An Australian mum whose badly beaten son has been ordered to report to Koh Samui police on what she says are trumped up misdemeanor and assault charges is planning to sue her son’s attackers.
Following interest in the case by Thailand’s National Council for Peace and Reconciliation and both the Thai Police Foreign Affairs Department (Interpol) and FBI who are understood to have made calls to the island, Annie Hansen says lawyers are now looking at detailed statements made by Raymond Chang and Ryan Wang, two former pupils of the Shanghai American School who have been charged in connection with the attack on her son.
The statement of the mystery alleged ‘damsel in distress’ at the Rave on Koh Samui is also being looked at.
The statements indicate a belated story to deflect blame on to Jack for the attack, said Annie Hansen.
The charges against her son follow what she describes as ‘frenetic activities’ on the island by Raymond Norbu Chang, a millionaire corporate executive who has given US$300,000 to a democratic party member in the United States, and who told the Samui court that he was tipped by Fortune magazine in 2000 to be one of the top 25 next generation global leaders under 40.
The charges came as Jack Hansen-Bartel learned that he will have to undergo another unexpected session of corrective surgery.
Raymond Nobu Chang made his presence known on Samui by ripping the microphone off a video camera being used to film the story by Channel 7 Australia. Nearly six weeks after he incident in the Green Mango Club in Koh Samui Wang and Chang made statements against Jack Hansen-Bartel, seemingly as a retaliatory act.
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| Raymond Nobu Chang |
So far Thai police have spent more in air fares alone investigating Jack Hansen-Bartel from Mentone, Melbourne, than the small penalties he faces for misdemeanor and assault which should not be more than 500 and 2000 baht.
Koh Samui police say that Jack must surrender to police tomorrow (Friday) but the demand was only received by ems on Wednesday and says Annie Hansen is too short notice. Her son will deny the charges of misdemeanor and assault.
Annie has demanded transparency in the investigation in which Jack, was beaten unconscious and has since had to undergo skin and bone grafts in a series of corrective operations which will continue until next year.
In particular she wants a special examination of ‘contrived statements’ entered in evidence including one by a Japanese New Zealand girl now studying at Fordham University in New York.
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| Ryan Wang |
Already Thailand’s military led National Council for Peace and Order has expressed concern over the attack on Jack and insisted on being present when Koh Samui police flew into interview Jack in Bangkok two weeks ago. A spokesman said: “We wish to re-assure the mother that there will be transparency and have sent that message to police.”
The investigation into Jack started the day Koh Samui court ordered that the passports of Wang and Chang be seized after they misrepresented their circumstances on a previous bail application.
They said they loved Thailand so much that they had rented an apartment on Koh Samui for three years. In fact they are due to start at universities in the United States – Chang at Ivy League Cornell University and Wang at Purdue University. Earlier this week however their passports were returned and they were ordered to return to Thailand by September 3rd.
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| Raymond Chang |
They may now need that ‘apartment’ which is registered at the address of the lawyers Limcharoen Legal.
Hansen-Bartel was dancing on the stage in the Green Mango in the early hours of June 10th when he was allegedly attacked under cover of smoke from a smoke machine.
Chinese Americans Chang and Wang claim they were going to the aid of a half New-Zealand half Japanese student who had just graduated from the International School of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo, whom they claim Jack was molesting.
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| NCPO officers with Jack and his elder brother Jesse |
But evidence shown to this site shows the young woman and Jack with their arms around each other, and Chang rushing to pull them apart with Wang grabbing the girls’ hand.
Jack claims the girl did not tell him she had had a ‘relationship’ with Wang and bowed out. He did not resist Chang’s bullying.
The attack came later and there is no evidence of any confrontation before what appeared to be an ambush.
Annie Hansen said: “It is vital this young woman comes back to testify. From evidence we have received and looking at her statement we have many questions to ask.”
Hundreds of expatriates in Thailand who have been following the story have written to complain to Cornell and Purdue Universities and the John F Kennedy School of Government which Raymond Nobu Chang (senior) is attending.
Jack has been with his mother Annie for 15 years. Jack’s elder brother Jesse is at Monash University in Melbourne studying a double degree in bio-medicine.
#Jack Hansen Bartel #RaymondNobuChang #RaymondAnthonyChang #RyanWang #GreenMangoClub #KohSamui
This case is just so typical of the Thai system. It's been totally manipulated and there has been very disturbing activity by Raymond Chang, the police and that law company. Bail has been granted to two people who are clearly a flight risk, they have nothing to gain by returning but have a lot to lose. There was no reason as to why the charges could not of been heard already.
The counter charges look like nothing more than a contrived act to muddy the waters and cause delays. The police actually flying from Samui to Bangkok to lay counter charges is also highly suspicious. Who authorised and paid for this? If paid for by the father of the accused boys it is outrageous and corrupt.
In any other country the father's meddling and interfering in the case may of led to charges of 'attempting to pervert the course of justice.' Anybody who has been in Thailand for more than five minutes knows what has gone on in this case. It's totally disgraceful but not surprising.
This was a cowardly attack by someone who sounds like he doesn't handle not getting his way very well. A spoilt brat who thinks he can get away with anything because of his perceived social status. All this case has done, is reinforce the widely held belief the Thai police are hopelessly corrupt and the courts are open to manipulation by influential people. We have many examples that prove this to be so.
This also suggests a chronic weakness of character with certain Thai officials. They seem unable to resist the temptation when people offer money in a case. They lack the moral fortitude to say no and insist on seeing justice done. The current state of Thai society proves this to be correct.
Seems like the 'justice' system in Thailand rarely if ever delivers anything that could reasonably be called justice. I don't know whether the government really cares as long as their assets and positions are secure…also, I don't follow these things closely but where are the op eds in the bangkok post, Thai rath etc highlighting this hopeless system…
As becket said, “Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1408697108§ion=11
No, "Not The American Way." Money changing hands in some nations may move mountains; however, it won't in The U.S. Financial crimes such as bribery are taken very seriously and charges even more serious. This I know as a former US law enforcement officer.
Chinese American Mr. Raymond Noble Chang has had to good fortune to immigrate to America and make a life for himself and family, earning–I will assume–US $$, and due to having been provided acceptance to American Universities that would aid in a very bright future for Mr. Raymond Noble Chang. In any American university, opportunity waits for the correct, law abiding, moral person.
Admission to such US universities is stringent. If a student fails to be law abiding, moral, and civil, instant expulsion occurs. There are many, many decent, honest students who would relish such opportunity to study at any of the top 10 American Universities.
It is these Universities responsibility by policies, procedures, and laws to disallow any student with such criminal activity in his history to enter the halls.
Mr. R. Chang's son, Mr. Raymond Anthony Chang has had the good fortune to attend Cornell University in New York, has brutalized an innocent individual and charged accordingly to evidence by Thai Police. The second assailant, Mr. Ryan Wang, is equally involved and originally charged of brutalizing Mr.Jack Hansen-Bartel as well.
The good news is that Officers with the US Embassy, FBI attache, in Bangkok get what happens in Thailand when it comes to bribery and corruption….and seems Mr. Raymond Noble Chang does as well.
Mr. Chang may make the slide of a hand here, and get his son and son's pal out of criminal trouble; however, The US law has a long arm. Yes, smells of violations of U.S. Foreign Corruption Practices Act of 1977. Clearly, an investigation is in order, and out of The USA, if not already in progress.
And as the honorable opportunity to attend such prestigious US American Universities as Harvard, Cornell, and Purdue, lawful, moral, and civil conduct are of utmost importance and mandated. Brutality and bribery are not tolerated. Such students are expelled and others worthy given opportunity to study and represent such prestigious American Universities.
Very important that this matter–and these names–are reported to Universities Harvard, Cornell, and Purdue. Administrators and Deans would want to be informed.