A BRITISH man is facing a two-year sentence in a hellish Thai prison for being ‘rude’ to an official.

Simon Burrowes, from London, was ending a holiday with a friend when
Thai authorities in Phuket airport detained him on January 31, preventing him from returning to the UK.

Immigration officials suspected Burrowes’ passport was a forgery. Speaking via phone from Thailand, Burrowes said: “A woman at immigration was looking at my passport and then handed it to the man
behind her. I was ushered to sit down whilst he took out a magnifying glass and proceeded to check my passport
for half an hour,” he explained.

He was told that he was not getting on the plane and was taken to a detention centre, whilst his friend Matthew was able to fly back to the UK.

Full story - The Voice (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/A BRITISH man is facing a two-year sentence in a hellish Thai prison for being ‘rude’ to an official.)

The link to read the article didn't work for me!

Hmmmm.....

Try this one: http://www.anorak.co.uk/media/203234.html

WOW!!! So they figure out that his passport is valid and he STILL might have to serve 2 years for being "rude"? I think most people would have been rude considering they are getting arrested for literally nothing. :eek:

I pray they let him go home. Thanks for sharing that story Rachel :)

Rough deal, huh?

That's ridiculous. :P

Not too surprising, I have been through customs in Thailand, and believe me, it is kind of like the warning one gets about joking about "bombs" when going through the scanners...except multiply it by 100....I doubt he actually gets the time, given all that has gone on...publicity is not at its peak of greatness at this time...I have always loved that country, but been very wary of any of the Miltary/cops/power...

Actuall, they let him go with 500 Baht fine!
But to be honest ... what country in the world allows that someone laugh about their officers and insult them without any consequences?
:)