Nation journalist held up at gunpoint by 'police'

[lovedog100 1,372]

Nation journalist held up at gunpoint by 'police'

Published on January 13, 2011

 

Walking along Sanphawut Road at around 4.30pm on Thursday, my son and I were stopped by a group of three men, one in uniform, standing opposite the Chinese temple.

 

They nodded at each other then stopped us and asked whether we were Indians. Assuming they were policemen, I answered yes and showed them my driving licence and ID card for The Nation, where I work. One of the group then snapped: "You don't talk anymore. We are from Immigration. We want your passport." Another man emerged from the rear seat of a Toyota Vigo pickup and pushed us into it, taking away my wallet with ID card, driving licence, credit card, debit card and money, while two of the original group got in the front.

 

We told them our passports were at home, and they said they'd take us there. Instead, they sped past our building, telling us to "shut up" and that they were taking us to Immigration. After demanding my wallet, I succeeded in snatching it back. Instead of taking a right-turn for Suan Plu and the Immigration Department, the pickup went left to Thanon Thangrot Fai Sai Kao and towards Samrong. I said I needed to call my office and inform them I was being taken to Immigration, but they would have none of it. In the commotion I realised that the man next to me was trying to prise the wedding ring off my finger. It was obvious that all of them were drunk and looking to make a quick buck from innocent foreigners.

 

I managed to get the ring back, then, as I tried to call my office, the man in the back grabbed at my cellphone. My son protested, and was told that he was "talking to much" by the driver, who threatened he would be shot. His partner in front then produced a gun, cocked it and pointed it at my son.

 

I told them they didn't look like real policemen (two were in plain clothes), and asked to see some ID. Simultaneously they produced their cards, saying: "How dare you ask such questions. We don't like The Nation. You are against the police. You'll be taken to Pattaya and shot."

 

We asked what they wanted. The "policeman" beside us produced a cellophane bag and ordered us to put our belongings in it, then grabbed at the wallet belonging to my son, who resisted. The man responded by trying to put handcuffs on my son. The front-seat passenger again pointed his gun at my son, barking that he "deserved to die".

 

Looking for an exit, we wound down the windows. The pickup then slowed as we reached an intersection, and we took our chance, struggling desperately with the "policemen" in an effort to open the doors. I cranked open my door, which was immediately nicked by another car, causing the driver of our vehicle to scream at his colleagues to stop us. At this point we began yelling for help to attract attention.

 

The spooked driver swerved towards the right kerb, and we managed to jump out. The pickup, with number plate Cho kacher O ang 5342, then sped away against the traffic in the wrong lane.

 

We were shaken up, but knew we could have suffered much worse at the hands of three out-of-control, drunk, gun-wielding thugs calling themselves policemen. It was a hair-raising ordeal and my 17-year-old son is already having nightmares. This is Bangkok, not the badlands of Pakistan or Iraq, and yet men in uniform are able to roam the streets preying on foreigners. I dread to think what the outcome would have been had something similar happened to my wife or any woman less able to defend herself.

 

George Cherian

Sports editor (The Nation)

[jacko 8,822]

Frightening....... do post further details if you see them. With the registration of the vehicle known it should be possible to trace.

Edited January 14, 2011 by jacko

[biggles 509]

Its a horrific story, but why do I have the feeling that no one will be caught and punished? Too often thats the case in thailand which is becoming more like the wild west than ever. You constantly read stories in the local papers about crimes with no result, particularly if the victim is a foreigner.

Edited January 14, 2011 by biggles

[Bush Pig 11]

In the Welfare Nanny States you have more chance of being killed for you running shoes and to add insult to injury the attacker is mostly going to be a foreign Welfare Freeloader who's living a life of luxury and leisre on the taxes you pay as a citizen.

[jacko 8,822]

In the Welfare Nanny States you have more chance of being killed for you running shoes and to add insult to injury the attacker is mostly going to be a foreign Welfare Freeloader who's living a life of luxury and leisre on the taxes you pay as a citizen.

You sure need some new material....

[FatherMojo 2]

Its a horrific story, but why do I have the feeling that no one will be caught and punished? Too often thats the case in thailand which is becoming more like the wild west than ever. You constantly read stories in the local papers about crimes with no result, particularly if the victim is a foreigner.

 

 

Yeah, I read some stories on thaivisa where people have been killed and when the relatives of the deceased went to the police the first question was basically... "How much baht you got?" Sad state of affairs.

 

 

 

FatherMojo

[Bush Pig 11]

You sure need some new material....

 

Just an inescapable factual observation.

 

I save my 'material' for jokes.

[judd 2]

The cops wont do a thing just say oh its a farang thats the attitude in the land of scams if your a farang your expected(no its demanded) you pay for everything the thais want you to. if you were a Thai they would have them locked up in a day. lets not forget its one of the most corrupt countries in Asia and turning a blind eye to a farang being robbed or killed is the norm.

[MM 6,562]

The cops wont do a thing just say oh its a farang thats the attitude in the land of scams if your a farang your expected(no its demanded) you pay for everything the thais want you to. if you were a Thai they would have them locked up in a day. lets not forget its one of the most corrupt countries in Asia and turning a blind eye to a farang being robbed or killed is the norm.

 

 

FYI, the writer of the article and his son were not farang.

[BigDUSA 71]

FYI, the writer of the article and his son were not farang.

 

The OP stated his passport was at home.

[MM 6,562]

The OP stated his passport was at home.

 

What does that have to do with it?

[judd 2]

FYI, the writer of the article and his son were not farang.

 

George Cherian

 

Yep thats a good Thai name

[Montydog 135]

George Cherian

 

Yep thats a good Thai name

 

Not all non Thai's are "farang"

[CheshireTom 1,377]

George Cherian

 

Yep thats a good Thai name

 

A bit like Albert McIntyre or Willie McIntosh.

[judd 2]

Not all non Thai's are "farang"

 

Yes i am aware of this but when was the last time you heard Thais call a Indian khon tang prathet to farangs we call any non Thai a farang

[lovedog100 1,372]

In the Welfare Nanny States you have more chance of being killed for you running shoes and to add insult to injury the attacker is mostly going to be a foreign Welfare Freeloader who's living a life of luxury and leisre on the taxes you pay as a citizen.

Why do you use the same rhetoric on every thread that you answer? You have to know that it doesn't cover everything,,or do you? It makes you look like you have gone off your meds, or need a new evaluation, along with a new prescription. If you own any guns, think about giving them to someone responsible, like a relative, or member of law enforcement for a while. Refrain from going anywhere where a politician is giving a speech, or making an appearance. It would be a good idea to open your yellow pages, look up mental health, then make an appointment with a professional. Ask friends and family, I am sure they will agree.

 

Right now, go to your TV and change the channel from fox, to Comedy Central. Leave it there for a month, or better yet, a week after you start smiling and laughing again.

Edited January 14, 2011 by lovedog100

[MM 6,562]

George Cherian

 

Yep thats a good Thai name

No, but it's a good Indian name.

 

Not all non Thai's are "farang"

 

Exactly.

 

Yes i am aware of this but when was the last time you heard Thais call a Indian khon tang prathet to farangs we call any non Thai a farang

 

I've never heard a Thai refer to an Indian as a farang. I have heard them referred to as "khon kre" though.

[judd 2]

No, but it's a good Indian name.

 

 

 

Exactly.

 

 

 

I've never heard a Thai refer to an Indian as a farang. I have heard them referred to as "khon kre" though.

 

I cant believe what a smart ass your trying to be picking away at a usage of a word .you know full well that Farangs refer to any non Thai as a farang

 

for a skinny little man you sure give a lot of shit

[MM 6,562]

I cant believe what a smart ass your trying to be picking away at a usage of a word .you know full well that Farangs refer to any non Thai as a farang

 

for a skinny little man you sure give a lot of shit

 

I just put in an FYI to be clear that farang does not refer to Indians.

 

You're the one that is claiming different, in spite of all information to the contrary.

 

But, since you're getting bitchy, and I've been polite up to this point, I'll be more blunt.

 

Your comment that "you know full well that Farangs refer to any non Thai as a farang" just indicates you are ignorant of what most farangs know. You don't speak for all farangs. They aren't as clueless as you, generally.

 

It's not a major point...it was a small correction. You really need to back off and stop with this "well everyone else says it too" line.

 

Stick to buildings in old Manila or AC or whatever you were going on about last year.

[judd 2]

What a strange man you are sorry to question your answer.Martin i dont only know manila but i have forgotten more about pattaya than you will ever know from the days when you didnt even know it existed

[jacko 8,822]

Yes i am aware of this but when was the last time you heard Thais call a Indian khon tang prathet to farangs we call any non Thai a farang

Off topic, but I don't, and actually it is what the Thai's perceive as 'farangs' that should be relevant.

[Bush Pig 11]

Why do you use the same rhetoric on every thread that you answer? You have to know that it doesn't cover everything,,or do you? It makes you look like you have gone off your meds, or need a new evaluation, along with a new prescription. If you own any guns, think about giving them to someone responsible, like a relative, or member of law enforcement for a while. Refrain from going anywhere where a politician is giving a speech, or making an appearance. It would be a good idea to open your yellow pages, look up mental health, then make an appointment with a professional. Ask friends and family, I am sure they will agree.

 

Right now, go to your TV and change the channel from fox, to Comedy Central. Leave it there for a month, or better yet, a week after you start smiling and laughing again.

 

Well MR arrogant "super poster" how about you point out it doesn't cover the point I made.

 

I think if you can get past the brainwashing and conditioning you recieved as an impressionable child in the State education system you'd understand a lot more than you obviously do at the moment.

 

Of course if you prefer a state of ignorant bliss then I suggest you don't read my post which, if you can't figure it out, aren't compulsory reading.

[Gawd Elpus 798]

Well MR arrogant "super poster" how about you point out it doesn't cover the point I made.

 

I think if you can get past the brainwashing and conditioning you recieved as an impressionable child in the State education system you'd understand a lot more than you obviously do at the moment.

 

Of course if you prefer a state of ignorant bliss then I suggest you don't read my post which, if you can't figure it out, aren't compulsory reading.

 

 

I have read almost identical statments from you in other threads aboiut other topics. it seems that you are the only person in the wrld who has not been brainwashed by a Nanny state which could leave you in need of psychiatric treatment.

 

I think you would probably like to be an "anarchist" when it's easy just to oppose everything

[lovedog100 1,372]

Well MR arrogant "super poster" how about you point out it doesn't cover the point I made.

 

I think if you can get past the brainwashing and conditioning you recieved as an impressionable child in the State education system you'd understand a lot more than you obviously do at the moment.

 

Of course if you prefer a state of ignorant bliss then I suggest you don't read my post which, if you can't figure it out, aren't compulsory reading.

It must be growing up in that nanny state, a place where education is available to all. That has made me able to recognize someone that is mentally unstable. I'm guessing that you grew up in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Congo, or some other non nanny state like them. I have to wonder, why don't you go back?

Could it be that you are being held prisoner, either in a mental institution, or a prison, and your internet access is part of your rehab?

[Bush Pig 11]

It must be growing up in that nanny state, a place where education is available to all. That has made me able to recognize someone that is mentally unstable. I'm guessing that you grew up in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Congo, or some other non nanny state like them. I have to wonder, why don't you go back?

Could it be that you are being held prisoner, either in a mental institution, or a prison, and your internet access is part of your rehab?

 

Obviously you are conditioned and brainwashed beyond repair.

 

The fact Dr Phil is your hero really puts your state of mind, not to mention your arrogance, beyond all doubt.

 

I have no doubt that growing up in a Nanny State has given plenty of experience in relation to mental issues considering it's a breeding ground for them.

 

I see the Nanny State system hass even left you a hopeless guesser as well.

 

Enjoy life's struggle drone boy.