Thailand deports Scot on human trafficking claims

Tuesday 31 July 2012

A SCOT suspected of human trafficking has been deported from Thailand after being branded a "danger to society".

DEPORTED: John Joseph Alty with a member of staff at The Squealing Pig, a guest house he ran in Thailand, has returned to the UK.

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Andrew Drummond

John Joseph Alty, originally from Glasgow, was escorted to Bangkok International Airport by immigration police at the weekend after the UK Border Agency (UKBA) told Thai police he was suspected of the crime.

The 57-year-old, who ran a guest house called The Squealing Pig in the coastal town of Hua Hin, 180 miles south of Bangkok, returned to Britain "voluntarily" after paying for his own ticket while being held in custody. All deportees have to buy their own tickets.

Mr Alty, also known as Jack, was arrested at his guest house in May after a UKBA official in Bangkok acted on information received by the agency and notified Thai Immigration Police of his whereabouts.The UKBA said the information was passed on for "law enforcement purposes only" and for the Thai immigration authorities to consider "the suitability of Alty to remain in Thailand".A letter from the UK authority to Thai immigration officials stated: "Alty is currently suspected of involvement in the smuggling of Sri Lankan and Iranian nationalities into Australia and New Zealand."On several occasions people of these nationalities seeking entry to Australia and New Zealand have attempted to travel on passports in the name of Alty."The letter further requested its contents "remain confidential and not be released to a third party or the media".However, details of the letter were released at a press conference in Bangkok, where immigration police said he would be deported as he is believed to be a "danger to society".Alty had earlier been deported back to Britain from Australia in 2007 after serving two-thirds of a three year and three months jail sentence for drugs trafficking.He had been arrested at Melbourne airport in 2005 with two bottles of cognac which, when examined, were found to contain two kilos of methamphetamine with a 36.5% purity. He pled guilty to the charge.His lawyer, Theo Kassimatis, said: "It was stupid, momentarily stupid. It was opportunistic ... and out of character."Friends of Alty tried to fight his case in Thailand. They claimed a judge had ruled he was "not a danger to society" but he was still returned to the Immigration Centre in Bangkok.He apparently changed his mind about fighting his case after another Briton was found dead in solitary confinement at the Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok. Richard Ian Cook, 28, had been arrested and was awaiting deportation in connection with a raid on a Bangkok "boiler room" – an illegal share trading centre. He had been put in solitary confinement after shouting at the guards, and is reported to have died from head injuries which the authorities said were self-inflicted.The UKBA refused to comment on Mr Alty's case, but added that how deportees are dealt with on their return to the UK depends on whether or not there is a warrant outstanding for their arrest.It is understood Mr Alty will not be monitored or spoken to by authorities in Britain unless he is wanted by the police.He is the 13th Briton to have been returned to the UK in the last 18 months, either by voluntary deportation or extradition.Among those forced to return were a number of child sexual abusers after the Serious Organised Crime Agency successfully sought extradition.The most recent case was of Paul Martin Smithers, 59, from Llangeinor, Bridgend, Glamorgan, one of Wales's most wanted men. He was escorted back to Britain by Welsh police and sentenced to 12 years for child rape and assault.Smithers had been on the run in Thailand and Bali for 10 years. He had been given bail between conviction and sentencing. Judge John Curran said he had shown "no remorse" for his crimes.Also involved in Smithers's arrest at Bangkok airport were UKBA officials who have been operating a scheme called RALON – Risk and Liaison Overseas Network in conjunction with Thai Immigration Police.

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Thailand deports Scot on human trafficking claims

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