Detective Work

[cyrille]

I was just reading this in 'Pattaya Mail' and wondering why on earth someone would have a quarter of a million baht on them in cash.

Sattahip official returns 240,000 baht left at pool to Canadian - Pattaya Mail - Pattaya News, Communities, Opinions and much more...

The village chief of Wang Thong in Sattahip District returned the equivalent of about 240,000 baht he found near a Pattaya hotel pool to its Canadian owner.

Chatchai Janmongkol, 40, handed over 240,000 baht worth of dollars to Sattahip police Nov. 26, with staff from the Ambassador City Hotel watching.

Tourist Travis Switucka, who left the money on a chair next to the Ambassador’s pool, presented him with a $500 reward.
Police said Chatchai told him he was at the Ambassador in Jomtien Beach for a seminar. While having a meal near the pool afterward, he saw a bag left on a chair and found the money inside.

At the same time, Switucka reported the lost cash to police.

Then I thought I'd google the guy's rather unusual name...

Trial concludes without decision

He cited R. v. Swituka in which the judge discusses the three types of possession as established by the Ontario Court of Appeals case R. v. Pham, personal possession, constructive possession and joint possession. Personal possession is self-explanatory. Constructive possession requires knowledge beyond passive involvement and some measure of control. Joint possession also requires consent in addition to knowledge and control.

Rusnak said given the facts, the only reasonable inference in the Esquivel matter was that she had knowledge of the money, gave consent to the activities leading to its procurement and had control of it constituting joint possession.

In Swituka, the defendant, Travis Swituka was found guilty of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking even though he was not in personal possession of the drugs nor was he even in the residence where they were found at the time.

However, because he had keys to the safe in which the coke was found on his key chain with those of his truck, the judge concluded: "The only reasonable inference that can be drawn from the facts was that Swituka had knowledge, consent and control over the safe and its contents. He was in constructive and/or joint possession of the cocaine found by the police in the apartment.

Could be two completely different guys, of course, and the spelling is slightly different, but I wonder if google is the thai police force's friend?

[Topper]

International expansion has its costs and Thailand does do most of its business in cash.

[cyrille]

But...on a beach lounger?

[david44]

Dealers don't like cheques

[alwarner]

RIP Cyrille.

[stroller]

But...on a beach lounger?

The guy probably had a good dose of his medicine, could have happened to me during my misspent youth. lol

[Midfield General]

I was just reading this in 'Pattaya Mail' and wondering why on earth someone would have a quarter of a million baht on them in cash.

?

Some folk are funny when they carry large amounts of cash. They dont trust anybody so they dont let it out their sight. Thats probably whats happened here but ofcourse this fool wandered off and left the money sitting beside his sun lounger
No idea why carry so much money? Maybe he was planning to make a cash only business transaction

[david44]

A Gross of festive tarts?

[Chittychangchang]

He looks more like a dodgy accountant than a drug dealer

[Neverna]

Would he have to declare that much money when he entered Thailand? (assuming he brought it with him).

[cyrille]

He should have, sure.

[Fondles]

is 6 and a half grand a lot to carry on oneself these days ?

[Dragonfly]

you have that much cash when you don't want financial trace of your activities

maybe his credit card company would question his withdrawals in Pattaya for whoring

or he was in some kind of deal,