Thai Police checking on foreigners, mainly teachers

**dirtydog** · 01-11-2007, 11:40 AM

CRIME PREVENTION / CHILD SEX ABUSE
Police checking on foreigners

Police are making background checks on more than 1,000 foreigners, mainly teachers, working in Thailand after a spate of arrests for alleged child sex abuse, a senior officer said yesterday.

''It shouldn't be enough to wear white shirts and have a university degree. We need to know their backgrounds,'' said Pol Col Apichart Suribunya, head of the liaison office for Interpol.

Police would seek records of any convictions in home countries and from Thai immigration police before foreigners were hired as teachers.

''We are scrutinising more than 1,000 foreign teachers working in Thailand,'' he said. ''Until now, educational institutions would only look at their academic qualifications, but that is not enough.''

''It's easy for teachers to gain trust and respect from people, especially in Asian cultures which hold teachers in high regard,'' he added.

He did not say how police had chosen the foreigners in question.

His comments follow the arrest on Tuesday of Briton Paul Jones, 39, who has lived in Thailand for seven years. Police said they raided his Bangkok apartment and found a computer containing hundreds of photos of naked boys and girls.

Mr Jones was a teacher at a Bangkok private school, police said.

His apprehension followed the arrest of Canadian-born teacher Christopher Neil on Oct 19 after a worldwide Interpol campaign to track down a man seen in internet photos abusing Asian boys.

Bangkok Post

**ChiangMai noon** · 01-11-2007, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

''We are scrutinising more than 1,000 foreign teachers working in Thailand,'' he said. ''Until now, educational institutions would only look at their academic qualifications, but that is not enough.''

I'm quite sure this is impossible.

only authorised institutions can get hold of a CRB report.

The Thai Government isn't one of them.

I suspect this is more bluster.

watterinja · 01-11-2007, 11:49 AM

Nasty, nasty foreigners again.

I'm beginning to get the distinct smell of hypocrisy in this whole thing.

I'd be prepared to bet that the falang paedo scum percentage of the total teacher population, is minuscule, compared to what the Thais get up to.

These folks are in denial & seem to be looking at every possible scapegoat they can drag up. Land of sleeze applies the squeeze!

**obsidian** · 01-11-2007, 11:50 AM

I think we are in for a blustery period. What better to do when the country has no viable constitution and cant get its people out to vote than look for a foreign boogie man?

**obsidian** · 01-11-2007, 11:51 AM

^^ hah! well stated Wrinja.

**dirtydog** · 01-11-2007, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by somchai

''Until now, educational institutions would only look at their academic qualifications, but that is not enough.''

And if they didn't have the qualifications the school would recommend where to buy them

**NickA** · 01-11-2007, 11:53 AM

^^^^^They said the same thing when the other guy got caught, I assume they'll check 1000 new applicants for work permits and then stop again. Something like that.

**AntRobertson** · 01-11-2007, 11:54 AM

I have absolutely no problem with this whole thing in principle, however this:

He did not say how police had chosen the foreigners in question

I have seen several times now. I wonder how they are going to select the 'foreigners in question'?

**obsidian** · 01-11-2007, 11:57 AM

hard to take these guys seriously even when they are right. undoubtedly a way will be found to fuck up this wet dream.

**ChiangMai noon** · 01-11-2007, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

I wonder how they are going to select the 'foreigners in question'?

and how they are possibly going to check them out.
I honestly don't think it is in any way possible, beyond some sort of interpol list.

**NickA** · 01-11-2007, 12:05 PM

^Well, if it is, then you are fooked

**ChiangMai noon** · 01-11-2007, 12:07 PM

^
not sure that aggravated assault from 13 years ago is really the sort of thing they are looking for Nikolarse.

I got one of those police report things just in case they asked me when I renewed my visa.
it said "no recore found... spent you see"

in any case, immigration didn't ask for it.

**dirtydog** · 01-11-2007, 12:07 PM

I wonder what percentage of teachers in Thailand are working illegally? I would think more are illegal than legal, ok it is quite easy for the police to find the legal ones from the labour dept, but wouldn't it be more sensible that they should be finding the illegal ones.

**ChiangMai noon** · 01-11-2007, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

I wonder what percentage of teachers in Thailand are working illegally?

in ChiangMai I would say 70-80%.

**NickA** · 01-11-2007, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

in any case, immigration didn't ask for it.

Exactly, after that Jon Benet thingy they said they were going to check on everyone, then we all go for out new work permits and extensions and they don't ask for anything.

Originally Posted by dirtydog

but wouldn't it be more sensible that they should be finding the illegal ones.

Exactly!!!!!!!!!

**Lily** · 01-11-2007, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

I would think more are illegal than legal,

I think most of the teachers in Bangkok, anyway are working in schools and would be legal.

The ones working for language schools are probably more illegal than legal.

Bear in mind that the last two caught, were legal.

**Begbie** · 01-11-2007, 12:14 PM

Would it be possible to nominate a few people for this police list. Not necessarliy teachers. Does anybody have an e-mail address for the Thai Police ?

**NickA** · 01-11-2007, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Lily

Bear in mind that the last two caught, were legal.

But we don't know how many of the "illegal" ones are doing the same thing, but not being caught because nobody knows who or where they are.

**Lily** · 01-11-2007, 12:16 PM

^It should not only be possibe, it should be obligitory, to report people whom you have good reason to think are paedophiles.

**Lily** · 01-11-2007, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by NickA

But we don't know how many of the "illegal" ones are doing the same thing, but not being caught because nobody knows who or where they are.

I dont think the status of their visa, had anything to do with why the last few have been caught.

They weren't caught for doing anything at schools and they were not caught because they had a work permit or that they worked in a school.

**obsidian** · 01-11-2007, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by Lily

Originally Posted by dirtydog

I would think more are illegal than legal,

I think most of the teachers in Bangkok, anyway are working in schools and would be legal.

The ones working for language schools are probably more illegal than legal.

Bear in mind that the last two caught, were legal.

no way. the schools have teachers working before the paerwork is finished and this is illegal. the system cannot work legally at the present time.

**Begbie** · 01-11-2007, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Lily

^It should not only be possibe, it should be obligitory, to report people whom you have good reason to think are paedophiles.

I think I was joking Lilly. Then again...

**AntRobertson** · 01-11-2007, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

I wonder how they are going to select the 'foreigners in question'?

and how they are possibly going to check them out.
I honestly don't think it is in any way possible, beyond some sort of interpol list.

I suspect you're right. Actually I think that's why they have pointedly refused to disclose how they are going to select the people to check, they simply don't know how they are going to work it themselves.

**ChiangMai noon** · 01-11-2007, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

hey simply don't know how they are going to work it themselves.

no way does the CRB volunteer extremely private information.
it would be entirely illegal.

**NickA** · 01-11-2007, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by Lily

I dont think the status of their work permit, had anything to do with why the last few have been caught. They weren't caught for doing anything at schools.

No, but if they use fake documents (including passport) it becomes a lot harder to find them.

I don't understand why this latest one was allowed to travel to Thailand as he already had a record in the UK... surely it's up to the British goverment to stop these types of people travelling to certain countries.

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