German’s Phuket Stay Goes To Pot

[webfact]

German’s Phuket stay goes to pot

PHUKET: -- A 33-year-old German man is facing deportation after being found overstaying his visa and in possession of half a gram of marijuana.

Chalong Police stopped Nico Bergmann about midday on Sunday as he drove through a checkpoint in Soi Thanuthep.

Officers, led by Lt Col Weerayut Sitthirattanakul, believed Mr Bergmann was acting suspiciously and searched his car.

In his bag officers found half a gram of marijuana, said the police report.

Then police checked Mr Bergmann’s passport and found that his permit to stay expired on October 6.

“He faces two charges… The court will probably fine him then we will send his case to Immigration for him to be deported,” said Chalong Duty Officer Boonlert Onklang.

“He can come back after that,” he added.

Mr Bergmann arrived in Phuket on July 9 to work as a photographer.

He was released yesterday after posting 20,000-baht bail.

Mr Bergmann must stay on the island until his case is heard in court, said Lt Col Boonlert.

Just in case, police are holding his passport until the court verdict is handed down, he added.

An officer at Phuket Provincial Court confirmed to the Gazette today that a date had yet to be set for the case.

Marijuana use is not illegal in Germany and police do not fine people for possession of small amounts, but the drug is listed as a Category V controlled substance in Thailand.

Section 76 of the Narcotics Control Act of 1979 states: “Any person who possesses narcotics of category V shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand baht or to both.”

In November 26 people were arrested in Phuket for use or possession of the drug, known locally as “ganja”. Just over 117 grams of the drug were seized as evidence in those cases.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-12-14

[Mrnakhonsawan]

“He faces two charges… The court will probably fine him then we will send his case to Immigration for him to be deported,” said Chalong Duty Officer Boonlert Onklang.

“He can come back after that,” he added.

Well thats pointless

[slim]

Half a gram?

HALF A GRAM??????

Take a cigarette.

Break off the tip.

Cut the rest in half.

Thats more than half a gram.

Clearly this man should be locked up then deported.

Edited December 15, 2010 by slim

[HC82]

If he had a good lawyer he would not be deported nor would they have his passport. He probably wouldn't be facing any charges at all if he had a Thai intermediary to work out a bribe on his behalf.

[JohanBKK]

Half a gram or more he's a junkie anyway, smoking drugs.

[dantilley]

A foreigner gets caught with a small amount of an illegal substance and is then punished for it according to the law. How is this "breaking news"?!

[Mrnakhonsawan]

A foreigner gets caught with a small amount of an illegal substance and is then punished for it according to the law. How is this "breaking news"?!

Because he is on overstay that is the real breaking news.

[ginjag]

A foreigner gets caught with a small amount of an illegal substance and is then punished for it according to the law. How is this "breaking news"?!

Because he is on overstay that is the real breaking news.

Immigration--should deal with the overstay--------did the photographer have a work permit ????------if not send him home added to the petty amount-in possesion (granted illegal) deport on all 3 counts never to come back----or bar him for 10 years----MAKE examples------less of these types and we foreigners would be looked at in a better light...---------------------------------well we have to hope. there is usually NO excuse for these ars------holes--lets have better breaking news stories.

[asiawatcher]

Because it is another 'hub' of activity of the brown shirts! The were just doing their job! The German was not smart enough to pay the 20k to the BiB and walk.

[JUDAS]

Slightly off topic but perhaps worth mentioning. Recently met a guy who had rented a scooter during his travels and at some point lifted the seat to stow some purchases. He found a small bag of weed which he quickly disposed off, could have been much different at a police check point though. Check all storage areas on any bike/vehicle you rent before riding off!!

[THAILIBAN]

A foreigner gets caught with a small amount of an illegal substance and is then punished for it according to the law. How is this "breaking news"?!

because you have to understand Thaivisa is a commercial operation, first of all.

and the more CLICKS, the higher the revenue from advertisers.

so they have to "create" some kind of "breaking news" frequently, even it is just of the "What a tragedy ! Khun Somchais pet-poodle suffering from Diarrhea" - kind

[madmitch]

No need to bother with any more comments. Just refer back to the story of Rick the Canadian (or Australian as the Phuket Gazette wrongly thought)earlier this year. Apart from the overstay. It's all there.

[Arkady]

A foreigner gets caught with a small amount of an illegal substance and is then punished for it according to the law. How is this "breaking news"?!

because you have to understand Thaivisa is a commercial operation, first of all.

and the more CLICKS, the higher the revenue from advertisers.

so they have to "create" some kind of "breaking news" frequently, even it is just of the "What a tragedy ! Khun Somchais pet-poodle suffering from Diarrhea" - kind

Yes, it is not a very exciting story and probably not really worth emailing members about. Even the police are not taking it very seriously and are looking forward to welcoming him back in Phuket once he has paid his fines and been deported.

He must have been too stoned to bribe his way out of it. I bet he regretted leaving that last little smear for a nightcap!

[SouthernMan3]

A foreigner gets caught with a small amount of an illegal substance and is then punished for it according to the law. How is this "breaking news"?!

because you have to understand Thaivisa is a commercial operation, first of all.

and the more CLICKS, the higher the revenue from advertisers.

so they have to "create" some kind of "breaking news" frequently, even it is just of the "What a tragedy ! Khun Somchais pet-poodle suffering from Diarrhea" - kind

Yes, it is not a very exciting story and probably not really worth emailing members about. Even the police are not taking it very seriously and are looking forward to welcoming him back in Phuket once he has paid his fines and been deported.

He must have been too stoned to bribe his way out of it. I bet he regretted leaving that last little smear for a nightcap!

[SouthernMan3]

Oops. Must not have the right friends.

Or maybe mouthed off to the tam ruat.....

[koto]

Half a gram or more he's a junkie anyway, smoking drugs.

It's quite obvious you have no idea, what a junkie is, tell me sir, are you a drinker or do you smoke cigarettes, they have found, in case your unaware, the smoking a little pot for some, is one of the best remedies for many, many things, does that make them a junkie?

Now over drinking or smoking cigarettes is a different story, yea right!

[LarrySilverstein]

Overstay and not in jail? Something is wrong witht he thaivisa news..

[rotary]

Half a gram?

HALF A GRAM??????

Take a cigarette.

Break off the tip.

Cut the rest in half.

Thats more than half a gram.

Clearly this man should be locked up then deported.

I guess he bought a half gram and was carrying it around, come on this is what he had left, it might not be much because he smoked most of it. Throw him out and ban him from the country.

[blundaman]

Half a gram?

HALF A GRAM??????

Take a cigarette.

Break off the tip.

Cut the rest in half.

Thats more than half a gram.

Clearly this man should be locked up then deported.

I guess he bought a half gram and was carrying it around, come on this is what he had left, it might not be much because he smoked most of it. Throw him out and ban him from the country.

oohhh come on, I gas to duffer, summary execution is clearly the only clean solution for this type, seriously... just pulling weeds bro

[Pi Sek]

Yes, we all know it's against the Law. So are a number of other things too, like prostitution and driving a motorbike without a helmet - both of which are more harmful to the person involved and those around them than getting stoned.

Selective enforcement of the Law... selection depending on potential revenue.

Many other countries' police don't even bother arresting people for cannabis any more - which is also selective enforcement of the Law - unless it's being smoked in public; but pot smokers generally smoke at home or somewhere where they don't expect anyone else to be. The reason they don't bother is because there's too much work (and tax revenue) required to prosecute what is essentially a victimless crime.

[oldsailor35]

Half a gram or more he's a junkie anyway, smoking drugs.

It's quite obvious you have no idea, what a junkie is, tell me sir, are you a drinker or do you smoke cigarettes, they have found, in case your unaware, the smoking a little pot for some, is one of the best remedies for many, many things, does that make them a junkie?

Now over drinking or smoking cigarettes is a different story, yea right!

"They have found" please be more specific, exactly who are "they"

[sausageandmash]

How sanctamonious can you get. It's far worse being a holier-than-thou farang than possessing half a gram of dope. Grow up!

A foreigner gets caught with a small amount of an illegal substance and is then punished for it according to the law. How is this "breaking news"?!

Because he is on overstay that is the real breaking news.

Immigration--should deal with the overstay--------did the photographer have a work permit ????------if not send him home added to the petty amount-in possesion (granted illegal) deport on all 3 counts never to come back----or bar him for 10 years----MAKE examples------less of these types and we foreigners would be looked at in a better light...---------------------------------well we have to hope. there is usually NO excuse for these ars------holes--lets have better breaking news stories.

[FarangLaoInter]

Wow. Just wow.

The amount of ignorant farang on these boards just keeps growing and growing...

A junkie... LOL!

/facepalm

[rebbu]

Obviously a highly dangerous criminal mastermind.

He should be deported and banned for life from every country in South east Asia. Tattoo a hex on his forehead and a barcode on his neck, so everyone in his home country can throw stones at him and scream junkie! ( Yes this is sarcasm )

[MAJIC]

"He can come back after that," he added.

I love it ,you just couldn't make it up!.... could you?

[rebbu]

Half a gram or more he's a junkie anyway, smoking drugs.

It's quite obvious you have no idea, what a junkie is, tell me sir, are you a drinker or do you smoke cigarettes, they have found, in case your unaware, the smoking a little pot for some, is one of the best remedies for many, many things, does that make them a junkie?

Now over drinking or smoking cigarettes is a different story, yea right!

"They have found" please be more specific, exactly who are "they"

I am the "they" he is refering to.

[andrew55]

Slightly off topic but perhaps worth mentioning. Recently met a guy who had rented a scooter during his travels and at some point lifted the seat to stow some purchases. He found a small bag of weed which he quickly disposed off, could have been much different at a police check point though. Check all storage areas on any bike/vehicle you rent before riding off!!

Immediately smoke all evidence and don't forget to tip the rental guy.

Back to OP - how could you find a half gram?? If someone rolled a joint they'd end up with more than that under their fingernails. Sounds fishy.

Overstay another story. Not difficult to keep to the rules on this. Disrespectful to our Thai hosts.

Edited December 16, 2010 by andrew55

[andrew55]

Half a gram or more he's a junkie anyway, smoking drugs.

It's quite obvious you have no idea, what a junkie is, tell me sir, are you a drinker or do you smoke cigarettes, they have found, in case your unaware, the smoking a little pot for some, is one of the best remedies for many, many things, does that make them a junkie?

Now over drinking or smoking cigarettes is a different story, yea right!

"They have found" please be more specific, exactly who are "they"

I am the "they" he is refering to.

Half a gram of pot ain't a junkie - unless it's all that's left of the ounce he bought yesterday.

BTW pot can be useful in treatment of glaucoma. The red eye thing. Vasodilator - relaxes blood vessels in the eye. The chronic use of pot is a serious issue however.

Half a gram??? Junkie??? Think not.

[jaywalker]

"because you have to understand Thaivisa is a commercial operation, first of all.

and the more CLICKS, the higher the revenue from advertisers.

so they have to "create" some kind of "breaking news" frequently, even it is just of the "What a tragedy ! Khun Somchais pet-poodle suffering from Diarrhea"

Woof! I had the mother of all diarrhea stories yesterday.

It was headline worthy. I about DIED (or so it seemed).

Edited December 16, 2010 by jaywalker

[tombkk]

Yes, we all know it's against the Law. So are a number of other things too, like prostitution and driving a motorbike without a helmet - both of which are more harmful to the person involved and those around them than getting stoned.

Selective enforcement of the Law... selection depending on potential revenue.

Many other countries' police don't even bother arresting people for cannabis any more - which is also selective enforcement of the Law - unless it's being smoked in public; but pot smokers generally smoke at home or somewhere where they don't expect anyone else to be. The reason they don't bother is because there's too much work (and tax revenue) required to prosecute what is essentially a victimless crime.

This guy apparently is German. German police are not selective about enforcement of the law. The law says that posession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use will not be punished. The police might take the lit joint out of your mouth and step on it, and that's the extent of a correct law enforcement.

And justifiable too, in a country in which nicotine (a hard drug that causes physical addiction) is legal. This came after decades of public debates in that developed country, and Thailand is a developing country, so we can still hope. Nothing gets changed over night, and development takes time (did for Germany too).