In Mafialand : Writing a negative review of a Thai resort could end you in jail.

Andrew MacGregor Marshall
2h ·

EXCLUSIVE—An American working in Thailand was jailed for three days, and still faces the threat of legal action, after posting negative TripAdvisor and Google reviews of a Thai resort, in another egregious abuse of the country's criminal defamation law.
Wesley B, 37, from Arkansas, who works as an English teacher in Thailand, stayed at the Sea View resort in Koh Chang in June, with a friend. They were unhappy with the attitude of the staff, in particular a farang employee called Jan. After complaining about the poor service, they were threatened and abused by hotel staff, who shouted at them and were very aggressive.
Wesley thought there was a dysfunctional relationship among foreign and Thai staff at the resort, with foreign managers treating Thai employees with contempt.
He posted a negative review of the hotel on TripAdvisor and Google, drawing attention in particular to what he believed was abuse of Thai staff by foreign management.
TripAdvisor never published the review, although Google did. His review stated: "The staff was not friendly. Nobody could smile. The restaurant manager was very rude and full of himself. He is from the Czech Republic. There are other hotels with better-friendlier staff. Avoid this place as if it was the Coronoavirus!"
Wesley faced severe consequences for sharing his review of the Sea View resort. Earlier this month, immigration police arrived at his workplace, with a warrant for his arrest.
He was taken back to Koh Chang on September 12, charged with defamation, and bail was set at 100,000 baht, which he could not pay immediately. He spent two nights in jail until he was able to post bail, and he still faces the threat of further legal action — all because he was not happy with his stay at Sea View resort.
I contacted Tom Storup, rooms manager at the resort, to ask for comment. He saw my messages but has not made any comment, and later blocked me on LinkedIn.
It's extraordinary that at a time when Thai tourism is in crisis, the Sea View resort is pursuing legal action against a customer who was unhappy with his stay and gave reasonable feedback.
"I never thought a review could end in handcuffs," Wesley told me today. "I will fight it in court. Hopefully no one else has to live the same nightmare."

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