Tourist condemns Thai police injustice

Published: 30 Nov 2012 at 15.40
Online news:

Thai police are again under fire overseas after an Australian TV report about a man who lost his girlfriend in an accident and was then allegedly framed by police on Koh Samui.

Tragedy in Thailand aired on Channel 9 in Australia on Tuesday. Jamie Keith (left) alleges Koh Samui police attempted to exort money from him after the death of his girlfriend, Nicole Fitzsimons (right) in a motorcycle accident. Image from Channel 9.

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AngryHow
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Discussion 54 : 03 Dec 2012 at 00.1354
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Let's us all not argue here. Let the Royal Thai Police sort this out, will there?
Because the impression of Police has disappointed many, too many corrupted although
some are good though. We Tourist do not have the confident anymore.
Let the Y/T Government manage it? Huh, by the way what happen to the Bull driver ?
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airborne
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Discussion 53 : 02 Dec 2012 at 20.1853
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You all must be really bored to try to put the blame on a couple of tourists. I watched the video and the is 100% standard driving in Thailand. Thais use the left shoulder as a motorcycle lane and regularly turn right from the left shoulder. The first motor cycle was driving slowly and was able to avoid. The second was speeding Thai style_at night_and couldn't avoid. I can't even remember the last time I saw a motorcycle use indicator light.
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onlyme
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Discussion 52 : 01 Dec 2012 at 22.1052
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The Darwinian Award goes to:
ploydonut for outstanding brilliance while caught in a Thai situation, see below:

What I mean from my comment #13 is that Thailand is different culture to the West. We like the way police are, and the way thing is easy to do. We dont want police change to become too strict like the west because here is more relax and if just speed a little, can pay police to go free..why not? Yes there are positive and negative for this...I am think westerner have to accept this and adjust to be same as Thai people.
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onlyme
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Discussion 51 : 01 Dec 2012 at 21.5651
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Ploydonut - Thai have not lived here long, it is mostly Chinese, Burmese, Laos, Vietnamese and Indian (check out your written language), so don't get to huffy about the purity of Thai. Much like America it is a melting pot of cultures, none of which should absolve responsibility for any acts. By the way I believe form the report that the westerner was also at fault but regardless of location on the road only one vehicle big or small is supposed to occupy a single lane.
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somnamna
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Discussion 50 : 01 Dec 2012 at 13.4050
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D#45 Khun Banmebkk: People blindly believe what ever the report throw at them without even looking at the CCTV video footage and do some thinking before judging. About the thieves in uniform in my whole life I met only 4 decent cops and any Thai know well their reputation.
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banmebkk
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Discussion 49 : 01 Dec 2012 at 11.2549
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@Disc 46 - I agree, both parties are responsible. The couple for 1. Not wearing helmet 2. No turn signal 3. Driving erratically. The Thai biker for not wearing helmet, driving too fast, and unsafe overtaking.
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tabaluga
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Discussion 48 : 01 Dec 2012 at 10.3048
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There are people here saying that they are afraid of the police. Why?
I have been living and driving here for more than 20 years. I have never been treated unfair and when I was fined it was because I did something wrong. I asked the police several times for assistance and got it always. No policeman ever asked me for a bribe. We no that there is plenty of corruption but there is no reason to be afraid if you have done nothing wrong.
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ricoaj22
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Discussion 47 : 01 Dec 2012 at 09.5847
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christian you sound like an intellegent guy and you are correct when you say they aren't indicating like they should, and yes they could be further to the right.
However why is the driver 1, going way too fast (his speed is excessive and that is clear in the video and from how far the victims bike was knocked) and 2, in the right hand lane anyways (unless he is overtaking he should not be there).
Licencing here is a joke, many thai's pay and never take a test, and if you have taken it u must agree its laughably easy yes. and I agree when you say corruption is wrong
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Deedy
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Discussion 46 : 01 Dec 2012 at 09.4846
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I don't know about Thai law, but in Britain, the common belief that a driver hitting someone turning right while overtaking is always at fault is simply not true (see 'Joliffe v Hay' or 'Pell v Moseley'). Both the driver turning right and the driver overtaking have a legal responsibility for ensuring their manoeuvre is safe. Under British law, both Mr. Keith and Mr. Satue would probably be held partially responsible to some greater or lesser degree.

That said, even if Mr. Keith was 100% responsible, that does not give the police ANY excuse to try to extort money from him and his family. Even the way they handled him was disgraceful.
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banmebkk
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Discussion 45 : 01 Dec 2012 at 09.4045
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After watching the video, I believe most haven't. The couple was at fault, they stop in the middle of the road, veered left a bit and made a sharp right turn. I hate Thai police, but this was clearly the couples fault. Yes they may not know the Thai way of driving and expect motorist behind to stop. The Thai biker who crashed into them did not expect them to turn right that is why he veered to the right in order to avoid them. But once he saw them turn right, he turn his head left to check for cars and try to avoid them, but it was too late. Watch the video before rating!
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Tourist condemns Thai police injustice

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