The Irish Rover

[Othello]

I was sitting in my truck parked up at the side of the street on Wednesday.
The wife had taken the cat to the vet's so I was waiting.
A western gent was walking down the road towards me.
He had a decorated sitck with a bag on it slung over his shoulder.
Big leather hat.
He lookes like an Australian swag man.

As he drew level I opened the window.
"A wise man always carries a stick" I said.

We got talking.
Name of Ken from Dublin.
Been in Khorat for 15 months, Relationship finished.
He was staying in the NB Hotel.
Just been up to Jingjoes looking for an apartment but no luck.

I told him we had some self contained rooms if he wanted to come and have a look.
He came up that afternoon.
Yes perfect, he would take it for a month.
He gave the wife some money and said the rest would be here in 48 hr
as there was a transfer coming through.

He sure could talk, must have kissed ths Blarney Stone in his youth.

Off he went, "See you later"

Did not hear from him for several days.
Probably went to Khorat to get some stuff.

The wife's mobile rings this morning.
A Prison Warden from Udon Jail.
Ken had given him our number and he felt sorry for him.

Expired visa or something like that.

I found Udon Map useful for the Tourist Police number.
Yes they knew about him.

We phoned the Warden back.
He explained the following.
We cannot visit the jail today as it is womans day.
We can visit tomorrow.
We must go to the court if we wish to pay his fine, it cannot be paid to the Police or the Prison.
The court is not open until Monday.
It looks as if they will deport him.

I will go and visit the jail tomorrow and see what is happening.

One lesson seems to be that if you get in trouble on a Friday you are inside for the weekend.

Anyone know of a similar case and it's outcome.

[tamada]

Yup, I got banged up by the Houston police on a Friday night (early Saturday morning) and didn't see the light of day until Monday.

Never overstayed anywhere else though, sorry.

[panick]

Don't ask Know most of the local Police cells in Dorset from my misspent teenage youth
Never charged [-o< but got fed up losing my weekends and bootlaces ( and the cups of tea were nonsense!)

[westerby]

Don't ask Know most of the local Police cells in Dorset from my misspent teenage youth
Never charged [-o< but got fed up losing my weekends and bootlaces ( and the cups of tea were ****!)

I thought they still put you in stocks down down in that part of the World?

Or worse, transported you to Botany Bay...

[pompui]

Othello,are you going to pay his fine or just refund him the money he gave?

[beer monkey]

could be a hefty fine for overstay ..how much per day ++..????...

[Khun Paul]

Did hear of a farang that refused Toursit police volunteer help and was arrested for overstay, could be the same chap.
If it is, seems he refused to pay a small fine for something or other at the time and upon checking they arrested him for visa overstay.

For what it is worth, someone like that deserves everything they get, now I am not being a nasty person, but we have problems here and once you start to pay this and that for them, they are like a leech.
Sorry but that is my view.
take care othello.

[Othello]

I went to the jail today.
According to the jail he is only being held for a visa infringment and is not being held for any other reason.
According to Ken he has a visa but when he got his new passport from the Irish consul in Bangkok they did not transfer his visa or provide him with a covering letter.
The police did an id inspection in the Meeting Point and he failed the test.

He offered me his ATM card and pin to get money to go to the court with tomorrow.
I declined as it is only 1500.
Having made such an offer I must take him at his word.
So I will go to the court in the morning and see what happens.
I also put his full name through Google and it came up clean.
He also has been told that a type B visa is ready for him on release.
B, Business, right to work.

He is in the hospital part of the jail.
The doctor has been sick for the last 2 days so nobody is recieving treatment.
He tells me he dose not sleep at night.

There is a German and an Australian in the main jail.

For future reference the visiting hours are 08.30 to 12.00 and 13.00 to 15.00 (not puctuial)

Women inmates visiting days are Thursday an Saturday.
Men, the remaining days.

Do not purchace anything outside to bring. All items must be purchaced at the prison.
You get a receipt and they deliver the goods. You do not get to handel anything.

All converstions are via a telephone looking through a window.

The visit is for 15 to 25 mins depending on the mood of the staff.

I hope none of you require the above information.
Until tomorrow.

[beer monkey]

Mmmmm German ...not the con-man asking for money, seen around Tesco's .

[westerby]

There is a German and an Australian in the main jail.

Sounds like a bad joke - there was this German, Australian and Irishman in a jail in Thailand....

All it needs is a Parrot.

[tamada]

According to Ken he has a visa but when he got his new passport from the Irish consul in Bangkok they did not transfer his visa or provide him with a covering letter.

It's the responsibility of the passport holder to go to Suan Plu (or wherever) to get the visa and/or TMS card transferred by Thai Immigration to a new passport. The British Embassy also does not provide a covering letter as it's not required although some other legations still do.

Seems like an unusually heavy-handed response to a minor infraction unless he doesn't have his old passport with him. Having a brand new passport without any entry/exit stamps would raise alarm bells and probably result in detention in most other countries as well.

[panick]

I hope none of you require the above information.
Until tomorrow.

Why? ..... Whats happening tomorrow

[pompui]

The police did an id inspection in the Meeting Point and he failed the test.

He offered me his ATM card and pin to get money to go to the court with tomorrow.
I declined as it is only 1500.
Having made such an offer I must take him at his word.
So I will go to the court in the morning and see what happens.

Do not understand the id inspection part of your post?
Hope he is happy getting back the money he gave you,should help towards his fine.
Best of luck tomorrow.

[Khun Paul]

Do not understand the id inspection part of your post?

Yes I agree, sounds strange why check woith Google, being only an Internet search Engine and although it may be good, many countries would bot put their citizens deatils on it for public viewing.

This whole story sounds odd, judging by the conversation he had with the Volunteer police chappie who was trying to help him, his refusal smacks of someone with a death wish, by that I mean refusal to accept help when offered is very stupid.
Now he needs help when in the proverbial, he may have made mnistakes but if Visa was not transferred then that is entirely his fault and any consequences are a a rsult of his lax attitude to Thai Immigration law and requirements.
I hope he has learnt his lesson....but I do seriously doubt that.

[Skippy]

Sorry to hi jack the thread - but brings to light another Thailand discussion on other sites eg THAI-Uk and Thai visa

Should we be carrying our apssport with us at all times? Like the wife does with her ID card?

Skippy

Ps out of curiousity any idea of what had the Aussie done to be in there?

[Othello]

The ID Means some form of identification, Passport, driving licence or other official paperwork to prove who you are.
I checked with Google to see if his name was reported in any newspapers for whatever reason be it good or bad.
I am not the CIA, just doing what I can with what I have.
As far as I know He did not refuse help or was offered any from the Tourist Police but then again I am probably not in posession of all the details.

Up early this morning and off to the court.
It is opposite the big post office by the Thung si Muang park.
We got to see the princess as she breezed through the same room. The wife was very pleased with that.
Paid the fine 1000 Baht.

The jail will release him into Police custody.
The Police will bring hin to Nong Khai or Bangkok depending on circumstances.

We went to the jail to visit him and inform him of the above.

That concludes my Good Samaritan act.

Lessons learnt.
1 Tourist Police Udon and national nunber now stored in my mobile phone.
2 Garry some ID. The court were pleased to see that I had a Thai Driving Licence.
It should suffice for mast circumstances until a passport can be produced.
3 Do not frequent certain establishments. I have heard stories about them, perhaps the Police have too.

What it has cost me amounts to 4 packets of fags, some diesel and 2 half days but as I cannot work here my time is free.
If I never see or hear from him again I will lose no sleep.
If I do see him again I think I will have a friend for life.

Many years ago my Brother was helped out by two Irish women while in Brindisi, Italy.
If it all works out for the best then I will feel as if I have repaid the kindness they showed him.
I try not to be too judgemental on things in life but then again I am only human.
Thanks for all the comments.
Oh sorry I do not know what the other two Farang are in for.
Long couple of days, time for a

[RALPHCUSENS]

Othello'

Your compassion and help to others, are to be commended =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

[BobHelm]

The Police will bring hin to Nong Khai or Bangkok depending on circumstances.
3 Do not frequent certain establishments. I have heard stories about them, perhaps the Police have too.

Congratulations, a 'friend in need indeed' Othello.
As you say, what goes round comes round.
Does this mean that he will probably get deported ????
Are the 'certain establishments' the famous Soi's ??? If so I understand, if not, then can you add a little more detail??

[panick]

Othello popped in today and gave me a small update He gave the poor old "Irish Rover" some ciggs 2 days ago but the poor ol' bugger didn't get them for 24hrs ( BIB being rotten?...... wonder if they gave him a light to go with them )
Any Hoo..... Hats off to Othello for trying to help a fellow farang in need.... as the fine he paid has now outwayed the deposit paid for the room!
Othello ... =D> =D> =D>

[Khun Paul]

Oh well, alls well that ends well, othello I agree your compassion is to be commended.
You did in fact mention certain establishments, that we should all be wary of, can you either give us all a clue ( or am I being thick here) or name the establishment's names in order that we can all be so informed.

It would be advantageous to us all to learn more about places that use devious ways in order to get farangs in the proverbial .