Olga Smirnova, the 53-year-old Russian woman who spent two nights in police lockup after she was caught feeding bread to fish on Racha Yai Island, was yesterday fined THB1,000 by the Phuket Provincial Court for her transgression.
The paltry fine comes after Smirnova was held for 48 hours in detention at Chalong Police Station as she could not raise the THB100,000 bail set by police. The officials even held her passport as precaution against “flight risk.”
Smirnova was finally released on Feb. 21 after a female Thai friend posted the THB100,000 bail to Phuket Provincial Court.
“She was presented in court this morning and fined THB1,000,” Chalong Police Chief Col. Krittapas Det-intarasorn confirmed.
“We will send her to Immigration next because now the court and the police have done our duty already. Immigration will take care of this case from now on,” he added.
However, Col. Krittapas could not confirm when Smirnova will be presented to Phuket Immigration for further processing, whether she was in violation of any immigration laws or whether or not the bail had been returned to the friend.
An officer at the main Phuket Immigration office in Phuket Town, who declined to be named, said he was unaware of Smirnova’s predicament.
“I have to wait for Chalong Police to contact me. It is standard procedure for any foreigners found guilty of any crime to be brought to Phuket Immigration,” the officer said.
“Immigration officers consider the factors in each case. If it is not a serious issue, Immigration will release the foreigner. For feeding fish, I have no idea,” he said.
Vladimir Sosnov, head of the consular section of the Russian Embassy in Thailand, noted that the “punishment was minimal.”
“We consider the court’s decision on this case satisfactory. Right now we are working on sending the tourist home, as she missed her flight because of the trial,” he said.
Story: The Phuket News
