News Forum - New Zealanders in hot water after assaulting Thai officer in Phuket

[Khunmark]

A suitable punishment for these two would be to confiscate their sheep, which would deny them the opportunity for sexual relations for a very long time.

[gesinphuket]

Phuket police need to get tougher on crime, allowing small crime to flourish encourages more crime, its a fact with many precedents and those that are involved in petty crime are involved all the way to the top.

[ChrisS]

6 hours ago, Fanta said:

Jail is extreme when a fine and compensation keeps everyone happy. 

During the course of their assaulting a police officer the firearm was discharged would you still feel the same if that bullet had killed a kid standing nearby? Put yourself in the position of the police officer, he is now confronted by two guys bigger than himwho have already tried to make off from a routine stop, he has no idea what type of people they may be or if they are armed. I am not suggesting that the 15 odd years that they COULD get for their offences is appropriate but a year or so in a Thai jail would I believe change their actions in the future. If they get fines which no doubt daddy will pay off they will be forever laughing about this matter with their mates, no lesson learned at all.

[thaicm]

Deportation and blacklisting should happen after they have been tried and served their sentences.  Thailand does not need tourists like this but simply kicking them out of the country and telling them they can't come back does not deter this kind of crime.

[ChrisS]

4 hours ago, gesinphuket said:

Phuket police need to get tougher on crime, allowing small crime to flourish encourages more crime, its a fact with many precedents and those that are involved in petty crime are involved all the way to the top.

Hard to get tough on crime when to some degree you are involved in it.

[Ramanathan.P]

On 3/18/2024 at 9:41 PM, jasper said:

I wonder what would happen if this incident was in Singapore versus Thailand?

They cannot simply ride a motorcycle as they like in SG or Malaysia. 

[PaleRider]

On 3/18/2024 at 11:37 AM, Vigo said:

"IMO, Thai cops are trigger happy and quick to pull their guns."
 

BS... I've lived here for years and have never seen a Thai police offer pull a gun. Do you live here? If not, get some knowledge before you post this BS.

 

[Marc26]

11 hours ago, Vigo said:

Yes they did. However, New Zealand isn't a gun culture and it is reasonable to understand that they were spooked by the copper drawing his firearm.  You lived in Canada, and you know the cops don't act like that. When that crazy incel guy ran down people in Toronto, the Toronto traffic cop ran up to him and took him down without drawing his weapon. In the USA or Thailand the cops would have unloaded their magazines and reloaded to fire again. No one is justifying criminal behaviour or being a jerk on a motorbike.

These guys were seemingly living in Thailand 

 

You can't impose your norms in your country when you travel or live abroad

 

It was stupid all around on thier part.....

[Marc26]

10 hours ago, Fanta said:

Who really knows the fear factor? We weren’t there. They broke the law and stuffed up badly. Jail is extreme when a fine and compensation keeps everyone happy. 

As you have said, we weren't there

 

And maybe it's the Americas company out on me 

 

But if I evade the police I'd fully expect them to pull a gun on me...

 

So the fear factor wouldn't be there

[BJoe]

Except for the publicity,  an apology and a “fat” brown envelope would have settled the case.  Now there are politics and “face”  involved . Justice would be a hefty fine, time in prison, and black listed for at least 10 years for these  money-entitled butt heads. 

[Metoo]

On 3/18/2024 at 11:07 PM, TedG said:

Those two should serve time in jail for assaulting a police officer. 

A police officer yes......but where in Thailand do you find a 'police officer'

I have yet to see a 'police officer' here in Thailand.

All I have seen are corrupt, inept, lying pieces of crap.....maybe I've been unlucky, but I've never met a 'police officer' here.

[Khunmark]

1 hour ago, Metoo said:

A police officer yes......but where in Thailand do you find a 'police officer'

I have yet to see a 'police officer' here in Thailand.

All I have seen are corrupt, inept, lying pieces of crap.....maybe I've been unlucky, but I've never met a 'police officer' here.

This particular police office REFUSED a bribe. Based on that, it’s reasonable to assume he has a moral code. Not ALL cops are corrupt it would seem.

[Fanta]

1 minute ago, Khunmark said:

This particular police office REFUSED a bribe. Based on that, it’s reasonable to assume he has a moral code. Not ALL cops are corrupt it would seem.

So he says….. The fact remains that he is a Thai cop in a tourist area and cops are well known for lying and preying upon tourists for easy pickings. Their reaction was either drug or fear induced. I can safely assume that because the cop isn’t dead. 

[Vigo]

14 hours ago, PaleRider said:

On 3/18/2024 at 12:37 AM, Vigo said:

"IMO, Thai cops are trigger happy and quick to pull their guns."
 

BS... I've lived here for years and have never seen a Thai police offer pull a gun. Do you live here? If not, get some knowledge before you post this BS.

Quick to assume aren't you. Perhaps you do not watch the news.  On Channel 27 right now they are showing the raid on the casino. Full swat team with automatic weapons to arrest old gamblers.   Are you one of those people who thinks because he married some local bar girl , wears amulets and makes those for show trips to the wat where he smiles and wais like a good lapdog, that he is now  very Thai and  this gives him the right to rudely dismiss  anyone who does not share the same experience?

Try living in Phuket or Nakhon si Thammarat and then you can be dismissive.

[Khunmark]

1 hour ago, Fanta said:

So he says….. The fact remains that he is a Thai cop in a tourist area and cops are well known for lying and preying upon tourists for easy pickings. Their reaction was either drug or fear induced. I can safely assume that because the cop isn’t dead. 

I’m at a loss as to your argument  here. Surely it’s not, the cop deserved all that came his way, because of the perception that cops in tourist areas are corrupt?

 

These two sheep shaggers wrote the handbook for what not to do on holidays abroad. Hire a motorbike without a license- bad idea. Ignore the road rules- bad idea. Attempt to bribe a police office- bad idea. Assault a police officer- bad idea. At every step, they had two choices and without exception took the wrong one.

[Fanta]

6 minutes ago, Khunmark said:

I’m at a loss as to your argument  here. Surely it’s not, the cop deserved all that came his way, because of the perception that cops in tourist areas are corrupt?

No. I am just saying if we want to pass judgment we need to look at both sides and that means not accepting things at face value. 

9 minutes ago, Khunmark said:

Hire a motorbike without a license- bad idea. Ignore the road rules- bad idea. Attempt to bribe a police office- bad idea.

All baddish yet all common day occurrences in LOS. You’ve never financially motivated a Thai cop? I ride big bikes irresponsibly so I contribute often. It’s a win win. 

14 minutes ago, Khunmark said:

Assault a police officer- bad idea.

A terrible idea that can get you legally killed. But was it a premeditated idea? Or a response to a perceived threat? 

[PhuketBloke]

15 minutes ago, Khunmark said:

I’m at a loss as to your argument  here. Surely it’s not, the cop deserved all that came his way, because of the perception that cops in tourist areas are corrupt?

These two sheep shaggers wrote the handbook for what not to do on holidays abroad. Hire a motorbike without a license- bad idea. Ignore the road rules- bad idea. Attempt to bribe a police office- bad idea. Assault a police officer- bad idea. At every step, they had two choices and without exception took the wrong one.

You said, "Attempt to bribe a police office- bad idea."

I can amend that to, "Attempt to bribe a police officer, after trying to run away, bad idea".

Stay calm, do as you are told, admit to what has happened, and then quietly ask if you can pay for this without going to the police station. They are not there to hurt you, they just want the dosh. 

No problem as if you do not have enough cash on you the policeman will give you a lift to the nearest ATM, and two minutes later you are allowed to drive away, once out of sight of the rest of the crowd. 

Been there, got the T-shirt.

Oh and for those of you who say they only target farangs, the group at the checkpoint waiting to be carted off to the police station of which I was one (prior to my escape due to the ATM payoff)  was 50% Thai.

I suppose they had to take some people in to show they had done a 'good job'.

[PhuketBloke]

4 minutes ago, PhuketBloke said:

You said, "Attempt to bribe a police office- bad idea."

I can amend that to, "Attempt to bribe a police officer, after trying to run away, bad idea".

Stay calm, do as you are told, admit to what has happened, and then quietly ask if you can pay for this without going to the police station. They are not there to hurt you, they just want the dosh. 

No problem as if you do not have enough cash on you the policeman will give you a lift to the nearest ATM, and two minutes later you are allowed to drive away, once out of sight of the rest of the crowd. 

Been there, got the T-shirt.

Oh and for those of you who say they only target farangs, the group at the checkpoint waiting to be carted off to the police station of which I was one (prior to my escape due to the ATM payoff)  was 50% Thai.

I suppose they had to take some people in to show they had done a 'good job'.

p.s. I suppose the people left in the crowd ready to go to the police station did not have 20,000 baht readily available so did not qualify for the ATM route.

[MrStretch]

Once again the conversation is devolving into name calling and "I know better than you" claims.

Really, people?

[PhuketBloke]

22 minutes ago, MrStretch said:

Once again the conversation is devolving into name calling and "I know better than you" claims.

Really, people?

It will probably evolve into people telling of their own experiences with the police in Thailand and not the assumptions that are being made on both sides with this article. 

[riclag]

Why would anyone assault a PO , anywhere in the world.

[Ramanathan.P]

When there is  no hidden skeleton in your baggage, no need to worry about anything. I have been riding all over Thailand since 2018. There are many road blocks I was stopped for a verification check. I have never paid a single bribe to anyone nor anyone has asked one from me. All they ask are the proper documents for verification. Once cleared everything goes on with a smile and bye-bye....So it all depends on the individual to follow the local rules and regulations, which many, especially visiting farangs think that they are superior to such laws. 

[PhuketBloke]

6 minutes ago, Ramanathan.P said:

When there is  no hidden skeleton in your baggage, no need to worry about anything. I have been riding all over Thailand since 2018. There are many road blocks I was stopped for a verification check. I have never paid a single bribe to anyone nor anyone has asked one from me. All they ask are the proper documents for verification. Once cleared everything goes on with a smile and bye-bye....So it all depends on the individual to follow the local rules and regulations, which many, especially visiting farangs think that they are superior to such laws. 

No farangs do not think they are superior to the laws they know like the Thais know they can buy themselves out of those situations.

They just go with the culture of the country, "When in Rome....."

You will find the vast proportion of the 24,000 deaths a year on Thai roads are caused by Thais who flout the laws, drunk driving, not wearing crash helmets, pickup trucks full of people in the back cargo area and not having their cars serviced to a safe standard.

Oh and a Thai driving licence is obtained at the driving level a ten-year-old could pass, have you seen the Thai driving tests being done on the off-road test circuits, they are funny to watch if at first you do not succeed have another go on the baby level circuit until you pass. 

 

[Ramanathan.P]

17 minutes ago, PhuketBloke said:

They just go with the culture of the country, "When in Rome....."

They are not Thais in Thailand. Every traveller have to make sure that they have the proper documents before travelling out of their country based on the activities that they are going to carryout in a different country. Simple document such as international driving permit and proper insurance coverage is a must, which many....sorry to say Farangs are neglecting and should anything happen to them, then they are pretending as cry baby or cloud funding....that is what happening in Thailand.

[PhuketBloke]

1 hour ago, Ramanathan.P said:

They are not Thais in Thailand. Every traveller have to make sure that they have the proper documents before travelling out of their country based on the activities that they are going to carryout in a different country. Simple document such as international driving permit and proper insurance coverage is a must, which many....sorry to say Farangs are neglecting and should anything happen to them, then they are pretending as cry baby or cloud funding....that is what happening in Thailand.

You said, ".....then they are pretending as cry baby or cloud funding....that is what happening in Thailand."

Most do not, most pay the bribe and go on their way, the reason this story is in the news is because it is rare. 

It happened to me a few years ago when we were allowed to drive on British licences for example, I did not know the amount of alcohol allowed into the system in Thailand was so low when using a non-Thai driving licence and so I was over the drink-drive limit.

I had had two small bottles of beer but the limit for me with a Brit licence was around one bottle of small beer so I was over the limit and so paid 20,000 baht on the spot.

I would not have been over the limit in the UK but it was my fault for not knowing the rules here so I paid up and that was that.

I drink zero alcohol now when I drive and when I drink I go by taxi. 

Plus now I have a Thai driving licence.