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'I was thrown in Thai jail because of embassy error'
Andrew Drummond in Bangkok09.03.09
A British martial arts expert claims he was beaten, shackled and imprisoned in Thailand after a British Embassy official mistakenly told police he was travelling on a false passport.
Simon Burrowes says he was treated like a drugs smuggler and thrown into a Thai prison for more than three weeks.
The kickboxing and karate instructor, from Wembley said staff at the embassy in Bangkok took 11 days to admit they were wrong but he was then held for two more weeks after being charged with insulting immigration officials.
He said: "I was arrested on a Friday getting my flight to Britain. Thai immigration officials said they were suspicious of my passport. When they checked with the embassy an official told them my passport number did not exist.
"When I spoke to the embassy official he must have known I was British. I told them the passport was legal.
"He said it did not exist. I begged him to double check. But he refused because the embassy closed at Friday midday for their long weekend. They said they would prioritise the matter the following week, so I was sent to jail. But officials had all day in London to check me out. I cannot believe they could not have done it."
The 44-year-old, who was in Phuket to study kickboxing, added: "From that moment I was treated as someone less than human. I was handcuffed to a Thai and sent to court. As I was being led into the court I was beaten by an official with a leather strap. Then they sent me to jail because I did not have £2,000 for bail."
A charge of travelling on a false passport has been dropped but Thai immigration police have charged Mr Burrowes with verbally abusing its officers.
He said: "They kept me waiting an hour studying my passport with a magnifying glass. I told them I would miss my flight. They told me the flight could not leave without their permission. But it did.
"I was angry. I grabbed my passport and walked out of the immigration area, saying, 'I am a British citizen who has come to your country to spend my money. Don't treat me like a 'f**king idiot.'"
Mr Burrowes demanded to speak to the chief of police or head of immigration. Thai immigration police say it was they who were called "f**king idiots".
Mr Burrowes has been released on bail but his case for insulting an immigration official could take a year to go to court.
He said: "The closest thing the embassy have come to an apology is a statement from their local consular officer who said 'I can empathise with your self-righteousness.' He said it was a one in a thousand glitch. But they could do little else to help me further."
An embassy spokesman "What I could say is that we provided efficient and prompt consular assistance. The issue was resolved as swiftly as possible."
Reader views (15)
uncle.thinkin of u. hope ur gona make it out of there soon.
- Benjamin Hayes, london
Mark
It's great to sit back in your armchair and give advice on how you should & shouldn't act. Imagine, you're a first time visitor, you're told your (genuine) British passport is a fake and the Embassy fails to help you...
Would you really stand there, stay calm, smile sweetly and trot off to a Thai prison without getting a bit upset???
- Martin, Bangkok, Thailand
Not a very clever thing to do was it? Snatch your passport from an immigration official and start swearing at them...Telling them you are a British citizen who has come to spend money in their country sounds insufferably pompous too!
- Mark, Bangkok, Thailand
I agree with David, you just got handed a lottery win. Please sue for damages, then the embassy will learn to do the right thing in future.
- Koko, Didcot. UK
What is even more outrageous about this dreadful story is that the Embassy still don't have the common decency to apologise properly
- Tracey, London
Look at this quote from above, "...said staff at the embassy in Bangkok took 11 days to admit they were wrong but he was then held for two more weeks after being charged with insulting immigration officials."
He was charged with insulting immigration officials AFTER having his passport confirmed. Am I crazy, or does that sound like something from the twilight zone?
- Jp, Tokyo, Japan
This has got all the hallmarks of another large claim,go for it man,every body else is.
- David., Chertsey.UK.
This is an appalling story, shame on the British Embassy! I can't help thinking that this might not have happened if Mr. Burrowes had been white.
- Sarahn, London, UK
There is always two sides to a story in such a situation. Firstly, you should respect the laws and culture of another country when visiting overseas and not get all riled up allegedly, for lack of support from the British Embassy. Its unfortunate that the Thai Authorities have singled you out based on suspicion of your passport details.
Still, you should comply with their request because such seemingly "innocent incidences" are almost unheard of in a country that thrives on tourism. A show of arrogance or cause for suspicion at Immigration check points in any country for that matter, is a likely cause for delay and/or an invitation towards more thorough investigation.
- Rolando, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This is simple racism. Some countries such as Thailand still do not believe that you have English blacks who posses genuine UK passports. That is the main reason for extra scrutiny of his travel documents. Similarly, whenever I check out of Heathrow Airport, I always get picked up for security check yet it is clearly stated that it is a RANDOM SECURITY CHECK, simply because of my color. I am used to it now, in fact I smile when approaching the security gate knowing the random check will pick me up.
- Duncan Watta, Nairobi, Kenya
The utterly useless clerk at the British consulate could not bother to double-check his passport number because he "had to" leave early on Friday for his long weekend??? A man was sent to jail because a useless public servant wanted to have a long weekend.
It would have probably taken the clerk a couple of hours work and this man could have been speared 3 weeks jail.
The British embassy should be ashamed of itself. Cannot believe it can be so incredible useless and unhelpful!!!
- Erik, London
"He said it did not exist. I begged him to double check. But he refused because the embassy closed at Friday midday for their long weekend. They said they would prioritise the matter the following week, so I was sent to jail. But officials had all day in London to check me out. I cannot believe they could not have done it."
Couldn't possibly interrupt the long weekend could they? Even tho they were aware that the man would probably have to spend time in prison. I hate bureaucrats, with a passion!
- Reay, london
Its always a good thing to remember when visiting a foreign country that you are a guest who only has the rights that they bestow upon you. Insulting an official may well get you thrown in jail, don't do it.
- Peter Weeg, London
He said: "The closest thing the embassy have come to an apology is a statement from their local consular officer who said 'I can empathise with your self-righteousness.' He said it was a one in a thousand glitch. But they could do little else to help me further."....well I find that worrying. I would be more than self rightious.... shackled and beaten.... This poor guy was naturally very upset, he probably didnt handle it in the best way in Thailand, but we all handle stress in different ways. I think this poor guy need to come on home, sell his story and take a vacation to a civilised country!
- Eddie, Thailand
This is shocking!!!!!
- Jc, London
