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Denis Cavatassi, accused of murdering fellow Italian Luciano Butti

Photo by phuketwan.com/file

Phuket's Expat Crimes List Grows Longer

By Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian

Sunday, May 22, 2011

PHUKET: APRIL 12, the eve of Thai New Year on Phuket this year, saw Patong police pounce and arrest expat tourists in numbers for driving and drinking. But worse things have happened on Phuket in the past few weeks.

An official Phuket police list of expats who have allegedly committed crimes over the past three months on Phuket proves to be much, much longer than the short list of victims.

The more serious cases - including the alleged murder of an Italian expat by an Italian expat, the alleged rape of a Swedish woman by a taxi driver, and a large airport cocaine haul - have been reported on Phuketwan.

The latest list will be presented to Phuket's honorary consuls when they meet with Governor Tri Augkaradacha and Phuket police on Monday.

The list is compiled in the office of Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong and the fact that it can be published is an indication of the transparency now being applied to police cases involving expats as both alleged perpetrators and victims.

Before the Phuket honorary consuls' meetings began last year, there was no list, so myths and rumors often flourished about Phuket expats and crime.

It should be noted that the list is of alleged Phuket perpetrators. The courts have yet to decide guilt or innocence in many of the more significant cases.

We presume those involved are innocent until Phuket courts make a decision.

Thai police and embassies make no distinction between tourists and expat residents, so Phuketwan uses the word ''expat'' to describe all non-Thai passport holders.

Alleged Expat Perpetrators since February 16

Sidhoum Mohammed France drinking and driving Patong, February 16
Alexander Chernyshev Russia drinking and driving, Patong February 16
Sergey Tarasov Russia drinking and driving, Patong February 20
Tomas Martin Salin Sweden drinking and driving, Patong February 24
Adam Joseph Williams New Zealand assault in Patong, February 27
Houtave Didier Karel Simmone Belgium expired work permit Phuket City, March 1
Gennady Kononenko Russia drinking and driving, Patong March 5
Schneider Horst Germany theft Carrefour Patong, March 7
Peter Czerny Australia drinking and driving, Patong, March 5
Lundqvist Bjorn Lennart Sweden visa overstay Phuket City, March 4
Markos Savvidis Greek possession of marijuana Kamala, March 7
Simon Muri Bo Norway drinking and driving, Patong, March 8
Aston Jones Britain drinking and driving, Patong, March 8
Robin Thomas Jansson Sweden drinking and driving, Patong, March 8
John Nicolas Redling Sweden theft at Jungceylon, March 3
Hernandez Alvarez Columbia possession of marijuana Tachatchai, March 11
Mohammad Farhan Afghanistan use of fake passport Airport, March 10
Martin Holzer Germany posession of marijuana Patong, March 13
Ene Bogdan Constantin Rumania credit card forgery Patong, March 13
Vilvoi Claudiu Constantin Rumania credit card forgery Patong, March 13
Gavrila Florin Eugen Rumania credit card forgery Patong, March 13
Gavrila Alexandra Rumania credit card forgery Patong, March 13
Christopher Adam Jackson US possession of cocaine Thalang, March 13
Leonid Tsvetkov Russia drinking and driving Patong, March 14
Saad Baker Kuwait drinking and driving Patong, March 15
Rashed Alshsmmsri Kuwait drinking and driving Patong, March 15
Robin Salaruck Johansen Norway drinking and driving Patong, March 15
Bekir Karahan France driving dangerously Patong, March 18
Mikko Sarkela Finland theft at Karon, March 16
Irina Yayapenko Russia working with no permit Thalang, March 17
Walters Brendon David Australia possession of crystal meth Kathu, March 21
Peter Heinz German visa overstay Phuket City, March 21
Denis Cavatassi murder Paklok, March 15
Liu Shuping China theft Orchid Resort Karon, March 16
Liu Jianhua China theft Orchid Resort Karon, March 16
Liu Shuidong China theft Orchid Resort Karon, March 16
Philippe Georges Koch Philippines employment of illegal workers Patong, March 23
Eriel Marcus Hagen Sweden possession of marijuana, Banana Disco Patong March 24
Raymond Wallace Elbe US working with no permit at Tiger muay thai Chalong, March 24
Zaccaria Christophe Dariel France fraud Patong, March 26
Stephen Alan Griffey Britain overstay of visa Patong, March 28
Janne Matti Tapani Sillanpaa Sweden overstay of visa Phuket City, March 29
Domenico Amodio Italy overstay of visa Patong, March 30
Daniel James Hodgson Britain overstay, drinking and driving Patong, April 1
Dmitry Peskov Russia no licence, drinking and driving Patong, April 7
Paul Thomas Hanna Britain possesion of cocaine Patong, April 10
Jeffry Robert Saller Australia drinking and driving Patong, April 12
Amir Hossien Zarabi Britain drinking and driving Patong, April 12
Nicolas Wurtz France drinking and driving Patong, April 12
Sergey Kovshov Russia drinking and driving Patong, April 12
Antonello Fortunato Italy drinking and driving Patong, April 12
Donny Ludovic France drinking and driving Patong, April 12
Afshar Omeidi Sweden drinking and driving Patong, April 12
Christopher Takis Britain possession of marijuana Patong, April 12
Tommi Mikka Sjoblom Finlad drinking and driving Patong, April 12
Oulare Bakary Guinea theft from apartment Phuket City, April 14
Simon Richard Warner Britain possesssion of drug Patong, April 15
Brahimi Ahmad Idris France drinking and driving Patong, April 17
Mats Storm Sweden drinking and driving Patong, April 17
Boriau Luk Francois Belgium drinking and driving Patong, April 17
Emanual Carlos Da Costa Sweden drinking and driving Patong, April 21
Behzad Paraster Mansouri Iran drinking and driving Patong, April 24
Albin Greiner Austria drinking and driving Patong, April 26
Vera Louis Martinson Sweden false report to police Patong, April 28
Andrey Cherkasov Russia possession of marijuana Rawai April 3
Mike Pierre Zhille Switzerland possession of cocaine Chalong, April 26
Steven Stander South Africa theft at Nai Harn beach, April 28
Anne Laumei New Zealand drinking and driving Patong, April 30
Heiko Erich Sobetzko German drinking and driving Patong, April 30
Parker Marcus Simpson Britain possession of crystal meth, Chalong April 30
Miki Maksim Clasanovic German possession of crystal meth, Chalong April 30
Jamie Falconer Britain drinking and driving Patong, May 6
Onta Vongsavanh Laos possession of crystal meth Tachatchai, May 3
Hatisua Melnikova Russia working without permit in Kata, April 27
Peter Balmer Switzerland possession of cocaine Airport, May 3
Yong Ouk Jeong Korea possession of crystal meth Airport, May 10
Andrew Ian Aitken Australia drinking and driving Patong, May 11
Pavel Sergunov Russia drinking and driving Patong, May 12
Steven King Britain drinking and driving Patong, May 13
Guillermo Eliseo Chile drinking and driving Patong, May 17

Alleged Expat Victims since February 16

Paul Treherne Britain theft ATM Patong, February 5
Nikolay Borets Russia theft Tungtong, March 8
Name Suppressed Sweden rape by taxi driver Karon, April 10
Name Suppressed Britain victim of genital exposure Karon, April 18
Lisa Romeo Australia theft Nai Harn beach, April 28
Fabrice Ferdinand Tassous France victim of cheating Patong April 28
Armando Enrique Segura Australia victim of attack Patong, April 30

Phuket Expat Deathlist Topped by Seven British Men
Exclusive More than one third of the expat deaths recorded on an official police list of fatalities for the past three months on Phuket have been British males. Some deaths are still being overlooked.
Phuket Expat Deathlist Topped by Seven British Men

Phuket Expat Deaths Missing from Envoys' List
Latest Phuketwan continues to find omissions from a list of the deaths of expats on Phuket. The list, provided to envoys, should be complete. Drownings at Karon beach seldom seem to be listed.
Phuket Expat Deaths Missing from Envoys' List

Six Phuket Expat Drownings, Deaths, Unrecorded
Latest A list that is supposed to include all expat deaths on Phuket for the year so far actually fails to include at least six expat deaths, four of them drownings at Karon and Kata beaches.
Six Phuket Expat Drownings, Deaths, Unrecorded

Phuket Crime: List of Expats Charged, and Victims
Latest For the first time in 2010, Phuket's honorary consuls were provided with quarterly lists of the expats who were arrested for offences, and those who were victims of crimes.
Phuket Crime: List of Expats Charged, and Victims

Phuket Murder: Italian Partner Accused of Butti Killing
Breaking News An Italian business partner and six Thais are accused of the gun murder of Phuket and Phi Phi businessman Luciano Butti. Three of the accused are still being pursued.
Phuket Murder: Italian Partner Accused of Butti Killing

Swedish Tourist Gives Rape Evidence So She Can Fly
Latest A Swedish tourist who alleges she was raped by a Phuket taxi driver has given evidence to a judge and will be able to fly home with her family as scheduled.
Swedish Tourist Gives Rape Evidence So She Can Fly

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

Do you really believe only 7 people were the victims of crime in 3 months ??

You can count on 7 people a night in Patong police station but of course the majority don't get officially reported, and the police discourage the workload.

Posted by LivinLOS on May 22, 2011 18:26

Editor Comment:

I assume that when you say ''you'' you mean me. Scores of people are the victims of crime every month but the official police list contains only seven expats. These are the victims of crimes that police consider important enough to report to honorary consuls. Most expats in police stations are there to pay traffic fines.

cant help but notice, but there aren't too many women's names listed as perpetrators!

wonder if that is normal ratio or if it's Phuket?

Posted by sailorgirl on May 22, 2011 19:58

Editor Comment:

Good question.

its only alleged though isn't it so don't think they are guilty!! because they arnt yet.

Posted by poppop on May 22, 2011 23:10

no americans on the list?

Posted by mikey on May 22, 2011 23:15

Since this is part of their new transparency, I take it, it's not just for expats. Is there a Thai list as well? As I would love to see how many were stopped for the following crime.

Bekir Karahan France driving dangerously Patong, March 18

Dangerous driving? OMG - has anyone not been nearly killed by Thai people driving dangerously?

Posted by Tbs on May 23, 2011 02:10

Editor Comment:

The lists have been prepared specifically to allay concerns about the safety and security of passport-holding expats. Thais do not have honorary consuls to check on their welfare. If there were repeated complaints that expats were being more harshly treated than Thais, envoys would be obliged to raise it as an issue.

"These are the victims of crimes that police consider important enough to report to honorary consuls."

So by that do we understand that stealing a mans million euro property portfolio and throwing his chridren down a well for a few days isnt really important enough to report ??

They sure do set a high bar.

"Most expats in police stations are there to pay traffic fines."

We were talking about the victims now not the perps are we not ??

Posted by LivinLOS on May 23, 2011 09:57

Editor Comment:

How does an expat establish a ''million euro property portfolio'' in a country where he can't own land?

Perhaps this particular case hasn't reached the stage where a formal accusation has been made and an arrest warrant issued.

"Perhaps this particular case hasn't reached the stage where a formal accusation has been made and an arrest warrant issue"

You reported the police investigation issues on this very site. The maid is in jail awaiting trial and an accomplice to the child abuse is being sought. The theft of 7 houses from company ownership and child abuse of a terrible nature isnt worth reporting to ambassadors ?? Or not worth questioning the information as reported ??

Posted by LivinLOS on May 23, 2011 12:33

Editor Comment:

You must have confused Phuketwan with some other site.

"You must have confused Phuketwan with some other site."

Short memory ?? Search "Phuket Gang Accused" where you covered Drummond's detailed reporting in brief.

Posted by LivinLOS on May 23, 2011 21:08

Editor Comment:

I wouldn't confuse our own coverage with the summary of events from other sources. Nor should you. If we attribute the coverage to another site, that's where you should go to inquire about details and developments.

I dont need the details.. I am pointing out that your list of crimes against non Thais is wrong. Your own website reported a massive crime, in which people are jailed and others being hunted, bangkok police are involved, a man is living in hiding, and more than a million euros of property was stolen.

Yet it doesn't make the list. Why not ?? as a journalist doesnt that make you want to check or ask when provided the figures ?

Posted by LivinLOS on May 24, 2011 07:22

Editor Comment:

It's not ''our'' list. It's the official Phuket police list. For obvious reasons, civil cases are not included. We don't intend to ask police why civil cases are not included.

Some time ago, the central character involved in this murky case contacted Phuketwan and wanted us to report the story - without using his name.

We told him he would need to be named, and that, given the scale of the accusations, we'd also need a statutory declaration. He did not get back to us.

His story has now been well-told - on another site, by a highly-regarded Bangkok-based journalist. We're not interested in retelling well-told events.

As you've pointed out, we've informed our readers where they can find the existing thorough account.

We haven't ''reported'' the incident, and we have no intention of duplicating what's already been done.

For much the same reasons, we also don't plan on reporting our own version of 'Thai Woman Who Wiggled Ass on British Television Now Better Known Than Thaksin'.

Readers are welcome to tell us what to do as journalists, but if we have any obligation, it's to consider the viewpoints of those few long-term, paid-up subscribers . . . and then we'll make our own decisions, thanks.