Young Swedish couple in jail for stealing 2 t-shirts in Patong

[repeter]

A young (20-25 y o) swedish couple on holliday in Patong Beach have been sent to prison 1 year and 3 months for stealing 2 t-shirts. They got 2,5 years but after confessing to the big theft they got their time cut in half.
They was arrested Dec 1.

Svenskar stal t-shirts – dömdes till fängelse | Nyheter | Aftonbladet (swedens biggest newspaper)

Do Phuket really need this? What about a thai doing the same crime?

repeter

----------------------------------------------------------------------



Svenskar stal t-shirts
dömdes till fängelse
Man och kvinna dömda till ett år och tre månaders fängelse
På sin semseterresa i Thailand greps två unga svenskar för att ha stulit två t-shirts från en butik på Patong beach.

Paret som kommer från Ulricehamnstrakten dömdes i dag till ett år och tre månaders fängelse.

– De har erkänt och fick sitt brott halverat tack vare det, säger Amelie Heimsjö, UD:s presstjänst.

Mannen och kvinnan greps den första december och har sedan dess suttit häktade i väntan på dom för stöld/häleri.

– Vi kan bekräfta att det rör sig om två svenskar i 20 till 25-årsåldern. Domen blev två år och sex månader vardera. Eftersom de erkände brottet så halverades straffet, säger Amelie Heimsjö.

Personal från svenska UD har varit i kontakt med mannen och kvinnan sedan gripandet på Patong beach.

– De har de fått besök från vårt konsulat i Phuket. Men vi har inte varit inblandade mer än så. Vi har inte ännu sett den skriftliga domen. Den ska komma först om ett par veckor.

[11]

Punishment fitting the crime - NOT!

Good job they wernt in Iran ... but seriously it cant be good publicity for a country that has suportted Thailand post tsunami etc etc ...

[LivinLOS]

Horrible press..

But thais also get extreme sentences sometimes.. Fact is with 3rd world standard of judges someone will get off and another get massive time like the above.

They knew they were stealing in a foreign country.. It was a premeditated crime and they got caught.. It wasnt an accident and they got punished (which happens a lot too) so my sympathy factor is really low.

[Nautilus]

LivinLOS, i agree with you on 3rd world judges, i have seen cases in Msia where someone can get a heavier sentence for stealing something instead of murder.

[ATMwalking]

I'm just glad to see the pace of bad press hasn't let-off.

Yesterday was something war crime type activity in the south. Today harsh prison terms for petty theft.

It's important to keep up the pace.

[LivinLOS]

Yeah Chris.. Google news this morning.. Thai soldiers torturing captives held without warrant etc..

Nothing says 'Banana Republic' more then out of control police / security forces.

[LivinLOS]

I feel far more sorry for the people caught up in accident issues..

Thread on another forum about an expat, with full first class insurance, sober etc.. Bike rider without helmet or license flys in front of him and through the Thais actions gets killed. The insurance company pretty much washed thier hands of assistance, he made his own bail, and the Thai family wants 14,500,000 in death compo.. He went to court for what he thought was a simple preliminary hearing of the accident to be thrown in jail for a few days (part of the negotiations of course).. Its farang v Thai so dont expect any kind of assistance from any level of the judiciary. Hes now looking at jail, lost life in Thailand, fleeing under bail.. **** knows what !!

That kind of thing is always there to haunt you and simply nothing you can do to avoid it.

[JayBee]

A young (20-25 y o) swedish couple on holliday in Patong Beach have been sent to prison 1 year and 3 months for stealing 2 t-shirts.

WTF were they thinking? Is there any conceivable reason in the world to pinch a couple shirts from some poor vendor? Gross stupidity!!

BTW, I had an acquaintance(friend's brother) who got life imprisonment in CA for stealing a used saw from the lumberyard, on account of the 3rd strike rule. He bought some lumber, had a yardman cut the boards for him, then while he was loading up, the guy went back in the shop, leaving his saw sitting there on a bench, so he picked it up and threw it in the cab of his truck. How stupid is that? But then I never met anybody more stupid and dishonest than him.

[repeter]

I'm just glad to see the pace of bad press hasn't let-off.

Yesterday was something war crime type activity in the south. Today harsh prison terms for petty theft.

It's important to keep up the pace.

This is from Swedish national TV´s text TV

138 SVT Text Onsdag 14 jan 2009
UTRIKES Publicerad 13 januari

Thailand anklagas för tortyr

Människorättsorganisationen Amnesty
anklagar i en ny rapport Thailand för
systematisk tortyr i form av
elchocker, misshandel och nedkylning.
Amnesty har dokumenterat minst fyra
dödsfall till följd av tortyren.

I södra Thailand pågår ett gerilla-
krig där militanta muslimer utför
sprängattentat och mördar buddhister.
Flera tusen människor har dödats.

Amnesty International betonar att
gärningarna inte rättfärdigar över-
grepp från myndigheterna och kräver
att den thailändska regeringen agerar
mot tortyren.



Is is about Amnesty International acusing Thailand for torturing the muslim rebels in south Thailand.

No suprise that the charter company Solresor has canceled all fligths to Phuket. Customers got money back,


Svenskar snuvas på solresor | Nyheter | Aftonbladet (swedish only)

[marc26]

I feel far more sorry for the people caught up in accident issues..

Thread on another forum about an expat, with full first class insurance, sober etc.. Bike rider without helmet or license flys in front of him and through the Thais actions gets killed. The insurance company pretty much washed thier hands of assistance, he made his own bail, and the Thai family wants 14,500,000 in death compo.. He went to court for what he thought was a simple preliminary hearing of the accident to be thrown in jail for a few days (part of the negotiations of course).. Its farang v Thai so dont expect any kind of assistance from any level of the judiciary. Hes now looking at jail, lost life in Thailand, fleeing under bail.. **** knows what !!

That kind of thing is always there to haunt you and simply nothing you can do to avoid it.

not live in a country that doesnt want you
there is just more and more examples
THEY DONT WANT US THERE

[inthemode]

not live in a country that doesnt want you
there is just more and more examples
THEY DONT WANT US THERE

I don't agree with you my friend.

I live here and I see it everyday. It's different when you live here.

[11]

not live in a country that doesnt want you
there is just more and more examples
THEY DONT WANT US THERE

Think there is some element of truth in this - they tolerate us here (I'm talking long termers/expats here) provided we fit in - lay low and don't try and impose our way of life/belief systems upon them.

There's an "infamous" proverb in Japanese, "deru kugi ha utareru" - as the dictionary translates as:

"the nail which sticks out gets hammered down (used to encourage conformity)"

This maybe a Japanese proverb but fits just as well for all Asia - Japan to India.

Keep a low profile and understand Thai 'ways' and 'beliefs' and living here most times beats the hell out of living in most 'Western' countries.

Of course what the Thais love best is the fresh of the plane noob tourist, but thats no different from any other tourist destination. Once farang ''lou mak mak'' then they become more wary and less excited by our presence.

[JayBee]

I live here and I see it everyday.

We can see what you're looking at! 55555...........

[minikraut]

A young (20-25 y o) swedish couple on holliday in Patong Beach have been sent to prison 1 year and 3 months for stealing 2 t-shirts. They got 2,5 years but after confessing to the big theft they got their time cut in half.
They was arrested Dec 1.

Svenskar stal t-shirts – dömdes till fängelse | Nyheter | Aftonbladet (swedens biggest newspaper)

Do Phuket really need this? What about a thai doing the same crime?

repeter

1 year three month - sure over the top!! but stealing?? t-shirts??? pure stupidity!!
btw. repeter, my swedish is non existent. is there something on english news about it ??

not live in a country that doesnt want you
there is just more and more examples
THEY DONT WANT US THERE

sorry marc, i can not agree, even when sometimes it seems like it.there is still a lot of good, friendly thais too!
and never forget: it's 3rd world!!

[LivinLOS]

This maybe a Japanese proverb but fits just as well for all Asia - Japan to India.

Keep a low profile and understand Thai 'ways' and 'beliefs' and living here most times beats the hell out of living in most 'Western' countries.

I think theres a Chinese one along the lines of 'the tall poppy has its head cut off' which is even more ominous.. And agree that social conformity and lack of sense of the individual over the group is an asian thing from Beijing To Bali.

Tho the example of the random not your fault car crash having the repercussions I mention would be sickening.

[JayBee]

Tho the example of the random not your fault car crash having the repercussions I mention would be sickening.

In reality, if you hit someone with your car, and they are killed by it, then you are going to have to pay big money in the West, as well, no matter who is at fault. The difference here is that your insurance company will cover it. If you have no insurance, then you are screwed.

[LivinLOS]

In reality, if you hit someone with your car, and they are killed by it, then you are going to have to pay big money in the West, as well, no matter who is at fault. The difference here is that your insurance company will cover it. If you have no insurance, then you are screwed.

So if a drunk, helmetless, unlicensed and uninsured rider, comes out of a junction without looking, into your path.. Your going to pay huge penalties ??

Not in the UK your not.

[1904]

Back to thread - bet they do not steal in Thailand again !! - errr if and when they are released

[JayBee]

So if a drunk, helmetless, unlicensed and uninsured rider, comes out of a junction without looking, into your path.. Your going to pay huge penalties??

If he dies, someone will pay for it.

[visa2003]

Every Bg, Tg or general Thai (male , female and the ones in between) that I have spoken to about this issue have ALL said....... if you witness or are involved in an incident, get the hell out of the area ASAP, and if someone should ask about it, plead ignorance!!!
The Thai way it seems!!!

[Dodger]

not live in a country that doesnt want you
there is just more and more examples
THEY DONT WANT US THERE

How easy was it to get a visa or permanent residency, for yourself and wife to live in Canada??? Do they want you both there? 555555555555!!

No country wants foriegners, no country will treat them equally, UK we immediately treat them better than our indiginous person!!!

[Goong]

In reality, if you hit someone with your car, and they are killed by it, then you are going to have to pay big money in the West, as well, no matter who is at fault. The difference here is that your insurance company will cover it. If you have no insurance, then you are screwed.

That's true, but there is a difference. In the west, if you are in the right, then you're ok 99% of the time, but in LOS, if you are in the right you are still in the wrong.
I got put in the sin bin in Khon Kaen when i was 100% in the right. The MIB even admitted i was in the right but also mentioned that i was a farang and she was Thai and my car was bigger than her motorbike so i had to pay.

[1904]

How easy was it to get a visa or permanent residency, for yourself and wife to live in Canada??? Do they want you both there? 555555555555!!

No country wants foriegners, no country will treat them equally, UK we immediately treat them better than our indiginous person!!!

BUT UK goes overboard to help the immigrants no UK person wants - social payments, NHS, housing, & ignores it own domestic problems - then the immigrant decides UK no good & goes back to home their country therfore not repaying his/her debt to the economy !!!! IMHO

[kris-one]

BUT UK goes overboard to help the immigrants no UK person wants - social payments, NHS, housing, & ignores it own domestic problems - then the immigrant decides UK no good & goes back to home their country therfore not repaying his/her debt to the economy !!!! IMHO

I’m all for immigration if they add something to society and also all in favour of offering asylum to those being persecuted but at the moment in the UK what really gets my back up is those Eastern Europeans that came over here when they joined the EU and were welcomed by the UK are now going home as the UK slips further into a recession....so i have to agree with you 1904

[1904]

I’m all for immigration if they add something to society and also all in favour of offering asylum to those being persecuted but at the moment in the UK what really gets my back up is those Eastern Europeans that came over here when they joined the EU and were welcomed by the UK are now going home as the UK slips further into a recession....so i have to agree with you 1904

same same, but more negatives than positive, me thinks

[Captain]

I can't call what happened to the Swedes justice.
You have to confess and then your penalty is halved???? What has that to do with justice? Judge gives a verdict and this must not change with pleading guilty or not guilty. So even if not guilty in Thailand you have to confess (to something you didn't do) in order to get a lighter penalty????
You commit a crime, then there is a penalty, but 2½ years for stealing 2 T-shirts? You can kill a farang couple and get of with less.

[LivinLOS]

How easy was it to get a visa or permanent residency, for yourself and wife to live in Canada??? Do they want you both there? 555555555555!!

No country wants foriegners, no country will treat them equally, UK we immediately treat them better than our indiginous person!!!

Might not be easy but he will have it..

How many TG's do we know who have ended up with PR and citizenship of western countries..

Now how many Farangs do you know with citizenship for here ??

[LivinLOS]

I can't call what happened to the Swedes justice.
You have to confess and then your penalty is halved???? What has that to do with justice? Judge gives a verdict and this must not change with pleading guilty or not guilty. So even if not guilty in Thailand you have to confess (to something you didn't do) in order to get a lighter penalty????
You commit a crime, then there is a penalty, but 2½ years for stealing 2 T-shirts? You can kill a farang couple and get of with less.

Standard system in a country with a very weak police force.. They are often useless at getting real evidence, and not screwing up clues and crime scenes..

Hence they need to incentivise confessions..

[marc26]

I don't agree with you my friend.

I live here and I see it everyday. It's different when you live here.

that guy lived there
it is fine and dandy but what happens when something goes wrong?

[capetownbarry]

We all love going to los....But for some reason we pretend that its a first world country...Its not...You have no rights as we have in the west( im including south africa here..not sure why)...The sooner the thais start embracing the farangs that come to there country the better....They do there best to make it almost impossible for you to work and to live there...Perhaps as the down turn in the worlds economy continues thais will begin to understand how important tourism is to them

while not condoning what the swedes did(just stupid) the sentence far out weighs the crime....what kind of justice is that...bet no thai will get a sentence like that.....its the last time i going to walk out of mtb with out paying 5555