News Forum - Thai-tanic turmoil: British retirees escape Thailand prison drama

[Thaiger]

In an astonishing twist of fate, an elderly British couple have narrowly avoided what had seemed an inevitable prison sentence in Thailand. Instead, they’ve been handed 9,000 baht fines (£200), allowing them to plan their much-anticipated return to the UK. Their ordeal began in 2020 when Des and Mary Byrne retired to Thailand’s picturesque Thai … …

The story Thai-tanic turmoil: British retirees escape Thailand prison drama as seen on Thaiger News.

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[Mamachigawa]

What is the rest of the story?

[Fanta]

So they pled guilty because they realised they didn’t have a hope in corrupt Thailand. Shameful state of affairs. 

[ChrisS]

So they got attacked, tried to defend themselves unsuccessfully and got arrested for that (probably due to money changing hands) they have now lost their home in Thailand (fleeced by Thai lawyers defending themselves in court) and now leaving Thailand for good . Sounds about right for the Thai legal system when it comes to foreigners in particular.

[Mamachigawa]

Seems like som foreigners in Thailand have a cloud of bad luck and negativity floating over them nothing but problems. 

[AussieBob]

Atypical result when an Expat gets into conflict with a Thai - the entire Thai legal system is xenophobic and rallies behind the Thai/s. I recall one podcaster who has lived here since 2010 (and says he will never buy a property here) stated that in all his years of doing business here he has never seen a legal case where a Foreigner has won against a Thai.

He was an associate of that English journalist that published an online story about a corrupt Thai businessman found guilty in Court, and the Thai businessman sued him for libel/insult and the Thai won (the truth is no defence in Thailand). After much negativity that the Govt decided was affecting 'Thai sentiment amongst the UK tourists', including the journalist being detained in jail, he was forced to leave the country and was black banned.

Likewise the Expat that sued a Thgai hospital for breaking the Constitution for charging him 3-4 times what they charged local Thais. The Judge ruled it was a breech of the Constitution, but that it was OK because Expats have a lot more money than most Thais, and it was good for the country.

I could go on and on - but there is no need. The Thai legal system is corrupted and xem\nophobic - that is a fact. The English couple obviously did not understand this when they bought the property, nor did they understand this when they started having disputes with their Thai neighbours.  Clearly they believed in 'the rule of law' - but that is not how things work in Thailand, especially when it involves a Foreigner.  I recall some advice given to me a long long time ago - Thais are basically all backward xenophobic villagers that are all related to one another - you will in all things always be an outsider - the best you can do is be tolerated and allowed to stay - you can get close with your Thai family, but you will never be a part of 'the Thai village' - you are a visitor, so always behave like that when any problems arise.  

[23RD]

I'm still trying to establish if there was a connection between The Elderly Couple and the 40 something Brit that attacked them?.

[AussieBob]

  On 3/15/2025 at 7:51 AM, 23RD said:

I'm still trying to establish if there was a connection between The Elderly Couple and the 40 something Brit that attacked them?.

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I believe they were neighbours and the main issue of contention was the access road to the estate, part of which the couple claimed was their land - and it appears that it was because their lawyer took the matter to Land Dept who ruled their property did include part of the access roads. Obviously a lot more too this than stated in the media - but when neighbours are throwing lawyers at each other it never ends up well. One story stated that the Expat/Thai couple were ripping up some plants and garden works put in/on the access road by the English couple, and that was when the fight started. Who knows - the old couple could have come out swinging with tools or something - we have only heard their side.  Either way - they are better off at home, and it is a valuable lesson for others - dont buy in Thailand unless you have a very strong certainty about the property, and preferably with a Thai wife. 

[rattlesnake]

  On 3/15/2025 at 9:04 AM, AussieBob said:

I believe they were neighbours and the main issue of contention was the access road to the estate, part of which the couple claimed was their land - and it appears that it was because their lawyer took the matter to Land Dept who ruled their property did include part of the access roads. Obviously a lot more too this than stated in the media - but when neighbours are throwing lawyers at each other it never ends up well. One story stated that the Expat/Thai couple were ripping up some plants and garden works put in/on the access road by the English couple, and that was when the fight started. Who knows - the old couple could have come out swinging with tools or something - we have only heard their side.  Either way - they are better off at home, and it is a valuable lesson for others - dont buy in Thailand unless you have a very strong certainty about the property, and preferably with a Thai wife. 

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In my 15+ years here, the one thing I have learnt is that if you want to be happy here, do what the Thais do and don't swim against the tide. This applies to all aspects of life.

If some neighbours don't want you to plant things on the access road, then don't plant things on the access road. We need to drop our Western mentality of proving we are right, invoking laws etc., that doesn't work here. Always the path of least resistance, if you don't like someone, settle it quietly or forget about it, but never ever go into confrontation as it will 100% degenerate, with varying degrees of intensity and escalation.

[ChrisS]

  On 3/15/2025 at 9:24 AM, rattlesnake said:

We need to drop our Western mentality of proving we are right, invoking laws etc

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Couldn't agree more, at the end of the day we all know that whatever the 'law' says if you are a foreigner you are in the wrong automatically

[AussieBob]

  On 3/15/2025 at 4:29 PM, ChrisS said:

Couldn't agree more, at the end of the day we all know that whatever the 'law' says if you are a foreigner you are in the wrong automatically

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True - and those of us who fail to learn that reality, always pay a price. IMO the English couple never learned or accepted that they are not 'correct' even though the law/codes said they were.  Negotiate was their best strategy, and it always will be in Thailand.