It seems as though you can't trust anyone anymore.

[CliveNixon]

I have just been told from a freind in Cha Am that another expat there was arrested and deported after being grassed up by another expat for running a small business without a work permit.

I am also aware of this kind of thing happening in Pattaya and Phuket in increasing frequency over the past couple of years (some of which have involved personal aquaintances) for things like minor overstays and even for just doing a little wheeling and dealing. In a lot of these cases the person who has been arrested always claims that they were just talking to someone in a bar one day and the next day or even later that same day they were arrested seemingly out of the blue. It wasn't long before people started to put 2 and 2 together though and it soon became clear that expats were grassing people up.

The grasses, when identified have been hammered and ostracised by the other decent expats there and I have it from a reliable source that the Cha Am expats have identified their man and are out for blood.

Why is this sudden phenomenon happening in conjunction with the authorities clampdown on fun, visas, and Farangs in general?
Are the Thai rozzers getting Narks? Are they starting to overlook certain misdemeanors by some expats in exchange for info on other expats from other expats?

OK, the person in Cha Am was breaking the law but was doing no one any harm and it makes me wonder- if my above conjecture about people becoming coppers narks is wrong- what on Earth can an expat possibly gain by dobbing in someone who is supposed to be on their side?
I know in the past especially in Patters bar keepers would occasionally spread things on the rumour mill out of jealousy but this all seems a whole lot more sinister.

If you can't even trust someone over a beer in a bar, who can you trust now?

[Bangkokney]

I know exactly who you are talking about. I used his service a number of times to do my visa run to Raynong.

That is all I know about the chap in question, business wise I had no problem with him what so ever.

A mate of mine who is currently in the UK and knows 'S*****' well gave me an update which I am not prepared for a number of reasons to air here.

All that I will says is there are two sides to every story.

[CliveNixon]

I agree that there may be 2 sides to some stories but at the end of the day you do not grass up fellow expats FOR ANY REASON. That is breaking the unwritten code of what makes being an expat in Thailand such a special honour. If you have a gripe then take it outside and settle it that way like a man and get on with your life.

If there are people getting special treatment from the coppers in exchange for info on expats, as many people in Pattaya and Phuket are convinced there are then they need flushing out. If this is the case in Pattaya and Phuket then it can be taken as read that the same is happening everywhere and expats should be vigilant.

From what I can gather from mates in the above places the grasses are usually loners who have been excluded from the mainstream by their fellow expats for whatever reason (but usually for either being rumbled as a beast, a bullshitter, or a wife beater) who re appear on the scene looking for some kind of payback and will keep themselves to themselves and act as though nothing has happened and try and garner whatever dirt they can usually from newcomers. My advice is to be very vigilant and spread the word about anyone you may suspect.

[markydd]

and there was me worried about the locals

[SHADOW]

Some things are never as clear cut as they might seem, people who have told me about the incedent seem to leave the end of the story out. Two things that are important are number 1 be the grey man you get seen everyday but who's looking, you stand out and everybody else looks the same.
If you can't get a work permit then you have to have a Thai to front what ever you are doing. Saying he was not hurting anyone was not the case as he did piss at least one person off!!

[acerockolla]

I agree that there may be 2 sides to some stories but at the end of the day you do not grass up fellow expats FOR ANY REASON. That is breaking the unwritten code of what makes being an expat in Thailand such a special honour. If you have a gripe then take it outside and settle it that way like a man and get on with your life.

I know I am bumping an old thread but I wonder if anybody recognises the unwritten code and special honour this guy is writing about as being: a) Real and b) desireable?

[Georgy Porgy]

Sounds like C Nixon is of the SAS Brigade, with codes of conduct AND capital letters to warn other expats not to grass up others!

Dear Ace R, be ever vigilant! We are not all suddenly best friends just because we are expats, we are as different as any pub full of strangers, at all levels.

On this forum, for instance, there is a core of ''old hands'', who practically ignore a newcomers comments, despite the warm welcome. The newcomer has to prove they are a stayer before being taken into the fold.

The fact that you seem to be dragging up alot of old posts will not go unnoticed and will be the source of comment soon, to be sure.
Stay vigilant!

[DawnHRD]

On this forum, for instance, there is a core of ''old hands'', who practically ignore a newcomers comments, despite the warm welcome. The newcomer has to prove they are a stayer before being taken into the fold.

The fact that you seem to be dragging up alot of old posts will not go unnoticed and will be the source of comment soon, to be sure.
Stay vigilant!

I do hope those comments are tongue-in-cheek, Georgy Porgy.

The only thing that dragging up the old posts did was alarm me, as I didn't look at the date & wondered who on earth was involved. Now, all is clear.

As for your question, acerockolla, I'm not sure of the answer. The answer would be "no, I don't agree" if the 'wrongdoer' had committed a serious crime, such as theft, rape, murder etc.
From what I've heard of this old case (hearsay), it was a case of someone 'getting rid' of a business rival.

[margaretcarnes]

Yes Dawn, you're right there on the reasons for the 'grassing up' although there was a little more to it.
I'm amazed this topic has re-opened after such a long time, and hadn't spotted it before.
Suffice to say that these things have in fact gone on in Pattaya for a long time. Chaam maybe felt safe, and I certainly don't think it was anything to do with the BIBs having so called 'narks'. Just proof that farangs can never be too careful in any business. There still seem to be some who simply won't heed the warnings and think we are talking through our botties about the restrictions, even with work permits.

[nevets]

Having read the thread starting with Clive Nixon, i was alarmed and upset to here such things going on and then realised this was a 4 year old post , would it not be a good idea to make it known some how that this that we are
reading is months if not years old. Its not the first time or the last that some one will make a mistake and read and answer an old thread thinking it is current.

[bradders]

Nevets

As I'm sure you're aware the date of the original Post is shown at the head of the page - but I take your point

Maybe it would be possible to include the Date of the original post either below the Authors Name or in a separate 'Box' alongside the Authors name?

Just a thought.......

bradders

[nevets]

This is true . but i don't always look and may in a long response not go to the start of an OP. Your suggestions are very good and if technically possible may help if it was done.

[HHTel]

If it's the same guy as I'm thinking of, he was deported, changed his name in the UK, got a new passport and returned. The police of course knew of his return but commented "He's different man now so it's okay!"

[Big Boy]

classic

[margaretcarnes]

Spot on there Tel.