THE THIEVES who almost killed two young expats by kicking them off a motorcycle into a stone wall in Patong recently will never be caught.
Why? Because the local police do not even accept that any crime was committed.
So there can be no hunt for the perpetrators, because there is no record that the night's horrific event was anything more than a motorcycle crash.
Jake Carey, 21, and Carly Moorhouse, 17, came close to death as a result of a bag snatch by a couple of muggers as they were overtaken on Patong's beach road about 2am on June 1.
Several weeks on, the victims, one a young staffer and the other a student from the British International School Phuket, are still struggling to fully recover.
What most riles Paul Moorhouse, a well-known Phuket property developer and the father of Carly, is that local police have never sought to record a proper account of the crime.
In most other countries, the incident would probably be treated as a case of attempted murder, Moorhouse says. But on Phuket it has simply been recorded as a motorcycle accident, and that's it.
''Two young kids could have been killed, very easily,'' Moorhouse says. ''So that's a worry.
''Yet what is probably more worrying than the crime itself, though, is the attitude of the police, the apathy of the police.''
The circumstances of the mugging, the crash and the aftermath echo the concern of Thai and expat residents and tourists about crime on Phuket.
They also illustrate the challenges faced by the island's newly appointed police chief, Major General Apirat Hongtong.
General Apirat has promised to improve law enforcement on the island and has said he will transfer any police officer who does not fully support his policy.
''The new police chief has come in and talks about zero tolerance. Fantastic, I hope he pulls it off,'' Moorhouse told Phuketwan.
''With the current police officers he's got, he hasn't got a hope. As far as the police are concened, this incident never happened.
''This was the attempted murder of two people. Jake could have had brain damage, Carly nearly died on the operating table.
''Yet as far as the police are concerned, it never happened.
''When the police turned up at the hospital to take a statement, Jake was unconscious, Carly was in a state of shock.
''The officer asked her what happened. She said, 'We fell off our bike.' She was still in a state of shock.
''The officer walked away, and that was it. The police never came back.''
So the two muggers are free to commit more crimes. The case is not being pursued by police.
Paul Moorhouse, and especially his wife, Norlela, spent long hours at Carly's hospital bedside in the days and weeks that followed, as she slowly recovered.
Carly and Jake, having been left for dead beside the wall of the Phuket Graceland Resort and Spa, were fortunate to be spotted by an Australian on his way home after working a shift as a Tourist Police volunteer.
Carly's battle was just beginning. She fought to cope with internal injuries that came as a consequence of the motorcycle ploughing on into the solid stone wall, and, Moorhouse says, the ineptitude of the hospital where she was treated.
''Carly is back at home now and getting stronger by the day,'' Moorhouse says.
She had her spleen removed and suffered damage to her kidneys, liver and pancreas, as well as a long cut to one leg.
As a long-term Phuket resident and businessman, Moorhouse remains certain that Phuket is a relatively peaceful place.
He also believes criminals are not specifically targetting expats. He has been told that motorcycle mugging attacks on Thais, especially women, are also increasing in frequency.
''You can never in my view stop random thuggery and robberies,'' he says.
''You can severely curtail them by the methodology of policing, and what police do when they catch them.''
Rock singer Noel Gallagher of Oasis told the BBC recently that in Britain, "scumbags are taking over the streets". Moorhouse is inclined to agree.
''In Britain these days, you have a picturesque market town and at 9.30 on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, there are no-go areas, unless you want a fight.''
''It's unfortunate that it has happened to us, and it has happened to other people,'' Moorhouse says.
''But I still think Phuket is a very safe place compared to other holiday resorts, cities and even towns.''
He believes that what Phuket needs most is police who are prepared to enforce the law.
He would like to see more frequent ID checks, with police impounding the vehicles of people who drive without helmets and licences, and potential troublemakers exiled from the island.
What continues to rankle is his daughter's experience in circumstances where she almost lost her life.
Norlela Moorhouse arranged on four separate occasions to meet with Patong police about the case. Police met her only once,and refused to change the statement.
''To this day, no complete statement has been made,'' Paul Moorhouse says.
''Even the intervention of the British Ambassador, Quinton Quayle, who contacted the top police in Bangkok . . . even then, this chap in Kathu was not remotely interested.''
Phuket has about 1100 police officers, yet in high season, the island's population frequently rises to about a million people.
Carly Moorhouse plans to begin a course at the London School of Economics in September. She has a sister, Lauren, 21, who is studying in Sydney.
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Police Chief Promises Crime Free Phuket
Why? Because the local police do not even accept that any crime was committed.
So there can be no hunt for the perpetrators, because there is no record that the night's horrific event was anything more than a motorcycle crash.
Jake Carey, 21, and Carly Moorhouse, 17, came close to death as a result of a bag snatch by a couple of muggers as they were overtaken on Patong's beach road about 2am on June 1.
Several weeks on, the victims, one a young staffer and the other a student from the British International School Phuket, are still struggling to fully recover.
What most riles Paul Moorhouse, a well-known Phuket property developer and the father of Carly, is that local police have never sought to record a proper account of the crime.
In most other countries, the incident would probably be treated as a case of attempted murder, Moorhouse says. But on Phuket it has simply been recorded as a motorcycle accident, and that's it.
''Two young kids could have been killed, very easily,'' Moorhouse says. ''So that's a worry.
''Yet what is probably more worrying than the crime itself, though, is the attitude of the police, the apathy of the police.''
The circumstances of the mugging, the crash and the aftermath echo the concern of Thai and expat residents and tourists about crime on Phuket.
They also illustrate the challenges faced by the island's newly appointed police chief, Major General Apirat Hongtong.
General Apirat has promised to improve law enforcement on the island and has said he will transfer any police officer who does not fully support his policy.
''The new police chief has come in and talks about zero tolerance. Fantastic, I hope he pulls it off,'' Moorhouse told Phuketwan.
''With the current police officers he's got, he hasn't got a hope. As far as the police are concened, this incident never happened.
''This was the attempted murder of two people. Jake could have had brain damage, Carly nearly died on the operating table.
''Yet as far as the police are concerned, it never happened.
''When the police turned up at the hospital to take a statement, Jake was unconscious, Carly was in a state of shock.
''The officer asked her what happened. She said, 'We fell off our bike.' She was still in a state of shock.
''The officer walked away, and that was it. The police never came back.''
So the two muggers are free to commit more crimes. The case is not being pursued by police.
Paul Moorhouse, and especially his wife, Norlela, spent long hours at Carly's hospital bedside in the days and weeks that followed, as she slowly recovered.
Carly and Jake, having been left for dead beside the wall of the Phuket Graceland Resort and Spa, were fortunate to be spotted by an Australian on his way home after working a shift as a Tourist Police volunteer.
Carly's battle was just beginning. She fought to cope with internal injuries that came as a consequence of the motorcycle ploughing on into the solid stone wall, and, Moorhouse says, the ineptitude of the hospital where she was treated.
''Carly is back at home now and getting stronger by the day,'' Moorhouse says.
She had her spleen removed and suffered damage to her kidneys, liver and pancreas, as well as a long cut to one leg.
As a long-term Phuket resident and businessman, Moorhouse remains certain that Phuket is a relatively peaceful place.
He also believes criminals are not specifically targetting expats. He has been told that motorcycle mugging attacks on Thais, especially women, are also increasing in frequency.
''You can never in my view stop random thuggery and robberies,'' he says.
''You can severely curtail them by the methodology of policing, and what police do when they catch them.''
Rock singer Noel Gallagher of Oasis told the BBC recently that in Britain, "scumbags are taking over the streets". Moorhouse is inclined to agree.
''In Britain these days, you have a picturesque market town and at 9.30 on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, there are no-go areas, unless you want a fight.''
''It's unfortunate that it has happened to us, and it has happened to other people,'' Moorhouse says.
''But I still think Phuket is a very safe place compared to other holiday resorts, cities and even towns.''
He believes that what Phuket needs most is police who are prepared to enforce the law.
He would like to see more frequent ID checks, with police impounding the vehicles of people who drive without helmets and licences, and potential troublemakers exiled from the island.
What continues to rankle is his daughter's experience in circumstances where she almost lost her life.
Norlela Moorhouse arranged on four separate occasions to meet with Patong police about the case. Police met her only once,and refused to change the statement.
''To this day, no complete statement has been made,'' Paul Moorhouse says.
''Even the intervention of the British Ambassador, Quinton Quayle, who contacted the top police in Bangkok . . . even then, this chap in Kathu was not remotely interested.''
Phuket has about 1100 police officers, yet in high season, the island's population frequently rises to about a million people.
Carly Moorhouse plans to begin a course at the London School of Economics in September. She has a sister, Lauren, 21, who is studying in Sydney.
If you have a comment about this article, please use the Comment box below. It's easy.
Related Articles:
Police Chief Promises Crime Free Phuket
It's a pity police don't concentrate more on serious crime and crime prevention instead of revenue raising by fining expats for not wearing bike helmets and ignoring Thai people that don't use helmets.
If you have money in Thailand you can walk away from most crimes !!!!!!! Let's get more Police that are interested in Policing.
Posted by Disappointed Aussie on May 1, 2010 09:22