Tourism and Sports Minister
Somsak Pureesrisak (2nd right) and Virat Chinvinitkul (2nd left),
secretary-general of the Courts of Justice press the button to officially
open Thailand’s first “tourist court” aimed at solving minor disputes before
visitors leave the country.
Warunya Thongrod
Thailand’s first “tourist court” aimed at solving minor disputes before
visitors leave the country has opened in Pattaya.
Virat Chinvinitkul, secretary-general of the Courts of Justice, and Tourism
and Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak opened the Protection Section of the
Pattaya Courthouse Sept. 5, flanked by all Pattaya and Chonburi’s leading
political figures.
The tourist court, under the Pattaya judiciary control, will operate as a
“one-stop shop” for tourists seeking justice for scams, theft, conflicts and
accidents. Adjudication of cases will be cut to one day for uncomplicated
disputes - down from the usual six months, officials promised. Prosecution
of felony cases, which normally take months or years, will be cut to a mere
week, they claimed.
Public employees, including interpreters, already have been stationed at the
office to take complaints from tourists. Cases may go to court the day after
a complaint is filed.
Politicians wasted no time in putting the new court to
work, immediately sending justices a complaint lodged by family members of
the two Chinese tourists killed in an Aug. 28 speedboat accident off Bali
Hai Pier.
The incident, along with a similar speedboat collision that injured 18 South
Koreans, resulted in devastating negative publicity in Thailand’s crucial
Asian tourism markets. The court is seen as a way to allay concerns about
Thai justice. In the case, the two Chinese families are seeking financial
compensation for the accident.
“Tourists have a limited amount of time here and regular court processes
usually require a longer amount of time,” Virat said. Hence, we have pushed
for this court to open as fast as possible to begin tourists’ cases and for
tourists to receive justice.”
“I sympathize with tourists for having to face many difficulties, such as
scams, crime, accidents, injuries and even death,” Somsak said. “I want to
help those tourists receive justice as fast as possible, which is important
in helping tourists feel confident and better after a disastrous event.”
Pattaya Chief Justice Apichart Thepnu admitted not all cases will be
completed before a visitor is scheduled to leave Thailand, however. In civil
cases, “an officer will be appointed to draft a letter to file for a trial
in the regular court,” he said. In criminal cases, witness testimony will be
taken and advice given so that police and prosecutors have the information
they need to complete their work after the tourist leaves town.
“This tourism court is expected to do good and create confidence for
tourists,” Apichart said.
The Pattaya tourist court is a test case for a nationwide system. The next
court is slated to open in Phuket, with more forums set for Chiang Mai, Koh
Samui, Bangkok and possibly Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
The Pattaya court is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For
more information, call 038-252-130-2 ext. 184.
