PHUKET: Officials have dismissed a claim by an American man who says that he was beaten by six officers while being held at a Phuket police station.
The American was examined by a doctor at Vachira Hospital Phuket in Phuket City on Friday, 10 days after the alleged beating, but found to have no signs of obvious wounds.
Phuket Prison Commander Rapin Nichanon confirmed today that the American, Jake Bordes, had been escorted briefly from the jail to undergo a medical examination on Friday, at the request of the US Embassy.
Visitors to cells at Phuket Provincial Court, where Mr Bordes was held for a time after being transferred from Chalong Police Station, which oversees southern Phuket, were told by Mr Bordes that he had been handcuffed to a chair and beaten by six men.
''It was difficult to see in the gloom of the cell but Jake's face certainly appeared to have sustained damage and he said his bloodied pants were caused by damage to his lips,'' one visitor said later.
''He gave an animated and detailed account of the beating, and showed us his wrists. It was difficult to distinguish in the bad light between his tattoos and what could possibly have been damage to his wrists, caused by being knocked over in the chair while wearing handcuffs.''
Mr Bordes is also believed to have complained of headaches since the alleged beating.
He continues to deny being guilty of two knifepoint robberies of female tourists from Australia and Finland in the Phuket beach district of Karon before his arrest by local volunteer officers, who took him to Chalong Police Station.
Sources at the station have admitted Mr Bordes may have been handcuffed to a chair and left in the room with the volunteer officers for a time.
It is believed Mr Bordes's brother has flown to Phuket to help him. US privacy laws prohibit the American Embassy in Bangkok from providing information about the case.
The American was examined by a doctor at Vachira Hospital Phuket in Phuket City on Friday, 10 days after the alleged beating, but found to have no signs of obvious wounds.
Phuket Prison Commander Rapin Nichanon confirmed today that the American, Jake Bordes, had been escorted briefly from the jail to undergo a medical examination on Friday, at the request of the US Embassy.
Visitors to cells at Phuket Provincial Court, where Mr Bordes was held for a time after being transferred from Chalong Police Station, which oversees southern Phuket, were told by Mr Bordes that he had been handcuffed to a chair and beaten by six men.
''It was difficult to see in the gloom of the cell but Jake's face certainly appeared to have sustained damage and he said his bloodied pants were caused by damage to his lips,'' one visitor said later.
''He gave an animated and detailed account of the beating, and showed us his wrists. It was difficult to distinguish in the bad light between his tattoos and what could possibly have been damage to his wrists, caused by being knocked over in the chair while wearing handcuffs.''
Mr Bordes is also believed to have complained of headaches since the alleged beating.
He continues to deny being guilty of two knifepoint robberies of female tourists from Australia and Finland in the Phuket beach district of Karon before his arrest by local volunteer officers, who took him to Chalong Police Station.
Sources at the station have admitted Mr Bordes may have been handcuffed to a chair and left in the room with the volunteer officers for a time.
It is believed Mr Bordes's brother has flown to Phuket to help him. US privacy laws prohibit the American Embassy in Bangkok from providing information about the case.
!0 days after....better late than never, or maybe not ?
Posted by Bjarne on November 7, 2011 13:02