British tourist’s bribery tale jailed as ‘untrue’ by Pattaya police chief
A British tourist’s claims of bribing his way out of a Pattaya jail have been denounced as “largely untrue” by a Pattaya police chief. However, in a bid for transparency, the Pattaya police chief promises a thorough review of the evidence.
Police Colonel Nawin Theerawit, head of the Pattaya Police Station in Chon Buri province, issued a strong denial yesterday, February 3, in response to foreign media reports.
A controversial story had surfaced, alleging that hapless Brit Andrew Hopkins was forced to shell out 15,000 baht to secure his release from a Thai cell.
Hopkins’s ordeal was told in vivid detail by the British tabloid Daily Mail. The newspaper reported that the 55 year old was staying at an Airbnb in Pattaya when a late-night stroll allegedly went awry.
In a comedy of errors, he accidentally knocked over an entrance sign en route, rousing the ire of two local security guards who immediately descended upon him, bellowing in Thai.
Hopkins claimed that it wasn’t long before the local police arrived, swiftly bundling him into the back of a pick-up truck and carting him to a cell, where he languished for 36 hours amidst squalor: a picture painted with photos showing grime and overcrowding.
Seizing the narrative, Hopkins alleged that his release came only after an Italian man informed him of the need to pay 15,000 baht in cash.
He described being frog marched to an ATM before his freedom was seemingly bought once two senior officers pocketed the cash.
Undeterred, Pol. Col. Nawin set the record straight. The kerfuffle allegedly started on November 22 of last year, when Hopkins, under the influence, reportedly trashed a vehicle barrier.
Officers stepped in to calm him down, imposing a mere 100 baht fine before releasing him.
But the drama didn’t end there. Pol. Col. Nawin recounted how Hopkins returned to his digs only to be refused entry due to his penchant for loud, boozy antics, leading to further disturbances and yet another arrest.
Emphasising procedural integrity, Pol. Col. Nawin insisted Hopkins was subjected to due process, with all his belongings duly returned and documented through photographs.
He staunchly defended the state of the cells, asserting daily cleaning and round-the-clock CCTV surveillance, reported The Nation.
Nevertheless, the incident now undergoes further scrutiny to ensure all concerned parties are satisfied. As the world watches, Pattaya’s reputation hangs in the balance, poised between reputational ruin and redemption.
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