An Australian woman arrested for stealing a bar mat from a Thai nightspot appealed Tuesday for government intervention to allow her to return home, saying the theft was a practical joke.

Tourist Annice Smoel claimed she was being unfairly treated for a minor infraction.But the owner of the Aussie Bar on the resort island of Phuket where Smoel was arrested said she had abused police who challenged her about the bar mat and tried to run away from them.


Full story - MSNBC.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30823142/)

She's home now I believe. A lucky lady. I doubt the police would arrest someone over a beermat so there's every chance she was being abusive.