Bail insurance now available

PHUKET: Insurance companies in Phuket now offer “bail insurance” policies providing cover of up to 100,000 baht for a premium of just 700 baht, the Phuket Provincial Insurance Office (PPIO) has announced. Sanong Sangsiriklanganakul, Director of the PPIO, said “The policies are aimed at Thai citizens – or foreigners living here – who don’t have recourse to the large amounts of money often necessary to post bail.” The cautious may take out a policy and, subject to approval, be covered within as little as 20 minutes. Even those with a string of convictions may apply for bail insurance. It is even possible to take out insurance after the alleged offense has been committed, although the premium in this situation is likely to between 5,000 and 20,000 baht. Any policy will be null and void, however, if the alleged crime involves murder or drugs. Not disclosed by the PPIO was whether the prospective insured are asked to disclose whether they are of mens rea before they apply. Perhaps indicating a lack of malice aforethought, K. Sanong pointed out that all policies sold so far have been bought after the buyers were arrested. “The next stage will be to offer this bail insurance service through police stations,” said K. Sanong.