Detention - IDC (International Detention Centre)

Message to backpackers in Thailand - Don't end a good holiday, be smart, don't go through this!!!

If you commit a criminal offense, the procedure will go like this:

JAIL! - You will go to court, if you are charged and found guilty you must pay the fine. If you don't have the money to pay your fine you will go to prison until it is paid off, at 70 Th.Baht per day.

Even if you have the money to pay the fine you will then be be taken to a detention centre until you can get funds for a ticket to go back to your home country. You will be expected to pay all transport costs from the time you are released from jail and taken into custody by officials.

That means that if you get arrested in the far north or deep south you will have to pay for transport costs to Bangkok and a taxi to the airport. This can take some time to arrange so be cool.

You can get some food in the detention centre if you have funds, other than that you get tasteless soup and rice three times a day.

You will be sharing your room with 80 to 100 people all on their way out, you must also find a clear space on the floor where you will sleep, be prepared to stand for long periods of time.

There is no recreation or time out so you will not see any rays of sunlight. You will be detained until you have the means to leave. Depending on flights, the whole process should take 3 to 7 days.

You do not have to contact your embassy if you have a ticket already booked and paid for, but it is advisable to talk to the missionaries that are around Monday to Friday and they will guide you through the process.

The Detention rooms have shops run by detainees, trustees if you like, who will provide you with some comforts but you will have to pay 200% the items value, cold coffee etc. Telephone charges are expensive, the telephones belong to the Immigration officers who also charge by the minute (200% increase).

Visitors are not allowed to bring cigarettes or alchohol and they will be searched thoroughly on arrival. The above information is real, this free accommodation is not documented in any travel books. Many travellers experience this place everyday. It is an eye opener. It also is there as a departure lounge for unwanted travellers and illegal immigrants.

Be sensible - avoid spending at all costs any time in this place, an experience you will not want to include in your travels.

Courts
76 Provinces each with a provincial court that hears civil and criminal cases, a far cry from the old system where, in 1238 - 1350 AD a stone inscription describes how a citizen with a complaint could ring a bell and call upon the King to resolve a dispute.

Present day sees many influences in English law in many areas, the legal system is essentially a civil law system. District courts hear petty cases. Bangkok has separate courts for criminal and civil cases and district courts for petty cases.

There are also special courts for cases involving juvenile, family, labour tax, and private international agreements.

Lawyers
If occasion arises that you will need to consult a lawyer, always take a tourist policemen with you. We stress, that unless there is an absolute emergency, DO NOT NOT GO TO THE NORMAL THAI POLICE!

This will cost you a fortune in corruption and the end result will usually not be satisfactory. Tourist police can deal with your problem even after you have left the country.

We are currently checking on reputable lawyers who have had experience dealing with foreigners in each province and just as importantly, we will also tell you who to avoid.