Tourism News

Tourism News Phuketwan Tourism News
facebook recommendations

NEWS ALERTS

Sign up now for our News Alert emails and the latest breaking news plus new features.

Click to subscribe

Existing subscribers can unsubscribe here

RSS FEEDS

Phuket Arrests: What the Drunken Expats Do Wrong

Phuket Arrests: What the Drunken Expats Do Wrong

Wednesday, May 26, 2010
BEING drunk in charge of a motorcycle is the crime that produces most arrests among expats on Phuket, figures released by police reveal.

The following list of arrests covers the period from the beginning of the year until May. It's the first time such a list has been published.

Compilation of the list is one positive result of the second meeting between senior Thai authorities on Phuket and Phuket's honorary consuls and embassy representatives.

The latest meeting occurred at Provincial Hall in Phuket City on Monday. It's a two-way exchange of information.

As a group, the honorary consuls, many of whom are Thais, are keen to make tourists and expat residents as safe and secure as possible on Phuket. Phuket officials are keen to hear what can and should be done to make Phuket a better place for all, both tourists and residents.

When the list was volunteered by police, it sparked the comment that drunkenness and assaults seemed to be the predominant feature of involvement with the law for Western holidaymakers on Phuket.

Regular police and tourist police are now looking at provision of a drunks' cell for expats so they can sleep off their excesses. But it's plain from the figures that getting on a motorcycle drunk in Phuket will not be tolerated.

The list below records charges against people that have arisen so far this year. Some of the cases have yet to be concluded, and in some cases, the people who have been accused deny their guilt.

The penalties in the resolved cases are not known.

David Patricio Godoy Britain January 2 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Luca Rossetti Italy January 3 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Therry Gerrges Boulenc France January 3 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Ivan Bob Anwar Canada January 5 assault of a tuk-tuk driver at Kalim
Roberto Fasano Italy January 6 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Patrik Bonde Hamren Sweden January 6 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Nordenstent Bo Ingemar Sweden January 7 overstaying visa in Phuket City
Danial Hansen Australia January 8 theft from a house at Kamala
Villiams Joel Anthony Australia January 8 possession of marijuana at Patong
Beyls Pascal Alfred France January 10 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Millan Agudo Alejandro Spain January 9 driving a vehicle while under the influence at Patong
Mishin Mikhail Russia January 13 assault at Patong
Brian Kenneth Beattie Britain January 13 assault at Patong
Azad Bayramian Britain January 13 assault at Patong
Sami Dennai France January 17 working without work permit in Patong
Salo Ilmo Rainer Finland January 18 theft from a minimart at Patong
Erik Andreas Hagstrom Sweden January 19 possession of marijuana in Patong
Watts Andrew William Britain January 23 dangerous driving of a vehicle at Patong
Raymond Jeffrey Laval Canada January 25 driving a vehicle while under the influence at Patong
Mohammad Osmankerim Australia January 25 assault in Patong
Frint Jonathan Jeffrey Britain January 30 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Boufars Ridouana France January 30 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Thoma Gottfried Germany February 3 driving dangerously at Patong
Alexander Albert Haddad Britain February 4 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Mehdi Issa Tunisia February 4 theft from a pub in Patong
Dmitry Bordilovskiy Russia February 5 assault
Vadim Zemlyanichenko Russia February 6 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Giorgio Zampese Italy February 8 possession of marijuna in Patong
Paul Roberth Ernst Norway February 15 possession of illegal drug at Patong
Van Eyseren Yeon Belgium February 15 fraud involving false papers at Phuket City
Gustav Mikael Berglund Sweden February 22 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Endang Subana Indonesia February 28 no visa at Patong
Cagney Reginald Ignatius Britain March 1 visa overstay at Patong
Winch Peter Martin Britain February 22 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
(Mrs) Garcia Delphine Eugenie France March 6 possession of maijuana at Kamala
Rajenderman Ramakrishnan Singapore March 10 sale of yah ba (methamphetamine) at Patong
Philip Mark Scott Britain March 10 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Roman Kopyev Kazakstan March 15 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Barrett Richard Agent United States March 13 possession of marijuana at Kamala
Benyalah Mohamed France March 16 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Daruosh Kaentaei France March 16 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
(Ms) Olga Lytkina Russia March 16 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Mehdi Issa Tunisia March 17 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Bounabi Bachir France March 19 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Errol Salih Britain March 15 bouncing a cheque in Patong
Selwiyn John Casey Britain March 15 bouncing a cheque in Patong
David Biosca Fernandez Spain March 19 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Luca Grimaldi Italy March 17 possession of marijuana at Tung Tong
Eres Bengiat Israel March 20 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
(Ms) Kwang Soo Lee South Korea March 19 no visa at Phuket City
Mark Richard Grexe Denmark march 19 visa overstay at Phuket City
Philips Ian Britain March 20 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Andrew Clements Australia March 19 sexual assault on a child at a school Thalang
Detlef Gerhard Hewer German March 17 fraud and deception at Kathu (Patong)
Kan Andreas Karlsson Sweden March 24 possession of marijuana in Patong
(Mrs) Anna Katharina Sweden March 24 possession of marijuana in Patong
Robert Anthony Parry Britain March 25 possession of valium and other prescription drugs
Bradley Thomas Miller US March 25 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Margotteao Nicolas France March 27 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Jan Wiebe Salkvist Denmark March 18 dangerous driving resulting in a death at Chalong
Andrew Rigby Britain March 30 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Bondarchenko Viatcheslav Russia March 27 possession of marijuana at Rawai
Villiam Simon Thomas Iceland April 3 visa overstay, assault police at Patong
Ryan Turgeon Canada April 4 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Zarkov Yordanivanov Afghanistan April 5 presentation of false passport at Phuket airport
(Ms) Syuleman Fatme Hahmud April 5 presentation of false passport at Phuket airport
Mehdi Issa Tunisia May 5 theft at Patong
Thomas Boberg Sweden April 7 driving a vehicle while under the influece in Patong
Enea Peto Albania April 7 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Viktor Rotzer Karavas Greece April 7 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Raymond Lloyd Wang-Afa Netherland April 8 assault in Patong
(Ms) Lydie Ragot France April 9 insurance fraud in Patong
Jeason Sebastien Riguelle Belgium April 12 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
David Marchetti Italy April 14 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Mahamadou Doucoure France April 15 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Michael Phillip Morris Australia April 15 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Keenan James Alexander Britain April 18 arrested with a child under 15 in Phuket City
Attal Andric Sydney Marcel France April 22 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Evgeny Dyachenko Russia April 22 driving a motorcycle while under the influence at Patong
Baxter Gerald Wknsor Canada April 24 arrested for playing dominos and gambling at Patong
Tang Jan Han Singapore April 24 riding a jet-ski without care and causing a death at Patong
Mario Wieser Australia April 14 assault at Tung Tong, surrendered to police April 24
(Mrs) Sviatlana Svetkina Russia April 26 theft at Kathu (Patong)
Aime Louis Camille France April 22 fraud at Cherng Talay
Phuket Police List Deaths of 33 Expats
Latest For the first time, police have released the names of 33 expats who have died on Phuket so far this year.
Phuket Police List Deaths of 33 Expats

Phuket Innovates as Island's Future Debated
Latest A second meeting between honorary consuls and Thai authorities leaves Phuket with a cohesive approach to creating an island destination with greater appeal for tourists.
Phuket Innovates as Island's Future Debated

LIVE UPDATE: 'No More Tuk-Tuks on Phuket'
LIVE UPDATE The Vice Governor is meeting with honorary consuls now. Here's an update as it happens. Refresh reload for the latest news
LIVE UPDATE: 'No More Tuk-Tuks on Phuket'

Patong's Hollywood Massacre 'Never Happened'
Latest Urban legends are a part of life but the report that two expats were killed is part of a myth about Hollywood disco in Patong that never happened, says the local police chief.
Patong's Hollywood Massacre 'Never Happened'

Phuket Tuk-Tuks Versus Light Rail, Pink Buses
UPDATE The process of improving Phuket's public transport has begun with a meeting about light rail and pink buses. Tuk tuk and taxi drivers aim to improve services to compete.
Phuket Tuk-Tuks Versus Light Rail, Pink Buses

Phuket Taxi Abuse: Cruise Line Slams 'Rip-Offs'
Latest Pressure to act on Phuket's taxi and tuktuk monopoly and rip off fares has increased with the criticisms of a cruise line that delivers thousands of tourists to the island.
Phuket Taxi Abuse: Cruise Line Slams 'Rip-Offs'

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

gravatar

Expats and visitors are two completely different things.

Editor: Some visitors are Thais. But aren't all expats visitors, whether or not they live here, temporarily or permanently? I guess those that become Thai citizens, though, are no longer expats or visitors.

Posted by Sam W on May 26, 2010 08:44

gravatar

Only two Americans, both for petty pot charges.

Editor: There's no such thing as a petty drug charge in Thailand.

Posted by MustavaMond on May 26, 2010 09:06

gravatar

And the winner is....Baxter Gerald Wknsor for getting arrested while playing dominoes for baht!

Posted by Cat on May 26, 2010 09:49

gravatar

Now, how about a list of Thais who have been arrested over the same period! That WOULD be interesting.

Editor: I don't understand. Why would that be interesting?

Posted by Antz Pantz on May 26, 2010 11:58

gravatar

would be interesting to know how many Thais get arrested for drunk driving.

Posted by VFaye on May 26, 2010 12:48

gravatar

Mr Ed, Antz Pantz and VFaye, Yes I too would like to know the comparative figures, then we can get an idea of just how big the drinking and driving problem on the island is. I see no reason not to request these figures, or is there something to hide, or is it once again middle finger time for the farang???

Posted by Robin on May 26, 2010 16:33

gravatar

Antz Pantz is exactly right. It would be great to compare this list on the drunken charges. In theory, since Thais outnumber the "visitors" by more than 1000:1 the arrests should be quite interesting. Names not needed, but some figures and what for, would be nice.

It would show equality issues for a start.

Editor: The law should certainly treat everybody equally, but a ratio of 1000:1? Hmmm, obviously some profound statistical analysis there. Expat tourists in Patong are more likely to behave foolishly, hence the talk of a drunks' centre for them. To me, the figures for expats in trouble over four months for the whole of Phuket are a fraction of the size that paranoid types would have us believe. The onus of proof surely falls on those who claim the law is unequal, not the other way around. Every drunk on wheels should be stopped, no matter what their background. These figures for expats have come to light because the honorary consuls want to know about all cases involving overseas nationals. Progress is being made. Can't we put the persecution complex to one side for now, please?

Posted by Tbs on May 26, 2010 19:57

gravatar

"Some of the cases have yet to be concluded, and in some cases, the people who have been accused deny their guilt."

Yet you chose to share them anyway. Nice.

Editor: It's standard procedure in all democracies for people charged with an offence to risk having the allegations reported by an alert media. Would you prefer it if Thailand was an authoritarian exception? You want your justice system to operate behind closed doors? North Korea . . . Burma . . . your options are shrinking.

Posted by Colin on May 26, 2010 20:47

gravatar

What fine ambassadors for their countries these people aren't!! No sympathy for the drunk drivers but I suppose some will blame the locals for the lack of a public transport system.

As usual it's never the individual's fault just the nasty MiB!! The police SO publish monthly crime stats - they are regularly available in another english language publication it may not be appropriate to mention here. I'm sure the Ed could publish the figures here as well as they are released.

No point in listing every name - there's not enough bitspace for it but the stats do make interesting reading.

Editor: The Phuket Gazette usually writes about crimes on Phuket, based on the monthly statistics. The document released on Monday and published in Phuketwan is the first summary of alleged crimes by expats. These expat figures may be recorded by Phuket police, but they have never before been published.

Posted by Mister Ree on May 26, 2010 21:44

gravatar

News is news and needs to be reported. However I can't help to wonder why is it necessary to publish the names, especially when it's only foreigners.

Publicity may go a long way in cutting down crime but then it should be levied equally.

Publish the names and crimes of Thais also or don't publish any names at all.

That aside, I saw a Thai man last night fall down on his motorbike on a side street because he was just so incredibly drunk. I went to the hotel next door asking the staff to call the police and help me to stop him from continuing his journey (he was unhurt) but they could not have cared less.

I called the police myself and I speak reasonably good Thai but they just hung up on me.

Trying to paint this DUI problem as a problem caused by foreigners is hogwash.

I support the strictest means of clamping it down but a major part of why many foreigners do it is because when in Rome, do as the Romans.

Thais do it all the time, everywhere, and just about never get caught. Even police can be seen driving drunk.

If the real purpose of this article is to try to reduce the number of DUI cases, which I struggle to believe, then these aspects of the problem should be addressed too.

Editor: The purpose of this article is to disclose for the first time in detail the level of interaction between police and expats on Phuket. Whether you drink and drive in Thailand or anywhere else is your affair. But when you kill or maim someone, blaming the locals for your approach may not be enough of an excuse to save you from deep trouble. Phuketwan is published in English for people who can read English, so a list of Thai names would serve no purpose. However, if fear of having their name published stops even one expat from drinking and driving, that's no bad thing.

Posted by Amazing Thailand on May 28, 2010 12:22

gravatar

"Thoma Gottfried Germany February 3 driving dangerously at Patong"

I'd like to see the Thai comparisons on this one.

Posted by Andyman on May 28, 2010 14:11

gravatar

It's nice to get a response from the editor. I am as anti-Drugs and anti-DUI as anyone can be.

However if the purpose of this article is to, as you put it, " disclose for the first time in detail the level of interaction between police and expats on Phuket " - I still don't understand why was it necessary to publish the names to achieve this ?

Nationality, age, gender and crime suspected of would suffice, no ?

I fully agree accusing others of similar crimes is pathetic. An individual always has the choice.

But it swings both ways. The elementary question should be why is DUI so widespread and socially condoned in Thailand ?

This is not the case in the countries a vast majority of foreigners on Phuket come from.

Publishing the names of suspects without their consent or even a note that all suspects are innocent until proven guilty by a court of law would land this publication into multiple lawsuits in most countries.

Admittingly that will not be the case here in Thailand as long as no-one makes the mistake of publishing similar information of a Thai Phu Yai but just because you can get away with something in Thailand you could not back home doesn't mean you should do it.

Quite similar to getting away with DUI over here but not back home ?

Editor: Anyone who is charged by police with an offence in Thailand, Britain, Australia or the US risks having their name reported, here or in those other democracies. You don't have to be convicted first. With more serious crimes on Phuket, and probably elsewhere in Thailand, the accused are paraded for the media. This happens with Thais and non-Thais . . . so you get your photo in the newspaper and on television, as well as your name. Names are only suppressed if the person charged is under age. We did not publish the list as a deterrent to people not to drink and drive, although it may have that effect. (The publication of the names of 33 dead expats is as good a reason as any not to die, though.) Without the names, there would be no point. I don't know whether driving under the influence is more prevalent in Thailand or elsewhere, but it's usually a matter in most places of what people can get away with, and whether the law is enforced rigorously. I guess (and this is purely a guess) the expats who are caught in Patong may attempt to drive while drunk right in front of police, making their behavior obvious, or are caught at checkpoints. I have yet to see anyone being pursued on Phuket for committing a driving offence.

Posted by Amazing Thailand on May 28, 2010 15:19

gravatar

Fascinating to see that Eric Salih and Selwayn Casey, bosses of the Lersuang Group, what was once one of the biggest foreign property companies in Phuket, being arrested for bouncing cheques in Patong :-) At least there is a record somewhere.

Posted by Andrew on May 29, 2010 17:15

gravatar

Note how women have their marital status titles listed. Presumably Ms. being the misspelled Miss, (unmarried) as a Mrs. (married) is included but not the men.
Will Thai English language media please stop this sexist practice rooted in "wife as property" mores.

Editor: Khun Horse Doctor, Our preference is for the Thai system, where men and women share the same honorific. As these names and honorifics or lack of them have been supplied to us by Phuket police in English, we have gone along with their spelling, and their honorifics. Your ''wife as property'' notion remains fanciful, if not ludicrous. I don't know where you come from, but there was a time when women who did not wish the honorific to declare their marital status decided that Ms was non-discriminatory and therefore much fairer. It is not and has never been a misspelling of Miss. If the Thai police are being non-discriminatory, that's no bad thing.

Posted by Horse Doctor on May 30, 2010 12:52

gravatar

and some people managed to buy their way out....

Posted by alain on May 30, 2010 17:26

gravatar

a Swiss national even succeeded to buy his way out, even though being a second time offender...caught with +1.6% of alcohol he got only community service....

Editor: Forgive me for being a journalist, Alain, but if his blood alcohol content was 1.6 percent, he was lucky to escape being very, very dead.

Posted by alain on May 31, 2010 15:15

gravatar

@Editor, Alain:
Alain was presumably talking about the alcohol inside the swiss sold to Thai beer, after filled with ice cubicles.

Posted by Lena on May 31, 2010 16:04

gravatar

editor, he did not give up the habit though...

Posted by alain on May 31, 2010 16:46

gravatar

Show us a list of Thai's arrested for all the various typical idiot offences they act out! What is this weird tendency that Phuketwan has to act like some "moral compass" for all to see? YOU ARE A NEWSPAPER, STICK TO REPORTING!!

Editor: Our prime interest (and yours too, judging from your unpublishable comment about expats from various places) is in the passport-holding expat community.

Posted by BOM on May 31, 2010 23:09

gravatar

Phuketwan,

I agree wholeheartedly Ms. is preferable to Miss or Mrs. and is comparable to Mr. in that it denotes no marital status.

My point is the article's author chose to only assign the various marital status titles to the females.

And if you honestly think women are not treated as marriage chattel in a large portion of the world, you are mistaken. Thailand even has its own version, "Sin Sod" is it called?

Posted by Horse Doctor on June 3, 2010 09:36

gravatar

would you not get drunk when it is your insurance company who is paying...

Posted by ozonetip on June 3, 2010 10:50

gravatar

not 1 single irish person.

Posted by thairish on June 4, 2010 01:49

gravatar

Baxter, this goes a long way to explaining why I've not seen you for a while. See you when you get out.

Posted by gimmyabrek on June 8, 2010 11:04

gravatar

Cool...15 Brits, 4 Canadians, and only 2 from the US.

Posted by Beccac on August 15, 2010 11:29

gravatar

Are you stupid!?

You are already the hero on the faschist xxxx web-site.

:-(

Posted by P. Hupe on November 11, 2010 14:57

gravatar

mr. Mario Wieser come from Austia and not from Australia.

Posted by Peter Mager on June 19, 2015 04:00


Monday December 23, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

FOLLOW PHUKETWAN

Facebook Twitter