15 replies to this topic

[DollyLamma]

I have two farang friends visiting Pattaya for two weeks. It's their first visit and they are gaga over all the boys.

One of them has been smitten by a beach boy at jomtien beach who is a real tramp, drinks far too much booze, and who reputedly is a thief too. But he's been on his best behavior with my friend, who sees him as angelic and "someone I could settle down with if I ever move here."

My question is whether I should tell my friend my honest opinion that the guy is a scumbag, or just keep quiet. What I"m afraid will happen is that my friend will be sending money to this guy once they go back home. He can afford it, but I feel like I'm part of some con scheme by staying quiet.

I've asked a few regular beach buddies and they are split down the middle on what to do.

[Gaybutton]

I would tell him what you know and what you have personally observed. I think, as a friend, you would be doing him much more of a favor by letting him know what you know. If the situation were reversed, wouldn't you want to know? Your friend can then decide for himself whether to continue or drop the boy, but if he continues with the boy and ends up with problems as a result, at least he can't say you didn't warn him. If the boy does turn out to be a scumbag, and you never said anything about it to him, I would think he would be upset with you because you could have warned him, but did not.

[Snowy]

I have two farang friends visiting Pattaya for two weeks. It's their first visit and they are gaga over all the boys...........

My question is whether I should tell my friend my honest opinion that the guy is a scumbag, or just keep quiet......

If your friend truly is a first-timer in Pattaya, you would be betraying his friendship by keeping quiet about this beach bum (or about any other situation where your friend might be in danger of being conned). Just think what your farang friend will think of you if you allow him to cultivate this guy only for it all to turn pear-shaped in the end or worse still for the boy to con money off your friend.

Tell him the facts and point out the dangers then let him decide for himself. If he continues with this guy it is then his own fault if he loses out and he can't blame you.

[Dick]

Tell him everything you know. Imagine what you are going to feel like if he steals something valuable from your friend and it turns out you knew of the rumors about him and didn't say anything.

[Jersey]

I have been on the receiving end of that situation. I got involved with a very hot Thai guy I met at the beach and after about a week staying with me at my hotel room I woke up one morning to find my watch, phone and wallet gone -- but the guy was sleeping next to me.

I complained to the hotel that someone had been in my room and stolen my things but they insisted no one had a key to do that. The police came and got nowhere.

When I told the guys at the beach later on what had happened, one of them started to laugh and said "that kid does the over the balcony thing with every farang he meets."

I could not believe as my "friend" told me the story how the same kid supposesdly got caught throwing stolen stuff in a paper bag out the hotel to an accomplice below !!!

I was totally pisssed that he had not warned me before, and I never considered that farang to be a friend any more.

[ausian]

My question is whether I should tell my friend my honest opinion that the guy is a scumbag, or just keep quiet.

Dear Dolly, if you have personal experience that the guy is a scumbag, then, in my limited experience of these matters, I would advise your friend of your experience only to re-inforce the opinion that he is a scumbag. Remembering that advice freely given is rarely taken, you still may be in a position where your friend misunderstands your motives, as love can be blind.

[Gaybutton]

That goes to show how clever and cunning some of these boys can be, Jersey. The guy spent the better part of a week building up your trust and confidence and he turned out to be yet another con artist. I'll bet you were even giving him the finest treatment . . . good restaurants, entertainment, money, gifts, etc. Then he repays you by pulling a stunt like this, something which he obviously had intended from the outset.

Unfortunately, your experience drives the point home. If you know that someone, especially if it is a friend, is involving himself with someone who is known to victimize "farang," then at least warn him. If he gets angry with your warning, then let him get angry, but you at least warned him. If he chooses not to heed the warning, then he has nobody to blame but himself. If you don't tell him, then if something does happen and he later finds out that you could have warned him, then he's very likely going to consider you to be partly to blame.

Your former friend was probably caught up in the same dilemma - should I tell him or shouldn't I? Obviously, he should have. I don't think he was much of a friend if he and the other beach buddies got themselves a good laugh at your troubles. I'd like to see how hard they laugh if something similar happens to them.

[DollyLamma]

You may be interested to know that I told my friend while we were bar hopping last night alone, everything I heard about his beach bum.

He said he was glad to know because he said he sort of felt something wasn't right about him. I'm not sure if that was his way of hiding his disappointment or if it was true.

We had a great time and he went back to his hotel with a beauty from Gacuya, the first time he hasn't been with the beach guy in a week.

Thanks to all for all your honest comments.

[Gunn]

GB

Did you ever recover that laptop or
prosecute the guy who took it?

[Gaybutton]

GB

Did you ever recover that laptop or
prosecute the guy who took it?

We never did get the laptop back, but it turned out that I had no need to prosecute. The thief was caught by the police a few months ago. He was caught in possession of over 2000 ya-ba tablets and was charged not only with possession, but intent to sell. That's a capital offense in Thailand. From what I was told, if it hasn't occurred already, he will be sentenced to 60 years in prison with no chance for any kind of an early release. So, if that's the way it will be, we'll be able to wish him both a happy birthday and a welcome out of prison when he turns 82.

[JimLA]

he will be sentenced to 60 years in prison with no chance for any kind of an early release. So, if that's the way it will be, we'll be able to wish him both a happy birthday and a welcome out of prison when he turns 82.

I have been told that those long prison terms for young men like him are always pardoned after a few years for things like royal birthdays.
The jails are so overcrowded that they look for ways to let people go.

[Gaybutton]

I have been told that those long prison terms for young men like him are always pardoned after a few years for things like royal birthdays.
The jails are so overcrowded that they look for ways to let people go.

That's what I thought too, but a prosecuting attorney told us that in a case like this one, there will be no royal pardons or early releases. It doesn't matter to me anyway. This kid is in for a very rough time even if they release him next month. I certainly wouldn't want to be in his shoes no matter what happens now. We were told that we still have the option of having him prosecuted for burglarizing our home, although nothing was said about whether a statute of limitations exists and we didn't think to ask. In any case, the fact that he was caught red-handed with that much ya-ba is certainly going to yield enough punishment to satisfy me.

[Naughty but Nice]

That's what I thought too, but a prosecuting attorney told us that in a case like this one, there will be no royal pardons or early releases.

The refusal of a Royal Pardon is not out of the question for this category of offence.

Convicted criminals have been granted a RP for offences a lot more serious than possesing /dealing 2000 YB tabs.

[Gaybutton]

The refusal of a Royal Pardon is not out of the question for this category of offence.

Convicted criminals have been granted a RP for offences a lot more serious than possesing /dealing 2000 YB tabs.

Does that matter? A professional Thai prosecutor told me differently. Assuming you are not a professional Thai prosecutor with substantial experience in the Thai judicial system, I hope you'll forgive me if I'm just a little more inclined to believe what he told me. As I said, even if you're right and even if he gets out as soon as a month from now, he's already been punished enough to satisfy me and I still have the option of pressing my own charges. That's good enough for me.

[Naughty but Nice]

Does that matter? A professional Thai prosecutor told me differently. Assuming you are not a professional Thai prosecutor with substantial experience in the Thai judicial system, I hope you'll forgive me if I'm just a little more inclined to believe what he told me. As I said, even if you're right and even if he gets out as soon as a month from now, he's already been punished enough to satisfy me and I still have the option of pressing my own charges. That's good enough for me.

No. it does not matter at all!

I was pointing out that your statement that there is no RP for that offence is incorrect. It depends on individual circumstances and of course if there are suitable 'incentives' changing hands. As you are well aware the fact that a 'professional prosecutor' ( are there amateur prosecutors?) told you there is no RP does not make anything cut & dried under our corrupt judicial system.

If your 'boy' gets what you appear to wish he deserves that will at least satify your lust for revenge.

[Gaybutton]

I was pointing out that your statement that there is no RP for that offence is incorrect. It depends on individual circumstances

are there amateur prosecutors?

If your 'boy' gets what you appear to wish he deserves that will at least satify your lust for revenge.

Exactly. It depends on individual circumstances. I made no statement saying there is no pardon for that crime. I believe I said, "a prosecuting attorney told us that in a case like this one, there will be no royal pardons or early releases." That's the prosecutor's statement, not mine. But I'm happy to see that you know more about it than he does. Personally, I don't even care what happens.

"are there amateur prosecutors?" Yes. It seems to me that's what you're trying to be, since you apparently have greater expertise than he does.

My "lust for revenge?" I believe I clearly stated that whatever punishment he has already received satisfies me. I also made it clear that I chose not to prosecute him. That's lust for revenge? Ok, have it your way. You know Thai law better than the prosecutor does and you also know what's on my mind regarding what happens to this guy. Not bad. I certainly envy your skill.

In any case, we're debating a non-issue as far as I'm concerned. It doesn't matter what you or I or anybody else thinks will happen. Whatever will happen will happen. Gunn asked what the outcome was and I answered. If you believe he will eventually be pardoned, that's fine with me. At this point I don't care if the guy stays in jail for sixty years or sixty minutes.