Dutchman Johan van Laarhoven and Tukta, his Thai wife Innocent, in Bangkok Prison

[rooster59]

Dutchman Johan van Laarhoven and Tukta, his Thai wife Innocent, in Bangkok Prison

By Frans van Laarhoven

Johan van Laarhoven and his Thai wife were sentenced in Bangkok last year to 103 years.

BANGKOK – Dutch National Johan Van Laarhoven was arrested and sentenced to 103 years in Thai prison for money laundering.

His fortune was made from running licensed cannabis cafes in his own country, the Netherlands, and Dutch parliament members are now urging the Thai and Dutch governments to free him from jail for lack of evidence.

Dutch members of Parliament from six different parties have joined forces and are campaigning for his release.

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

-- Chiang Rai Times 2016-06-26

[Asiantravel]

" the court knew Johan van Laarhoven and Tukta were innocent and that in reality they had no case against them – but that he was instructed by powers from above to execute and sentence the verdicts. "

How chilling

[marcusd]

The story is short on information. Is Thailand sentencing him for proceeds of crime from Netherlands and doing this in Thailand because as I am reading into this, he made his money with cannabis overseas?

NOW this if the case, is really making this country more bizarre every day.

[jaaaason]

Having read previous stories on this ...the guy had legal,licensed cafes in which he sold cannabis . He then legally sold his business and retired to Thailand, bringing his monies here legally and declaring everything . There was a question of his not paying taxes in his own country , for which he was investigated and never charged . Stating that he would co-operate completely with the government investigation, which by the way stated that he did and no problems were found . Once here someone got the idea to go after him trying to state the monies were illegal because cannabis sales here are illegal......and therefore all of his funds were gotten illegally. After prosecution his house and all of his possessions were "auctioned" off and his monies taken by the government....

[steelepulse]

Sounds like the guy got seriously railroaded.

[dhream]

Dutch Government zombies

So what do they do now?

Let a man rot to save face?

Who is the shadowy figure who interfered with due process?

Why is this not on CNN and FOX?

Well, I know the answer to the last question...

Drugs mm bad mm kay!?

[dhream]

As I said before, with his money, why even bother with drug phobic Asia?

There are many other paradises that would have happily welcomed him and his fortune.

Instead of stealing it.

He'll be lucky to get out.

He can forget his house and fortune.

And we'll never see the corrupt officials face justice.

[daveAustin]

When they smell money and get after you, it's game over. Thailand should be taken to the world court in The Hague for this.

[tx22cb]

" the court knew Johan van Laarhoven and Tukta were innocent and that in reality they had no case against them – but that he was instructed by powers from above to execute and sentence the verdicts. "

How chilling

To order a judge to pervert justice is not something a Minister can do - it's got to come from someone REALLY high up in the Govt (or beyond).

[Berty100]

They will eventually get him back to the Netherlands, only to put him in jail and prosecute him there, so far for his "legal" business.

http://www.nltimes.nl/2016/03/10/coffeeshop-management-held-in-e20-million-money-laundering-scheme/

[300sd]

Send this article far and wide so tourists understand what kind of a country they are taking chances in! The criminals are in power.

[Bung]

They nailed him because they simply saw the opportunity to seize all his assets and keep them. Most likely someone planned it and brought the police along with it. Another nice payday for them.

Where are all his assets now? Why do they never have to show where these seized assets, bail monies etc are kept?

Interestingly, the story was written by a family member.

[ezzra]

On the one hand a girl who killed 9 people in automobile accident get community service,

a convicted killer escapee was on the loos/run for nearly 20 years living and working legally

under the cops noses all that time, and here we have someone who didn't commit crimes in

Thailand, and was licensed to sell cannabis in his Dutch cafes, and he got 103 years in the

slammer, he should have been deported like many other criminals caught in Thailand

and let the Dutch police to deal with him, this man should appeal but get a very good lawyer

this time, and things will be better for him.....

[The stuttering parrot]

This is just a rehash of the same story a few weeks ago and still short on details.

Seems to me everybody's to blame.

The Dutch the Thais and the money launderer.

The Dutch for alerting the Thais and stuffing that up.

The Thais for not fully understanding what the whole case is about and not just sending him home and let the Dutch deal with.

The bloke himself for bringing that amount of money into Thailand which attracted the authorities to it like a moth to a flame.

Still there just has to be more to this story and I can't see him getting out soon as there is to much face at stake here.

[neverdie]

Shocking story. Chilling is the right comment.

Dear o dear.

[smedly]

" the court knew Johan van Laarhoven and Tukta were innocent and that in reality they had no case against them – but that he was instructed by powers from above to execute and sentence the verdicts. "

How chilling

why was this man not simply deported to the Netherlands

whoever instructed the court and whoever carried out those instructions within the court system and justice system should be in jail, although it is of no surprise it brings into question the whole justice system and why there is zero confidence in it, one case especially comes to mind but I will refrain from mentioning it here, enough to say the verdict was based on nothing at all of any substance were evidence (that the conviction was based on) could not be produced or verified

[smedly]

Having read previous stories on this ...the guy had legal,licensed cafes in which he sold cannabis . He then legally sold his business and retired to Thailand, bringing his monies here legally and declaring everything . There was a question of his not paying taxes in his own country , for which he was investigated and never charged . Stating that he would co-operate completely with the government investigation, which by the way stated that he did and no problems were found . Once here someone got the idea to go after him trying to state the monies were illegal because cannabis sales here are illegal......and therefore all of his funds were gotten illegally. After prosecution his house and all of his possessions were "auctioned" off and his monies taken by the government....

wow, follow the money trail me thinks !!!!!!!!!

hope he is released and all his legally earned money returned to him.......shocking

[shirtless]

Now i know their really is no justice system here, The guys done nothing wrong.

[thai3]

where are all the this could happen anywhere comments?, it most certainly could not. Jailed on no evidence and no crime committed, it could only happen here or somewhere like N Korea.

[Bluespunk]

Second story on this travesty of a case in the last month or so.

Good.

These two have done nothing wrong.

They should not be in gaol.

I wish the Dutch politicians every success.

[Kasset Tak]

Having read previous stories on this ...the guy had legal,licensed cafes in which he sold cannabis . He then legally sold his business and retired to Thailand, bringing his monies here legally and declaring everything . There was a question of his not paying taxes in his own country , for which he was investigated and never charged . Stating that he would co-operate completely with the government investigation, which by the way stated that he did and no problems were found . Once here someone got the idea to go after him trying to state the monies were illegal because cannabis sales here are illegal......and therefore all of his funds were gotten illegally. After prosecution his house and all of his possessions were "auctioned" off and his monies taken by the government....

He got his money form selling drugs and by saying that he retired to Thailand is kind of in the same ball park of saying that if Pablo Escobar had stopped selling cocaine and retired to Thailand then he should have been clear too as he didn't sell his product in Thailand. You can also compare this to pedophiles that commit crimes in SAE and later get jailed for it in their home countries, some didn't even break the law in the country where they where doing it but still they can get convicted as child molesters in their home country because of the differences of age of consent. OR to take this to the highest level... Usama Bin Ladin, seen as a freedom fighter by his people, killed by US as a terrorist.

BTW. Do you follow the Thai law when you are in Thailand?

* Do you have a drivers license for motorcycle if you are driving one? (Everybody need a drivers license...)

* Do you use helmet when you are driving motorcycle? (If you don't then there is probably nothing to protect anyway...)

* Do you pay the lady you pickup at the bar? (prostitution is ILLEGAL in Thailand...)

Those are only 3 examples where many foreigners are breaking the Thai law every day.

[Bluespunk]

Having read previous stories on this ...the guy had legal,licensed cafes in which he sold cannabis . He then legally sold his business and retired to Thailand, bringing his monies here legally and declaring everything . There was a question of his not paying taxes in his own country , for which he was investigated and never charged . Stating that he would co-operate completely with the government investigation, which by the way stated that he did and no problems were found . Once here someone got the idea to go after him trying to state the monies were illegal because cannabis sales here are illegal......and therefore all of his funds were gotten illegally. After prosecution his house and all of his possessions were "auctioned" off and his monies taken by the government....

He got his money form selling drugs and by saying that he retired to Thailand is kind of in the same ball park of saying that if Pablo Escobar had stopped selling cocaine and retired to Thailand then he should have been clear too as he didn't sell his product in Thailand. You can also compare this to pedophiles that commit crimes in SAE and later get jailed for it in their home countries, some didn't even break the law in the country where they where doing it but still they can get convicted as child molesters in their home country because of the differences of age of consent. OR to take this to the highest level... Usama Bin Ladin, seen as a freedom fighter by his people, killed by US as a terrorist.

BTW. Do you follow the Thai law when you are in Thailand?

* Do you have a drivers license for motorcycle if you are driving one? (Everybody need a drivers license...)

* Do you use helmet when you are driving motorcycle? (If you don't then there is probably nothing to protect anyway...)

* Do you pay the lady you pickup at the bar? (prostitution is ILLEGAL in Thailand...)

Those are only 3 examples where many foreigners are breaking the Thai law every day.

This man was investigated by the Dutch authorities for several years and was found to have done nothing illegal. His earnings were deemed to be legitimately earned.

He was gaoled for spending money legally earned.

He is facing further investigation in the Netherlands but at the time of this appalling miscarriage of "justice" he had committed no crime. Anywhere.

[Berty100]

Having read previous stories on this ...the guy had legal,licensed cafes in which he sold cannabis . He then legally sold his business and retired to Thailand, bringing his monies here legally and declaring everything . There was a question of his not paying taxes in his own country , for which he was investigated and never charged . Stating that he would co-operate completely with the government investigation, which by the way stated that he did and no problems were found . Once here someone got the idea to go after him trying to state the monies were illegal because cannabis sales here are illegal......and therefore all of his funds were gotten illegally. After prosecution his house and all of his possessions were "auctioned" off and his monies taken by the government....

He got his money form selling drugs and by saying that he retired to Thailand is kind of in the same ball park of saying that if Pablo Escobar had stopped selling cocaine and retired to Thailand then he should have been clear too as he didn't sell his product in Thailand. You can also compare this to pedophiles that commit crimes in SAE and later get jailed for it in their home countries, some didn't even break the law in the country where they where doing it but still they can get convicted as child molesters in their home country because of the differences of age of consent. OR to take this to the highest level... Usama Bin Ladin, seen as a freedom fighter by his people, killed by US as a terrorist.

BTW. Do you follow the Thai law when you are in Thailand?

* Do you have a drivers license for motorcycle if you are driving one? (Everybody need a drivers license...)

* Do you use helmet when you are driving motorcycle? (If you don't then there is probably nothing to protect anyway...)

* Do you pay the lady you pickup at the bar? (prostitution is ILLEGAL in Thailand...)

Those are only 3 examples where many foreigners are breaking the Thai law every day.

This man was investigated by the Dutch authorities for several years and was found to have done nothing illegal. His earnings were deemed to be legitimately earned.

He was gaoled for spending money legally earned.

He is facing further investigation in the Netherlands but at the time of this appalling miscarriage of "justice" he had committed no crime. Anywhere.

I doubt the further investigation is about crimes he committed after he was jailed in Thailand

[Bluespunk]

Having read previous stories on this ...the guy had legal,licensed cafes in which he sold cannabis . He then legally sold his business and retired to Thailand, bringing his monies here legally and declaring everything . There was a question of his not paying taxes in his own country , for which he was investigated and never charged . Stating that he would co-operate completely with the government investigation, which by the way stated that he did and no problems were found . Once here someone got the idea to go after him trying to state the monies were illegal because cannabis sales here are illegal......and therefore all of his funds were gotten illegally. After prosecution his house and all of his possessions were "auctioned" off and his monies taken by the government....

He got his money form selling drugs and by saying that he retired to Thailand is kind of in the same ball park of saying that if Pablo Escobar had stopped selling cocaine and retired to Thailand then he should have been clear too as he didn't sell his product in Thailand. You can also compare this to pedophiles that commit crimes in SAE and later get jailed for it in their home countries, some didn't even break the law in the country where they where doing it but still they can get convicted as child molesters in their home country because of the differences of age of consent. OR to take this to the highest level... Usama Bin Ladin, seen as a freedom fighter by his people, killed by US as a terrorist.

BTW. Do you follow the Thai law when you are in Thailand?

* Do you have a drivers license for motorcycle if you are driving one? (Everybody need a drivers license...)

* Do you use helmet when you are driving motorcycle? (If you don't then there is probably nothing to protect anyway...)

* Do you pay the lady you pickup at the bar? (prostitution is ILLEGAL in Thailand...)

Those are only 3 examples where many foreigners are breaking the Thai law every day.

This man was investigated by the Dutch authorities for several years and was found to have done nothing illegal. His earnings were deemed to be legitimately earned.

He was gaoled for spending money legally earned.

He is facing further investigation in the Netherlands but at the time of this appalling miscarriage of "justice" he had committed no crime. Anywhere.

I doubt the further investigation is about crimes he committed after he was jailed in Thailand

At the time of his mistrial in Thailand and gaoling for spending his legitimately earned income he had been found innocent of all wrongdoing in the Netherlands after a lengthy investigation.

He should not be in gaol.

[Winniedapu]

Sounds like the guy got seriously railroaded.

Unbelievable if true. One of the Thai 'good people' behind this...

W

[The Old Bull]

I think somebody is fishing for a big payday.

[Berty100]

He got his money form selling drugs and by saying that he retired to Thailand is kind of in the same ball park of saying that if Pablo Escobar had stopped selling cocaine and retired to Thailand then he should have been clear too as he didn't sell his product in Thailand. You can also compare this to pedophiles that commit crimes in SAE and later get jailed for it in their home countries, some didn't even break the law in the country where they where doing it but still they can get convicted as child molesters in their home country because of the differences of age of consent. OR to take this to the highest level... Usama Bin Ladin, seen as a freedom fighter by his people, killed by US as a terrorist.

BTW. Do you follow the Thai law when you are in Thailand?

* Do you have a drivers license for motorcycle if you are driving one? (Everybody need a drivers license...)

* Do you use helmet when you are driving motorcycle? (If you don't then there is probably nothing to protect anyway...)

* Do you pay the lady you pickup at the bar? (prostitution is ILLEGAL in Thailand...)

Those are only 3 examples where many foreigners are breaking the Thai law every day.

This man was investigated by the Dutch authorities for several years and was found to have done nothing illegal. His earnings were deemed to be legitimately earned.

He was gaoled for spending money legally earned.

He is facing further investigation in the Netherlands but at the time of this appalling miscarriage of "justice" he had committed no crime. Anywhere.

I doubt the further investigation is about crimes he committed after he was jailed in Thailand

At the time of his mistrial in Thailand and gaoling for spending his legitimately earned income he had been found innocent of all wrongdoing in the Netherlands after a lengthy investigation.

He should not be in gaol.

Unable to find enough evidence to convict and not having committed a crime are 2 different things.

[Bluespunk]

If there is no evidence then you do not gaol someone.

If there is insufficient evidence then you do not gaol someone.

Justice is based on evidence, not supposition.

[Winniedapu]

This man was investigated by the Dutch authorities for several years and was found to have done nothing illegal. His earnings were deemed to be legitimately earned.

He was gaoled for spending money legally earned.

He is facing further investigation in the Netherlands but at the time of this appalling miscarriage of "justice" he had committed no crime. Anywhere.

I doubt the further investigation is about crimes he committed after he was jailed in Thailand

At the time of his mistrial in Thailand and gaoling for spending his legitimately earned income he had been found innocent of all wrongdoing in the Netherlands after a lengthy investigation.

He should not be in gaol.

Unable to find enough evidence to convict and not having committed a crime are 2 different things.

Oh for pity's sake. If there is not enough evidence to convict, then there is no conviction.

it's not that hard to understand.

W

[jamesbrock]

During his so-called "trial" his team produced evidence that proved that tax was paid on every euro earned in the coffee shops - and this evidence was arbitrarily ignored by the Thai courts.

Indeed a Dutch justice official told reporters in January they had not asked the Thai authorities to arrest Van Laarhoven and were only after information. "The arrest was their own decision" a spokesperson said.

Thai authorities at the time said he was arrested because he made his money by doing something that was illegal in Thailand - the fact that he was not in Thailand when he was making his money seems lost on the feeble minded.