'LAWYER' DUBBED 'THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE' IS A FRAUD - THAI COURT TOLD

BUT FLYING SCOTSMAN FAILS TO TURN UP

Scots confidence trickster Brian Goudie, who aimed to build a handsome portfolio of properties in Thailand by posing as a well to do barrister and Afghanistan war hero was a fraud, a court in Thailand heard today.

John Jepson

But he fooled a British estate agent for three years after offering with phoney credentials the services of his ‘legal practice’ Alba Laws to get back seven condominiums the estate agent had been defrauded of in Pattaya by another conman, Lebanese Australian Peter Taouk.

The Peaks

Estate agent John Jepson, from Thetford, Norfolk, England, now based in Koh Samui never got his condos back. Touak merely fled back to Australia, having managed to hawk the properties while the Thai judicial process ground on..

But for his legal services Goudie, 47, from Falkirk. who had changed his name from Brian  James Gerald Goldie,  demanded Jepson’s 6 million baht condo in The Peaks Residence in Sukhumvit Soi 15, Bangkok.

He had charged 50,000 Thai baht a day  - £1000 at the then current exchange rate – and Goudie's final bill came to over 3 million baht - a pretty good payment for a former Glasgow bank teller.

Lawyer Chitipart Sermhiran, representing Jepson,  presented documents to the court from Edinburgh University and a court in West Australia, showing that not only had Goudie not gained  a Bachelor Degree in Commerce or a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) but that he had been sentenced to six years jail in Australia for defrauding a mining company there.

Goudie, who also claimed to be a former Royal Marines officer, who received a shrapnel wound in Afghanistan, did not appear in Court One of Pattaya Provincial Court to defend himself.

Nor did he appear in Court Three of Pattaya Provincial Court where another case brought by Thai nationals was being leveled against him.

However he was ordered to appear in court on June 28th or an arrest warrant would be issued.
Outside the court Jepson thanked journalist Andrew Drummond. “If it had not been for you I would have lost a lot,” he said.

Goudie’s shenanigans were first exposed on this website and in the Sunday Mail in Scotland.  We also revealed how Goudie was seeking clients in Nong Palai Prison, Pattaya, and also honing in on child sexual abuse offenders.

He had represented Jimmy Halliday, a former UDA member wanted in the UK for drugs offences, promising to get him off local assault charges.

In prison Halliday contracted the flesh eating disease necrotizing fasciitis. Halliday died in hospital but not before however Goudie managed to get him to sign over his power of attorney which he used to acquire all Halliday's property in Thailand.

Goudie subsequently allegedly sold Halliday’s apartment, and put his name on Halliday’s company ‘Jimi’ which currently owns the ‘Paradise Bar’ – formerly ‘The Jaggy Thistle’ in the Jomtien Complex in Pattaya.

Gregory Miller

Goudie faces court again on June 17th to face a complaint lodged by Mrs. Barbara Fanelli Miller, 75, of Madison, Wisconsin, that he defrauded her of US$300,000 an amount which he charged for ‘get out of jail services’ for her son Gregory Miller, 48, a teacher at an international school in Eastern Thailand, who was arrested for sexually abusing young boys.

More recently he has been trying to market a development in Koh Samui and has told lawyers he is too busy flying about on business to attend court.

There are fears he will become a real ‘Flying Scotsman’due to the excruciatingly slow Thai criminal justice system.

And the ‘fake’ lawyer needs a lawyer himself. His ‘Alba Laws’  lawyer whom he allegedly only paid 5000 baht a hearing – 10,000 baht if out of town - has quit. At the court a lawyer called in at the last minute said: 'I have not been briefed. I have been instructed to ask for an adjournment."

Goudie is understood to still be representing a number of Brits who have lost the condos they purchased in Pattaya. His fee – half the condos or half their worth.

ADVISORY

If you or someone you know is being represented by Goudie and is claiming he is a barrister or Scottish advocate then you should follow the Miller and Jepson cases. But first Google Brian Goldie or Goudie in conjunction with the name of this site.

This is allegedly Halliday's will but Halliday's kids got nothing.
Recently Goudie has been claiming that the premises formerly known as 'The
Jaggy Thistle' now belong to the Serious Organised Crime Agency. Not true
of course but it would be an excellent idea for SOCA to open up a bar in Pattaya.

Withdraw case or else - judge tells founder of Pattaya Times newspaper

 BUT WHERE IS MY APOLOGY DEMANDS DREW NOYES?

A judge in Thailand today ordered American businessmen and founder of the Pattaya Times newspaper to withdraw a libel suit against a Bangkok based British correspondent or face arrest.

At Pattaya Provincial Court today (Tuesday) Drew Noyes, 57, and his common-law Thai wife Wanrapa Boonsu, were told to withdraw the suit against journalist Andrew Drummond and return to the court on June 14th to report that it had been done.

Noyes and Wanrapa had earlier agreed to withdraw the libel in a deal brokered in Pattaya Provincial Court last year.

But Drummond claimed that despite that agreement Pattaya Police had demanded he return to Pattaya to answer the libel charge which Noyes had promised to withdraw on pain of imprisonment.

In other Noyes related cases Dutch businessman Theo van der Schaff has said he is taking Noyes to court on May 31 in relation to an alleged fraud in Hua Hin.

And next month on June 11 and 12th Mr. Noyes and Ms Boonsu have also to return to Pattaya Court to face extortion charges.  It is alleged they attempted to extort 2.5 million baht out of Michel Goulet, joint owner of the Thonglor Clinic, in Jomtien, Pattaya, to avoid a police bust and the subsequently publicity.

Michael Goulet identifies Drew Noyes and Wanrapa Boonsu

According to Mr. Goulet in testimony already given Noyes told him that the going rate was 7 million baht (£153,334.) but he could have a discount.

Journalist Andrew Drummond did not need to face cross examination after the judge instructed Noyes’counsel that the issue was merely whether Noyes and Boonsu had broken an agreement (by not withdrawing the case)  or not.

There was a heated exchange in court between Noyes and Kanokrat Nimsamoot Booth, President of the Federation of Thai Wives of Foreign Spouses who was acting as interpreter for Andrew Drummond. Noyes later apologised to Ms Kanokrat.*

Noyes used his 'wife'Wanrapa as an interpreter.

However as the judge got up to leave the court he demanded: “Where is Drummond’s apology? I never saw it. If he says he has apologised then it’s a fraud. I have apologised. I have got the proof.

“Where is his apology? Where is his proof.”

Drew Noyes bowed from the waist as the judge left.

The Masquerades Website has now been taken down

Drew Noyes was profiled in an investigation (left and below) carried out by journalist Scott Gold published by the Wilmington Morning Star in North Carolina, before arriving in Thailand since which time he has described himself as having worked 14 years in service to the King of Thailand.

Noyes claims he subsequently threatened to sue the newspaper which apologised and the journalist lost his job. Both the newspaper and journalist say they have received no complaints or threats of law suits from Noyes and Scott Gold is currently Science Correspondent of the Los Angeles Times.

A separate claim of libel against Drummond brought by Drew Noyes and Australian David Hanks, from Melbourne, was adjourned to await a judge’s decision to see if it would be accepted.

Hanks

David John Hanks denied being the David Hanks registered as being a former proprietor of the Masquerades Brothel in Keysborough, Victoria. and said he had a legitimate company in Thailand with Wanrapa Boonsu, Noyes' common-law wife in which he had invested 2 million baht - AUS$68,000.

The Masquerades specialises in what it describes as 'Asian Pussy'.

A spokesman at 'Masquerades' brothel in Keysborough, a suburb of Melbourne indeed confirmed that Hanks was not the proprietor.

"He sold up last year. He is in Thailand now. I do not have an address for him I am afraid."

The allegations subject to the libel case were made in posters' letters to Andrew Drummond under a story headed: - The hunt is on for mysterious Welsh Icelandic Scotsman.

Mr. Noyes' former Pattaya Times has been heavily promoting a 'Gentleman's Club' call Cupid, bankrolled by a US  civilian working for the US Military.

However two years after the initial investment  the club in Pattayaland Soi 1 still has not opened.

Andrew Drummond writes:

Noyes' remarks in court while the judge was not present were something to behold. He loudly went on his mobile to get some person, imaginary or otherwise, to print out something and bring it to court. "Yeah we will do him for that. He's right next to me"".

At other times he repeatedly said: "There are 67 cases against Drummond", then "And six other people are suing".

Masquerades

He rounded on Ms Kanokrat asking her why she supported Andrew Drummond. "You're also supporting the people at Emerald Green aren't you?" (He meant Emerald Palace a condominium in Pattaya where people who bought apartments found that the deeds had been flogged off to the Kasikorn Bank for a loan).

Noyes: "Why are you supporting someone who writes bad things about Thailand?"
Kanokrat: "He does not write bad things about Thailand. He writes about bad people in Thailand".

Then he said: "You're Drummond's boyfriend aren't you? I have heard you are". At this point Ms Kanorkat , who has a partner, understandably demanded the apology.

Ms Kanokrat said she intended to take Mr.Noyes to court.

Thai Brides Accused of Draining British Government Coffers

-INTERNET DATING BLAMED -

Its Thai Brides week in the British Press, or at least the Daily Telegraph, and the Government wants to close a few loopholes without being accused of ‘social engineering’.

It seems ‘single’ pensioners have been taking on Thai brides and then claiming pensions for having them – even though the wives have never contributed to the system – see this link.

Mid-Week Diary

Actually the British Government does still not appear to have cottoned on to the fact, much discussed in Thai wives groups in the UK – and even reaching such far flung posts as Udorn Thani, Buri Ram, Khon Kaen, Surin etc., that having married a Brit and got a couple of kids, if they were to choose to leave their husbands, they would get near the top of the housing queue.

I’ve just had lunch with a Brit whose wife just did that. And their daughter had already left home. The mother used to work at what I call the ‘*** ****’ in Patpong which shut down 20 years ago I'm told. She does not want to return to Thailand.

Worse: Last week I was in Khon Kaen speaking to a father who married a girl from the ***** ****** in Pattaya and lived happily, he says, for nine years.

They had three daughters born in the UK, who were to all intents and purposes English, then the wife suggested: “Why don’t we go back to live in Thailand?”

The father said okay, sold his house and put the £80,000 from the sale (The house was in the north) into his wife’s bank account and stayed behind to tidy affairs. Well I know you’ve guessed the rest.

But to cut a long story, she told him to get lost, spent the cash from the house, sent the kids to live with their granny in the sticks, while she went to work in O*****d Tower, Singapore, very close to an area known as the ‘Four Floors of Whores’, doing seven 30 day stints, and finally picking up another Brit in Pattaya, returning to the U.K.  on her settlement visa, and moving into his council house.

The ditched husband was hospitalized for stress. In fact for two years he seemed to get every stress related ailment possible. But eventually he recovered, went back to work from a friend’s sofa, got a new home (rented) and went to the back of beyond of North East Thailand and found them. Their teeth were rotten, they had head lice, he claimed, and the eldest now 13 could not even do simple arithmetic.

He wanted to take them home but the British Embassy would not re-issue him with passports. This was on account of the fact they he could not return the originals as his wife had them.

“But they’re British,” he protested. Ah here’s the catch. Most Brits in Thailand (with Thai wives) get their children both British and Thai passports. That is so the kids can leave Thailand on the Thai passport and arrive in the UK on the British passport and leave Britain on British passports and arrive in Thailand on Thai ones.

Well that’s all and good. But if they enter Thailand on Thai passports then that limits what the British Embassy can do. In a recent case where a Briton’s wife got into trouble in Hua Hin the husband actually fled to Victoria Point in Burma (sorry Myanmar) and brought him back in on a British passport so that the authorities could not mess with his son.

The 'Khon Kaen' dad could of course have reported the passports stolen, but he was, er, too honest and by then it was too late.

It was tragic to see the anguish in eyes. He may never see his kids until they are teenagers and can make their own minds up.

The wife is back in the UK of course instructing the granny and grand-dad to keep the father at bay and doing late shifts in a Thai restaurant.

.

Unless the Embassy corrects me, is this. She could bring them back and actually apply for government housing, plus all sorts of allowances.

(But that's the British way but, I'm guessing, not one supported by David Watson, a UKIP candidate featured recently here.) 

But then, heaven forbid, she might have to bring up her own children!  North East Thailand is on another planet where the grannies are of course the mothers.

Anyway you will notice above I have included an ad for Thai Love Lines. This is not because I support such a venture but just to show even they can put a gloss on some very strong negatives. Read this, which regurgitates, not necessarily accurately, some stories I have covered in the past.

(The above does not necessarily reflect the views of the authors's partner or ex partners)

* Names of bars, sex areas, have been removed to act in compliance with British Health & Safety and FCA regulations. 

My bride does not love me and I feel such a fool

World Funniest (albeit dated) Thai Bride Agency Video

The comments are not mine!

The most ill conceived relationship


And finally a VERY TRAGIC film someboy posted on my Facebook page.

BEAR FACED RACISM

BREAKING THE BOUNDS OF BAD TASTE

The local obsession in Thailand with becoming as white as white can, which has now topped breast implants and flat nose eradication,  has been recently featuring a particularly tasteless advert which is causing a bit of a stir not least because of its racist connotations.

Its been kicking around so you may have seen it already.

The brown bear wants to be a white polar bear. Pity you’re not human,  says the white woman doctor, who then downs a glass of  Verena L-Gluta Berry.

Capping off the video is the doctor's black father and family, who walk in to see how she’s getting along.



Of course racism works both ways, see below.

But  I am not sure the old Liagra advert below cannot be used in other deserving contexts other than Pattaya bar girls, realtors perhaps? Racism works in many ways, but I guess a few foreigners have been cleaned out by the 'Pattaya Bar girls' though, and probably the guy who posted it..

BBC Skin whitening warning -
New York Times - Skin whitening warning

Dying to have white skin?

Above are links to a few stories about skin whitening creams and the advert is below

BRITISH POLITICAL CANDIDATE SAID THAI WIFE FORCED HIM TO FLEE ELECTIONS

"IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO CARRY ON" - SAYS FORMER FOUNDER OF PATTAYA EXPATS CLUB CAMPAIGNING ON AN ANTI-IMMIGRATION TICKET.

The Vice Chairman of a branch of the right wing United Kingdom Independence Party said today that he had no choice but to flee the British local council elections because of his ‘dragon’ Thai wife.

David Watson, deputy leader of the Basingstoke, Hants, branch of UKIP  has since taken an apartment in the resort of Pattaya and had gone on FACEBOOK to announce that he had celebrated his arrival on Thai whisky and Chang Beer.

He replied today following allegations from his Thai wife Phattawan, 31, the daughter of a taxi driver from Buri Ram, that she had been ditched in the U.K. with her their two sons, aged 8 and10 and stepdaughter, 12, with just £100 to live off.

The UKIP has been accused of racist and is anti-immigration.

Phattawan had given timely interviews to the Daily Mail and Basingstoke Gazette on the eve of local elections where Watson, the Vice Chairman of the local party, was standing for election.

Phattawan (Solent News)

She said: ‘He just left. I want to find out where he is. I want him to take responsibility for the children.

‘All I know is he has gone to find his future life in Thailand.’

The couple have been married for ten years and her husband owned three properties around Basingstoke, two in nearby Brighton Hill, and one in nearby Popley.

Mr. Watson, who met his wife at the end of a her relationship with another Briton said however: “ I had to leave. There was no choice. My wife, who has become a dragon at the best of times, had made it impossible to stay. I left so she can reconsider her position.

“All she has been doing is asking for a divorce and a house and car and money. She did not want one house but two. But the money has gone and the houses are mortgaged and rented out to people on social security. At best she can get  the house she lived in which is worth £190,000 but is mortgaged for £150,000.”

UKIP Logo

He said a lot of his money had been supporting his wife in the courts. She had had several actions with a former British lover; the father of his stepdaughter. The case had not gone well, he said.

The boyfriend, whom Mr. Watson referred to as ‘The Stalker’, had won on Appeal. This had distressed his wife, he said, and she had had taken it out on him.

“It’s useless to argue with her. She won't talk about the issues. The marriage is not over. But she needs  to think,” said Mr. Watson.

He said he did not know what had gone wrong with his marriage. But it had been fine until last August when she lost at the court case at the Appeal Court against her former British boyfriend. It was time to go, he said, police had been called to their house twice already. Once after, it is alleged, she attacked him. The second time, she called the police, after he called her a thief in a dispute over a 'Mont Blanc' pen.

There were also arguments about her alleged use of his credit card details on Paypal and things from the house being allegedly sold by her on E-Bay.

He said in turn would be sitting and thinking in the controversial resort of Pattaya, where he was one of the founding members of the Pattaya Expats Club and friendly with local newspaper publisher Niels Colov, from whom he was taking media advice, and ‘entrepreneur’ Drew Noyes.

An indication of the downturn of his marriage is an entry he made on Facebook during Songkran. He had been on holiday in Phuket and his wife had not enjoyed the excessive water splashing. Below is his report.

The United Kingdom Independence Party has been picking up a lot of votes recently at the expense of the Conservative led coalition government.

The party campaigns against immigration, and Britain’s membership of the European Union amongst other things. It's candidates have also amongst other things been accused of ‘giving Nazi salutes’, ‘wearing a Jimmy Savile mask and blaming the Holocaust on the Jews’ and ‘caricaturing President Obama as a chimpanzee’.

Mr. Watson as a former leader of the Pattaya Expats Club will be well versed in political intrigue and is unworried by the recent publicity.  “Sticks and stones,” he said.

(English LanguageTip: The UKIP went into election in 2010 under the 'Sod the lot' banner. While 'Sod' comes from 'Sodomite', despite some criticisms of the UKIP, this was, of course,  a call to get voters to reject the other party candidates - not sodomise them.)

How the Mail ran with the story

Mr. Watson was told early today that he had lost the election to Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Gurden, but he had beaten the Labour and Conservative Opposition.

“I wantëd to win.  I would not stand if I did not.  If I had stayed for the election my wife would have caused more problems there.”

He has received the backing of his agent Phil Heath, who told the Daily Mail: ‘He is a good and honest man. Dave Watson and his family have personal problems.

‘He's taken the decision to go before the election because it is urgent, including selling land to help out with the personal situation.

‘I always recommend to my candidates that they put family first.’

He added: ‘He will be away for a couple of weeks. If he's renting a place for six months that may be for convenience in case he needs to go back.

‘If he needs six months to sort it out, I support him on that.’

Mr. Watson said today there was no longer any hurry to head home.

David Watson on the social circuit in Pattaya

Quote of the Week: "I was just recently talking to Drew Noyes. I told him that its only when you get exposed by Andrew Drummond you know that you have made it in Pattaya". - David Watson.

Eeny Stannit 

And finally a follow up from the Basingstoke Gazette

'LAWYER' OF ALLEGED PAEDOPHILE ADMITS GIVING CHILD VICTIMS CASH – AND DOLES THE DIRT ON HIS CLIENTS

                            -  'WE WERE REVOLTED!' - SAID PATTAYA 'BARRISTER' WHO WAS 'PAID US$300,000' - TO 'SPRING' ALLEGED CHILD SEX ABUSER

-The British head of a legal company has admitted paying cash to young children who were the alleged 'victims'  of one of his clients awaiting trial on child sexual abuse charges.

Scot Brian Goudie, formerly known as Brian Goldie, claimed his former client was caught on video indulging in oral sex with a nine year old boy and that he was asked to destroy the evidence after relative became involved.

He has now attacked his former client and family after his services were terminated. But not before they claim they had given him US$300,000 and were taking him to court for fraud.

“ Did xxxx tell you about all of us all trying to help even though we were revolted? And getting nothing but shit thrown at us? and the other six boys he did it to that we tried to get treatment for and help the kids with their mental issues. 

“And giving the kids a few quid for school and a bit of help when the fucking monster that destroyed their young lives finally got caught?  

"At first I actually fell for the line that he was innocent until xxxx told us he has been having treatment for his ‘problem’ for thirty years! Can’t wait to see xxx taking this to Court."

The allegations came after after a case of fraud was brought against him..

He is accused of allegedly cheating a client and relative out of US$300,000 on a promise that the man would be bailed. Police appear to have found out the plan and added an extra charge to the prisoner's rap sheet.

In his outburst using his email ramadin@gmail.com  Goudie rounds on people who formerly used the services of Alba Laws, a company with addresses in Pattaya, Bangkok and Koh Samui. Much of the information appears to be in breach of client attorney confidentiality.

“And condo man. Did he forget to tell you about the 3 million I sent to his bank? About getting a senior Thai lawyer for two years for free because I paid for it?" continued Goudie.

“That I paid his bail when he was charged with making a false charge and making false statements to police, and that he was paying witnesses and conspiring to pervert the course of justice?
“And he was lying crying on the floor of Pattaya police station and could not make bail until I helped him and gave him the money to bail out? That he was offered his condo back if he repaid what he owed.
“No he would not tell you that - he listened to you ‘Alba Laws bills are not valid’ – he has never paid a bill! Not one fucking baht.

Last year Pattaya Police arrested Briton Ian Tracy at the premises of Brian Goudie formerly known as the 'Jaggy Thistle'
now the Paradise Bar in Jomtien Complex, Jomtien, Chonburi. Tracy a former prison visitor for the 'Mercy Centre' is alleged to have also found clients in the prison for Goudie in particular the man Goudie speaks about
here. Tracy is doing four years for child abuse. In this photo Tracy is giving the finger while Goudie remains in the background

 “We are going to destroy him in cross examination. He is in for a nasty shock on the (May) 15th let me tell you. I have not taken a penny from this idiot, but I am going to now”.

He refers above to a former client, a Briton, who owns an apartment in The Peak Residence in Sukhumvit Soi 15, which taken over by Goudie in lieu of very high barristers' fees. Goudie charged 50,000 baht a day - even though his claim to have a law degree from Edinburgh University was pure fiction. But he gave it on the basis I presume that people like George Carmen QC could charged twice that!

The client is seeking his condo back claiming that as Goudie’s qualifications were fake so were his services.

Ian Tracy

Then Goudie goes on to attack a man he calls gangster boy, a Brit who apparently lost his temper after going to Goudie's bar in an attempt to get some 400,000 baht back he had loaned Goudie.  Goudie had him charged with libel and trespass at the 'Jaggy Thistle' pub .

“Gangster Boy shouting and screaming with off duty cops? Already convicted twice in Thailand of serious assaults and I tried to settle but he just would not listen. May 26th, bail or jail?” wrote Goudie.

Goudie’s was sentenced to six years in West Australia for defrauding a mining company.



An attempt to obtain bail made by representatives of an American citizen represented by Mr Goudie was blocked after police, hearing of the move, pressed a further charge.

UK CORONER’S APPEAL TO THAILAND FALLS ON DEAF EARS

BUT BRITISH MUMS OF LADS KILLED IN BUS CRASHES IN THAILAND WILL NOT GO AWAY.

-TAKE THE PLANE - THEY SAY

(Pic Felix Cooper Robinson)

Two years after a British Coroner sent a ‘Rule 43’ letter to authorities in Thailand making road safety suggestion in relation to bus travel – not even one acknowledgment has been received.

It appears that the letter, also translated into Thai, has either been filed or binned. But it has not stopped the mothers of four young British lads killed by negligence in Thailand from actively campaigning for greater warnings about road travel in Thailand.

Below is the letter (scroll down to the bottom for the Thai version) sent by the Coroner for Brighton and Hove in West Sussex to the local police investigating officer, and also the Transport Office for Ranong Province as well as British authorities.

This was after the inquest into the death of Felix Cooper Robinson, 19. The bus he was travelling in had bald tires and was travelling in excess of 100 kpm when it careered off the road. The seats were not fitted with seat belts of course.

Quite clearly the bus had not been in a fit state for quite some time.

The bus company was never prosecuted. Directors merely changed its name.  The driver, who initially fled the scene, has been on trial but his sentence is not expected to be salutary in any way.

Felix’s mother, Rachel, as earlier reported, is now in Thailand, attending court, meeting local authorities and Embassy officials. A lawyer by profession she is not going to let the death of her son be just another statistic.

To this end she has also had a go at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the United Kingdom.
Below is her letter to a Foreign Office official.

There are a number of issues I wanted to follow up with you arising from your email

1. FCO travel adviceOne of the issues I know you discussed at the December meeting was thetravel guidance given by the FCO and I understand Mr Browne MP agreed he would look again at this. In terms of the risks to travellers the advice ishighly skewed with more focus on political instability/terrorism than onthe dangers of the roads.  

We have put together a 'critique' of the FCO'sguidance which we would ask be considered by the FCO when you are reviewing the guidance. I am sending this also to my MP Caroline Lucas and Chukka Umuna MP both of whom have taken up the issue with the Minister.

The need to update the official FCO advice on road travel in Thailandshould be in keeping with the conclusions of the responsible Thai and SEAsia tourist industry that long distance travel in Thailand is safer by airor train and that travel by coach, particularly unregulated coaches andtravel at night, is dangerous and is  heavily implicated in a number oftraffic accidents including those concerning of tourists.

The lack of significant FCO advice  could be construed as contributing to these.

2. Statistics of fatalities on the road 

I understand that (name removed) has been in touch with you about the statistics being used by the Thai Police and the under-estimate of people the FCO report as being killed on the roads.

In the Channel 4 news report John Sparkes made before Christmas he used figures obtained from the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand which confirmed that 13,700 people were killed in 2010 and that the unofficial toll is nearer 22,000.

Surely even if the FCO must rely on data from the Thai government it is imperative that this data is clearly qualified in the FCO guidance - by confirming that it is an underestimate and unlike the international standard adopted by most countries (of a road death being one that occurs within 30 days of an accident) Thailand under records fatalities (by only recording deaths at the scene of the crash).

3. Issues being discussed by the British Ambassador in his meetingswith the Ministers in Bangkok.

We have been asking what issues are being raised diplomatically inThailand. Whilst it may be that our government cannot dictateThailand's priorities we would like to know what issues are beingraised and to know that the British government's representative isgiving sufficient weight to this important issue of road safety.

 Meanwhile here is the mothers'groups official critique of the FCO's travel advice for visitors to Thailand.

 The FCO has since amended its travel advisory (not enough say the mums.) And of course British Coroner's have no jurisdiction in Thailand and can only hope optimistically that someone is listening. 

Rachel Cooper, second from right, with the mums of Bruno Melling Firth, Max Boomgarden Cook
and Conrad Quashie all 19,who were killed when their bus was broadsided by
another in Kamphaeng Phet.

Looking at the death statistics for the Songkran period and bearing in mind all the warnings issued before hand, either the locals were not listening, or did not take it in. That is the local the mai pen arai quotient.

Here's a short explanation of Rule 43 Inquests.

No assurances from Thailand

If Rachel thinks that the road statistics in Thailand are slightly enhanced - wait till she looks at the murder stats.

POST SCRIPT: 

Following Ms Rachel Cooper's visit Mr Boonthong Unkajornwong, Director of Land Transport Safety Bureau she says has given the following assurances.

1) Regulations were being introduced now to make seat belts compulsory in all new buses, and from 2014 all existing buses would have 1 year in which to install seat belts.

2) They were introducing 'stress tests' for seats in buses (to ensure they don't come loose in an accident) in their annual vehicle safety check

3) DLT were introducing random vehicle inspections in addition to the current twice yearly inspections. He accepted that there were deficiencies in the current inspection system (eg buses could present with new tyres and then after a positive pass be changed for worn tyres)

4) there will be a requirement for the fitting of GPS systems into buses - so they can check remotely the speed of vehicles and how many hours  worked.

However, he also accepted that the main problem was policing and enforcement of current and future regulations.

British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire is also expected to raise the issue when he visits Thailand later this month.


Original story plus video at this link

Harlequin Goes Into Receivership

SMART NEW BLUE ISLAND HOPPER FOR SALE?

Well as I have been following the Harlequin saga, particularly with regards to the projects it initiated in Pattaya – later taken over by Briton Richard Haughton, former President of the Pattaya-Jomtien Rotary Club – I should at least record here that Harlequin Property & Hotels has now gone into administration. So others will have to sort out the mess.

David Ames’s Harlequin of course needs massive cash injection to survive having sold thousands of holiday homes in the Caribbean before they even had planning permission. Ames was a former double glazing salesman made bankrupt, not once, as I reported, but twice according to the BBC.

Ames

They may wish to sell their own aircraft which they seemed to have bought a little bit prematurely. It was bought to hop between Harlequin resorts, but of course there is nowhere to hop to from the Buccament Bay Resort..

As for what happens in Thailand and those who bought properties from Thai Media and Exhibition Company – Haughton’s former company – I will try to keep news up to date.  But it’s a wee bit Machiavellian.

Those who bought condos at Emerald Palace in Pattaya from Richard

Haughton

Haughton, a former Tupperware salesman and VDO store owner,  to find they had been hawked to the Kasikorn Bank have either had to fork out thousands of pounds more or are fighting in the courts.

Incidentally this is not the first time Kasikorn Bank have accepted chanotes/deeds on properties which had already been sold to foreigners.

A reader posted this link for a BBC Radio 4   report on Harlequin. Thanks and enjoy.