were repeat offenders. There everyday flouting the ban. In fact they were also moved on about 30 minutes before but came back when they thought the police were gone. Its people like this who ignore the regulations, who will ultimately influence whether we return to some sort of normal

"some sort of normal"

 

Interesting phrase.  Here's the reality about that 'normal':

 

CV-19 is now a permanent part of the ecosystem. It is not going away. Ever.

 

The mitigation strategies common in the world are not aimed at eradicating the virus, as that is impossible. The sole purpose is to spread out over time the inevitable rate of infection. You are likely to get CV-19 eventually. If you have a decent immune system you will live; if not...ma salamah.

 

Those who get CV-19 and survive seem to have antibodies making them unlikely to become re-infected. This is not yet certain, and in any event only applies if the virus does not undergo a significant mutation, along the lines of the yearly flu, as coronaviruses are wont to do.

 

In the Second Wave, those who were not yet infected are likely to get it. Many will die, especially in countries who went into lockdown very early on, like NZ and Australia. When somewhere on the order of 60-70% of people have caught CV-19, it is possible there will be herd immunity---again, pending no major virus mutation.

 

Future breakouts will require protection/sheltering for the vulnerable:  aged, obese, Type II diabetics, smokers, vapers, high BP, HIV+, other lung issues. If a major breakout occurs, mass lockdowns will once again be required so that the healthcare system is not swamped and the best care possible can be given to those afflicted, as well as those suffering other maladies, accidents, etc.

 

THAT^ is our future. THAT^ will define 'some sort of normal' for the next few years.

[Chelseafan]

2 hours ago, sapson said:

Absolute disgraceful bar stewards!

 

80 years old should have been sent on his way with a warning for standing near the beach with friends.

 

Ripped for 50k by a bail guy, a future court date and and passport retained.

 

Ripped by the escort home just extortion at its finest.

 

Have they no common sense or shame? ..... guess the redundant jet ski scam is leaving empty coffers that need replenishing!

 

One for the international press I think to see Thailands finest at work!!

Sorry but its very doubtful that this guy didn't know so he deserves to be fined, he rolled the dice and lost - maybe other idiots will take note.

 

Having said that, its double standards as Thais aren't being fined for the same transgression

 

 

[nausea]

Depends on his financial situation, maybe 50,000 is nothing to him. Seems a bit steep to me, I remember, in more lucrative days, paying 20,000 to get a friend out of a positive drug test situation. The rule seems to be the higher up the pipeline it goes, the more expensive it gets. 

[lensta]

3 hours ago, keith101 said:

The sign next to them clearly states 1 year imprisonment or fine not exceeding 100,000 baht or both , so if he paid 50.000 its only half of what he could of had to pay .  

No, he didn't. He paid a bondsman to get out of the police station and was told he wouldn't get it back. He still has to go to court.

[cardinalblue]

Isn’t the 2,000 baht the police asked for is illegal?

 

they are public servants and are providing a service on their agreed upon salary....

 

it might give people a poor image of police...to protect and serve 

[phantomfiddler]

It really makes one wonder who are the criminals here, but on second thoughts, no it doesn,t ????

[Chivas]

The point is if the fella hadn't flouted the regulations we wouldnt be reading of 50,000 Baht bungs and the thread wouldnt exist.

Obey the emergency decree its that simple