PHUKET: British murder suspect Lee ''Pitbull'' Aldhouse is ''the worst prisoner we've ever had,'' Phuket Prison Commander Rapin Nichanon said today.
The one-time kickboxer, extradited from Britain to Phuket to face the serious charge, is said to constantly seek the title of VIP - Very Important Prisoner.
Commander Rapin confirmed today what Phuketwan had heard from other sources - that the muscular, dark-eyed 30-year-old ''wants everything special.''
''He is in a dormitory with 30 other men,'' said the commander. ''But he would like a cell to himself.
''He demands extra space when he sits down to eat. He wants western food. Lee is very, very naughty,'' Commander Rapin said.
In December, Aldhouse became the first Briton to be sent to Thailand under an extradition agreement between the two countries that had been in place for 101 years.
The details of the deal remain secret. Although it cannot be confirmed, it's believed that Thai authorities undertook that the pugnacious Brit would not face the death sentence in Thailand.
However, by recently pleading not guilty to the murder of American Dashawn Longfellow, Aldhouse has left himself liable to a severe penalty if found guilty.
Phuket judges usually reduce sentences by half if an accused pleads guilty and saves the presentation of a long and sometimes complicated prosecution case.
In three months inside Phuket Prison, a 112-year-old facility built for 800 but currently housing 2300, Aldhouse has not endeared himself to fellow inmates or his jailers.
Phuketwan has been reliably informed by other sources in Phuket Prison that Aldhouse is a serial complainer.
Although he is sleeping in the least crowded dormitory in the prison, he has not been happy with the space for his bed, Commander Rapin said.
He asks for western meals - including steak - when all the inmates are served Thai food. Having spent two years in jail in Britain fighting extradition, Aldhouse has comparisons to make.
''Other foreigners are no problem,'' the commander said. ''But Lee is the worst prisoner we've had on Phuket, Thai or foreign.''
When Aldhouse arrived back on Phuket under escort in December, the special nature of his incarceration deal was spelled out at a meeting at Chalong Police Station, in southern Phuket, where the murder investigation was centred.
The Executive Director of International Affairs at Thailand's Attorney General's Department, Intranee Sumawong, made it plain to local police, to Phuket prosecutors and to those in charge of his incarceration that the Aldhouse case was special.
Thailand's lawyers here and in Britain had worked extremely hard to win him back. Extra care had to be taken so as not to breach the terms of the agreement with Britain, she said at a long meeting.
Khun Intranee had flown especially to Britain and joined senior police who escorted Aldhouse back to Phuket.
Unfortunately, Aldhouse was also in the room when Khun Intranee briefed police and his jailers about the special nature of the case.
''Lee now believes he is a VIP,'' Commander Rapin said today. ''He says to us 'If you don't do this for me, I am going to tell the embassy.'''
Among the ''extras'' Aldhouse is said to have sought are his own shower and his own toilet. ''He is also selfish and inclined to scam other prisoners,'' Commander Rapin said.
Although extremely crowded, people who have served time inside Phuket Prison, a landmark in Phuket City, say it's clean and efficiently run.
Ladyboy katoeys who have had breast enhancements are imprisoned as men. Those who have had full sex changes are treated as female prisoners.
Trusted women prisoners perform massages at a facility open to the public while male prisoners give car washes.
The extra income supplements the prison kitchen, where three meals are served a day when most Thai prisons only serve two.
Known as a reformer, Commander Rapin says his only means of disciplining Aldhouse when he is ''naughty'' is to reduce the number of visitors he is allowed.
Aldhouse still has some local Phuket friends. British embassy officials visit every eight weeks.
Today Phuket's Governor, Maitree Inthusut, announced some good news. The government has finally given permission for a new Phuket Prison to be built to relieve the overcrowding at the old one.
Commander Rapin said Phuket's new jail will be ''the best prison in Thailand.'' ''It will have security cameras, high-technology security, and vastly improved conditions for prisoners,'' he said.
Whether Lee Aldhouse is overjoyed at the news of the new jail, Commander Rapin was unable to say. The new prison will take between two and five years to build.
If found guilty of murdering Longfellow, a likable former US Marine, Aldhouse is likely to remain a VIP on Phuket for some time to come.
His trial resumes in August.
The one-time kickboxer, extradited from Britain to Phuket to face the serious charge, is said to constantly seek the title of VIP - Very Important Prisoner.
Commander Rapin confirmed today what Phuketwan had heard from other sources - that the muscular, dark-eyed 30-year-old ''wants everything special.''
''He is in a dormitory with 30 other men,'' said the commander. ''But he would like a cell to himself.
''He demands extra space when he sits down to eat. He wants western food. Lee is very, very naughty,'' Commander Rapin said.
In December, Aldhouse became the first Briton to be sent to Thailand under an extradition agreement between the two countries that had been in place for 101 years.
The details of the deal remain secret. Although it cannot be confirmed, it's believed that Thai authorities undertook that the pugnacious Brit would not face the death sentence in Thailand.
However, by recently pleading not guilty to the murder of American Dashawn Longfellow, Aldhouse has left himself liable to a severe penalty if found guilty.
Phuket judges usually reduce sentences by half if an accused pleads guilty and saves the presentation of a long and sometimes complicated prosecution case.
In three months inside Phuket Prison, a 112-year-old facility built for 800 but currently housing 2300, Aldhouse has not endeared himself to fellow inmates or his jailers.
Phuketwan has been reliably informed by other sources in Phuket Prison that Aldhouse is a serial complainer.
Although he is sleeping in the least crowded dormitory in the prison, he has not been happy with the space for his bed, Commander Rapin said.
He asks for western meals - including steak - when all the inmates are served Thai food. Having spent two years in jail in Britain fighting extradition, Aldhouse has comparisons to make.
''Other foreigners are no problem,'' the commander said. ''But Lee is the worst prisoner we've had on Phuket, Thai or foreign.''
When Aldhouse arrived back on Phuket under escort in December, the special nature of his incarceration deal was spelled out at a meeting at Chalong Police Station, in southern Phuket, where the murder investigation was centred.
The Executive Director of International Affairs at Thailand's Attorney General's Department, Intranee Sumawong, made it plain to local police, to Phuket prosecutors and to those in charge of his incarceration that the Aldhouse case was special.
Thailand's lawyers here and in Britain had worked extremely hard to win him back. Extra care had to be taken so as not to breach the terms of the agreement with Britain, she said at a long meeting.
Khun Intranee had flown especially to Britain and joined senior police who escorted Aldhouse back to Phuket.
Unfortunately, Aldhouse was also in the room when Khun Intranee briefed police and his jailers about the special nature of the case.
''Lee now believes he is a VIP,'' Commander Rapin said today. ''He says to us 'If you don't do this for me, I am going to tell the embassy.'''
Among the ''extras'' Aldhouse is said to have sought are his own shower and his own toilet. ''He is also selfish and inclined to scam other prisoners,'' Commander Rapin said.
Although extremely crowded, people who have served time inside Phuket Prison, a landmark in Phuket City, say it's clean and efficiently run.
Ladyboy katoeys who have had breast enhancements are imprisoned as men. Those who have had full sex changes are treated as female prisoners.
Trusted women prisoners perform massages at a facility open to the public while male prisoners give car washes.
The extra income supplements the prison kitchen, where three meals are served a day when most Thai prisons only serve two.
Known as a reformer, Commander Rapin says his only means of disciplining Aldhouse when he is ''naughty'' is to reduce the number of visitors he is allowed.
Aldhouse still has some local Phuket friends. British embassy officials visit every eight weeks.
Today Phuket's Governor, Maitree Inthusut, announced some good news. The government has finally given permission for a new Phuket Prison to be built to relieve the overcrowding at the old one.
Commander Rapin said Phuket's new jail will be ''the best prison in Thailand.'' ''It will have security cameras, high-technology security, and vastly improved conditions for prisoners,'' he said.
Whether Lee Aldhouse is overjoyed at the news of the new jail, Commander Rapin was unable to say. The new prison will take between two and five years to build.
If found guilty of murdering Longfellow, a likable former US Marine, Aldhouse is likely to remain a VIP on Phuket for some time to come.
His trial resumes in August.
Whilst I'm in no way sympathetic to this individual at all, key to his treatment has to be the terms agreed between the UK and Thailand for his incarceration. These terms would certainly have been made clear to him before he left the UK. So, single cell, toilet and western food would be taken for granted in the UK, particularly for a prisoner on remand (don't forget he's not been convicted yet).
I think it's also extremely unethical for the head of the prison to bring these matters into the public domain, and I'm fairly certain that there will be a complaint from the UK Government forthcoming.
Posted by Phil on March 1, 2013 18:31
Editor Comment:
The Thai authorities - or at least some of them - would have been prepared to provide more western-style treatment if it had been required to win an extradition. However, it proved unnecessary. The special conditions should, of course, be made public. Perhaps an enterprising reporter in Britain can use freedom of information legislation to discover what they are.