Canadian Confesses, Pays Fine At Phuket Court

[ramsesxix 0]

He admitted guilt to assault in a Thai court, and there is no other evidential or factual information presented (ie provocation or self defence) to admonish or mitigate his culpability for the offence.

Alternatively, if he admitted guilt just to board his connecting flight, then he is potentially liable for perjury - a much more serious offence under Thai law.

Although others may opine differently, Thai law is fair and just.

Thai law is fair and just?!

Are you serious? Wow! ... I am at a loss.

As for your assertion that he is potentially 'liable' for perjury - I do not think he is obligated to perjure himself (which is what you assert). However, I wish to opine that you meant to say something to the effect of him being guilty of perjury (you are never potentially guilty of anything, you either are guilty or you are not). So, in YOUR way of thinking, he MUST have thrown the first punch, because had he not, the Tuk Tuk driver would come clean and admit to being at fault, thus thwarting the Canadian again, as he would now be arrested and charged with perjury. After all, you assert that Thai law is fair and just. It may well be (though I would beg to differ), but, be that as it may your assertions are ridiculous beyond measure.

I have no idea who started what, but what is generally accepted is that this bloke reneged on an agreed upon fare. The whole story is about 50 baht. Had the guy paid the full fair, he would have stewed for a bit, then he would have gone back to enjoying his holiday. But no, he had to be a prick about 50 baht, and that cost him 2000 baht @ the hospital and 1000 to the courts. That 50 baht ended up costing this guy 3000. No matter who is in the wrong (I am pretty sure both parties have been wronged) seems this guy would have been better off paying up and chalking it up to experience.

[ramsesxix 0]

Interesting twist. Did he plead guilty to get out of the country? Did he do it? I see a saga beginning.

A saga beginning over a dispute over 50 baht? Not likely! Yesterday's news, today's confession, will be forgotten very quickly. Who cares if he did it. Everyone on here has an opinion and a Thai court will do nothing to sway anyone's opinion. As my mum would say, 'much ado about nothin' the way I sees it.'

[ramsesxix 0]

One thing is obvious from the story. The driver in this case, and many, many others I have met while living here, seem to have forgotten the GOLDEN RULE of business. " The customer is always right"!

LMAO, moron. Let me see you renege on a contract with any business owner. I don't claim to know anything about business, but I know something about life- you are only as good as your word, so if your word is no good.....

[seasider 0]

Love to see what this forum got to say now .

seem like the cry wolf had been caught and of cos he is a tourist and a 1000b fine is ok and he can go ..

what happen to yesterday .. big words about how we should punish the Tuk tuk driver .. what about the tourist , how about he go to jail .

This is really a Farang experience -

what is new

and all this cos of 50b

I see you mention the 'f' word again and again. What has this to do with a 'farang'?

Seems to me, to be an argument between two Asians, one a South Asian (probably Indian/Pakistani) that are known for their stingyness and mean spirit. The other, known to be prone to irrational acts especially under provocation.

This particular incident had nothing to do with any 'farang' whatsoever.

[Jingthing 69,944]

Love to see what this forum got to say now .

seem like the cry wolf had been caught and of cos he is a tourist and a 1000b fine is ok and he can go ..

what happen to yesterday .. big words about how we should punish the Tuk tuk driver .. what about the tourist , how about he go to jail .

This is really a Farang experience -

what is new

and all this cos of 50b

I see you mention the 'f' word again and again. What has this to do with a 'farang'?

Seems to me, to be an argument between two Asians, one a South Asian (probably Indian/Pakistani) that are known for their stingyness and mean spirit. The other, known to be prone to irrational acts especially under provocation.

This particular incident had nothing to do with any 'farang' whatsoever.

It's about tourists, and did you really need to bring that kind of racist talk into the equation?

[BIGTOE3 202]

The long and the Short of this is - I for one will Not go to Phuket again.

BT

[ManilaLover 0]

I don't believe this,

2 years ago I was driving an insured rent motorbike in Chiangmai when a female cardriver cut' me off on my lane and I hit her cardoor with 50km/h, I was lucky not to get seriously injured.

It was clear that b**ch was 100% wrong, though via threaths of her dad the tourist police warned me for court procedures that could take years, and loss of my visa if I did not simply agree to pay the 7.000 damage of her 20+ year old car just to get the case closed quickly.

(may Buddha punish them !)

Guess it's kind of the same story...

Edited January 7, 2010 by ManilaLover

[guruofvinyl 23]

It is refreshing to be proven right to quickly. As I stated in the other thread, the tourist got what he deserved. It isn't stated here but I'm quite sure by 'assault' they mean kicking the tuk tuk driver - you just don't do that in Thailand.

Proven? That's a joke.

I have been going to Phuket a long time. And the price of tuk tuks, the mafia label, and various other negative aspects of transportation in Phuket are well known to non-tourists--even guide books mention the problems. Since the beaches have grown into carnivals of "nightlife"(Patong) or just tourist traps(Karon/Kata) I usually stay in Phuket town, favoring it's low key ambiance, restored architecture, and faceless qualities. And transport to beaches is easily accomplished by public sangtow transportation--about 50-60 baht each direction to Patong is the norm as opposed to 500 baht by taxi.

Several common sense rules exist in Thailand. First of all, when a price is agreed upon both parties keep the deal. If you think the price is too high, you negotiate before the trip starts. Secondly, never ever go violent in Thailand because you seldom take on one guy but a collection of his peers who will beat you down.

[guruofvinyl 23]

All this stuff in Phuket is starting to make Pattaya look pretty good.

It is not possible that Pattaya will ever be pretty good again. Pretty awful is more likely.

[peecee 220]

Love to see what this forum got to say now .

seem like the cry wolf had been caught and of cos he is a tourist and a 1000b fine is ok and he can go ..

what happen to yesterday .. big words about how we should punish the Tuk tuk driver .. what about the tourist , how about he go to jail .

This is really a Farang experience -

what is new

and all this cos of 50b

Get real, miss your flt or pay 1,000bt! What would you do? Tourist's are easy meat for these bottom feeder's. A thai friend of mine stood up for a tourist 'cos she new the fare should have been 50bt when the Tuk Tuk driver tried to extort 500bt, the driver threatened to beat her up if he saw her again!

[inmemorylsx 0]

Yes, understand the violent criminal mind. That's the ticket. And I thought I was a bleeding heart liberal.

I am curious what the wanke_rs at the Cad embASSy in BKK said as well as the bored gossipers at the embASSy in Tokyo will say.

They love this kind of drama as it is a break from pencil twirling and clock watching.

[seasider 0]

Love to see what this forum got to say now .

seem like the cry wolf had been caught and of cos he is a tourist and a 1000b fine is ok and he can go ..

what happen to yesterday .. big words about how we should punish the Tuk tuk driver .. what about the tourist , how about he go to jail .

This is really a Farang experience -

what is new

and all this cos of 50b

I see you mention the 'f' word again and again. What has this to do with a 'farang'?

Seems to me, to be an argument between two Asians, one a South Asian (probably Indian/Pakistani) that are known for their stingyness and mean spirit. The other, known to be prone to irrational acts especially under provocation.

This particular incident had nothing to do with any 'farang' whatsoever.

It's about tourists, and did you really need to bring that kind of racist talk into the equation?

Precisely, it's about tourists, all sorts of tourists and not just 'farangs'.

As for racist, that's laughable. Many people that i've met and known,from all different cultures and races have made similar comments to the ones i made. I think It's common knowledge that certain nationals are known for certain things isn't it?

The reason i don't post much on here and just use this site for news updates (you will see i joined here quite some time ago) is precisely not to get involved in silly,petty arguments like this. I just haven't got the time or the inclination to respond to members of the pc brigade.

[Swany 0]

Maybe I'm just being a bit dim, but I don't understand how the Canadian was fined 1,000 baht AND will have to return to court to face his charges.

[siampolee 7,966]

So many negative replies, I ask you.

''Why are you all still here in Thailand ?''

I've lived and worked here for some 19 years and I certainly haven't had the experiences that many of you seem to have had.

Is it perhaps that you think you are superior to the ''natives'' ? Mix only with the expat community and don't really know the average Thai, refuse to accept that we need to adjust our outlook as much as a Thai would if living in a western style setting.

Come on you whingers and whiners, indeed Thailand is not perfect nor are any other countries in this world either,.

You we, me, we all have to adjust if it's too much to ask why not leave and find another personal paradise if such a state exists.

[blaze 352]

Since you have friends who saw the Canadian initiate the violence, why do you find it nescesary to try to excuse the tuk tuk driver on the basis that he has a hard life. Isnt' self protection sufficient justification for beating the tourist. But can your friends explain why, after the Canadian had kicked the driver, he waited around while the driver phoned his buddies- surely they must have found that a bit odd and related that part to you...

I have in no way excused the tuk-tuk driver..i have simply tried to post some little known facts as they stand.As for the canadian standing around..<deleted> The other thai was there in very short time,obviously located nearby when called.Whats odd about that?ODD COMMENT YOU MAKE>>WHY?

[/quote

Why aren't you excusing the tuk tuk driver if you believe your friends account of the story- (that the tourist initiated the violence)? I certainly would excuse him. I suspect most of those on this board blaming him for the violence would excuse him if it was shown that he was simply defending himself from the viscious tourist (as your friends seem to imply).

Yet you don't excuse him. Curious. Is it because you think that just maybe the kick was delivered iin self defense?

The accomplice to the tuk tuk driver arrived after the driver phoned him. According to your friends- when did the phone call take place? After he had been kicked in the chest? Or before?

Do you not find it a bit odd that in a circumstance like this- where someone not only refuses to pay their bill but also vicsioucly assaults the victim, the penalty is a mere 1000 baht. (I expect that if I refused to pay my bill at any establishment in Bangkok- and, to make my point- booted the cashier in the chest- the penalty would be a bit more severe. I hope that tourists do not take this as an indication that for 30 bucks they too can go around kicking the siht out of the locals).

THe kick certainly makes sense though if you imagine that the tourist was being pinned by the buddy. That the buddy had already arrived and had pinned the tourist in such a way that he could not defend himself from the driver with his arms- Yet your friends didn't mention that did they.