PHUKET: Video-taping sexual assault allegations on Phuket has been suggested as a method that would prevent further ''cry rape'' scandals of the kind perpetrated by Australian tourist Stevie Bamford.
After admitting that she had lied to police when she claimed that she had been raped by a Phuket tuk-tuk taxi driver, Ms Bamford served 15 days' detention - then when she returned to Australia, reverted to her original claim.
The convicted liar's word was accepted without standard journalistic checks by a tabloid television program, 'Today Tonight.'
Her false allegations, under the headline 'Terror in Thailand,' were repeated on prime time national television across Australia last month without the show's reporter bothering to talk to Phuket police, the Phuket prosecutor's office or witnesses in the court case.
Police on Phuket, unhappy at being defamed on the show, have since reviewed the eye-witness evidence that probably would have been made available to 'Today Tonight' if a reporter had bothered to ask for it.
In the program, key Australian embassy officials were also defamed. The following is a key exchange between the reporter and Ms Bamford:
Q: The Australian Embassy were telling you to lie?
A: Basically yes, they said 'It's in your best interests.''
The acceptance by 'Today Tonight' of a convicted liar's claim that Australian embassy officials encouraged her to lie is certain to trigger an official reaction, but it will be measured and meaningful.
The option also exists for all female consular officials in the Australian embassy in Bangkok to sue, whether or not they were directly involved in the case.
By not naming the officer involved, yet making the point that the officer was a woman, the program collectively defamed all female consular staff at the embassy.
On Phuket, local honorary consuls have reacted with horror at the repetition of Ms Bamford's lies. Several have made the point that giving Ms Bamford credibility sets back the cause of all women on Phuket, especially those who claim to have been raped in the future.
One Australian woman, who has to remain anonymous because her Phuket rape claim was genuine, told Phuketwan ''No woman with a legitimate case will be taken seriously for a very long time.''
'Today Tonight' has yet to explain why it accepted the word of a convicted liar in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Phuket's only female police officer, Lieutenant Nuchchari Rongkeaw, was present on every occasion that Stevie Bamford was interviewed by Patong police.
She says Ms Bamford collapsed in tears when confronted with the security camera clips that proved she caught a motorcycle taxi, not a tuk-tuk, back to her resort on the night she claims she was raped.
The suggestion has been made that video-taping interviews with rape victims in future would not only ensure that women who make the claims are treated with care and consideration but also prevent another ''cry-rape'' liar from lying a second time.
After admitting that she had lied to police when she claimed that she had been raped by a Phuket tuk-tuk taxi driver, Ms Bamford served 15 days' detention - then when she returned to Australia, reverted to her original claim.
The convicted liar's word was accepted without standard journalistic checks by a tabloid television program, 'Today Tonight.'
Her false allegations, under the headline 'Terror in Thailand,' were repeated on prime time national television across Australia last month without the show's reporter bothering to talk to Phuket police, the Phuket prosecutor's office or witnesses in the court case.
Police on Phuket, unhappy at being defamed on the show, have since reviewed the eye-witness evidence that probably would have been made available to 'Today Tonight' if a reporter had bothered to ask for it.
In the program, key Australian embassy officials were also defamed. The following is a key exchange between the reporter and Ms Bamford:
Q: The Australian Embassy were telling you to lie?
A: Basically yes, they said 'It's in your best interests.''
The acceptance by 'Today Tonight' of a convicted liar's claim that Australian embassy officials encouraged her to lie is certain to trigger an official reaction, but it will be measured and meaningful.
The option also exists for all female consular officials in the Australian embassy in Bangkok to sue, whether or not they were directly involved in the case.
By not naming the officer involved, yet making the point that the officer was a woman, the program collectively defamed all female consular staff at the embassy.
On Phuket, local honorary consuls have reacted with horror at the repetition of Ms Bamford's lies. Several have made the point that giving Ms Bamford credibility sets back the cause of all women on Phuket, especially those who claim to have been raped in the future.
One Australian woman, who has to remain anonymous because her Phuket rape claim was genuine, told Phuketwan ''No woman with a legitimate case will be taken seriously for a very long time.''
'Today Tonight' has yet to explain why it accepted the word of a convicted liar in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Phuket's only female police officer, Lieutenant Nuchchari Rongkeaw, was present on every occasion that Stevie Bamford was interviewed by Patong police.
She says Ms Bamford collapsed in tears when confronted with the security camera clips that proved she caught a motorcycle taxi, not a tuk-tuk, back to her resort on the night she claims she was raped.
The suggestion has been made that video-taping interviews with rape victims in future would not only ensure that women who make the claims are treated with care and consideration but also prevent another ''cry-rape'' liar from lying a second time.
Whilst I can see the idea I think the most important issue here is that genuine rape victims should be able to talk to Police about the crime. The Thai Police have been very caring in providing a lady officer which encourages victims to talk. I think the additional pressure of being video-taped will alienate some already traumatised ladies. I do however think that a mandatory sentence much longer than 15 days should be given to people who lie to Police about being raped, something like three months in jail.
Posted by HappyFarang on September 7, 2012 15:34