The consequences of using a fake degree: Mr. Hippo's day in court.
**Mod edit** For those who want to begin this story, at the beginning, with Hippo's arrest, you should read this first:
http://www.ajarnforum.net/vb/the-sta...ml#post1191666 (Fake Degrees)
It's been a long, long month for me; first of all the arrest then 2 nights in the Immigration Detention Centre, followed by the first court appearance, two probation meetings and sentencing today.
In my life, I have been knocked down so many times and then kicked so you start to think 'Is it worth getting up again or should I just lie here for my next kicking?' All possible permutations have been spinning round my head - secretly hoping for the best but fearing the worst!
Mrs Hippo and I arrived at the court today with the lawyer and sat in the court at 9 o'clock along with about 5 other defendants (different cases) - will I be the first case or the last? I thought that the trial would start at 9 but no, the judge came in at 10 and my name was called first.
Mrs Hippo and I approached and the judge gave the sentence - 3000 Baht fine and a 6 month suspended prison sentence; he said that it should have been double but as I had confessed and my probation report was good he halved it. The prison sentence is suspended for two years.
Did the school report me? Not according to the probation officer. There is someone at the Ministry checking all degrees, he shown me the list but as it was in Thai, I was not able to read it.
So anyone who has worked with a fake in the past 7 or 8 years or is working with one now, I think that you have every reason to be concerned. I got off light but I fear that this will not happen in every case - be careful!
Last edited by Eric; 27th June 2009 at 23:05.
Great news hippo!!! Glad you are free, but just seeing the post i knew it must be okay cause you sure dont have computer lock up in the jail. Have you already paid the fine?
Too long in Exile, too long not singing my song.
Too long like a rolling stone, Too long in exile
Too long in Exile, baby you just arent my friend.
Too long in Exile my friend, Baby you can never go home again.
The fine has been paid, just waiting for the bail money now (100,000 Baht) - will get it on July 1st.Originally Posted by aging one
great. relax now as I am sure you have not since the incident.
Good on you, Hippo. Good news. I think that you did exactly the right thing by coming clean with the authorities. Now carry on cycling and enjoying your life.
Great news under the circumstances. Now you can relax and get on with your life. Do you have any check in requirements/probation stuff?
Frederick Douglass: Find out just what any people will quietly submit to
and you have found out the exact measure of injustice
and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these
will continue till they are resisted with either
words or blows, or with both.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn;
“Don’t believe them, don’t fear them, don’t ask
anything of them.”
Good news
good luck
Great news, Hippo and thanks for sharing it with us. What exactly is a suspended sentence?
Good post Hippo.
Anyone who has done the same in 7-8 years should watch out then. I hope they have the bail money.
At any stage, was there talk of deportation? Did you spend a lot on the lawyer.
I'd guess that all similar cases which the MOI uncovers, will be tried through the same court. Where did you attend? Do you think the judge will be the same? It would be a good story to get the opinion of the judge for this site. What was his name?
Good luck for you though.
A suspension of a sentence means the sentence will not be enforced for the duration of the stay so long as the defendant keeps his nose clean and is not found to be engaging in the same illegal activity or another illegal activity depending on what the judge directed. Should the defendant be found guilty of an additional crime, not only will he need to serve the sentence for the second crime, but also the original stayed sentence on top of that.
Thanks crew. Sounds lik you know your stuff about that.
I'm not following. The list of what?
^^ I love Law & Order.
Good for you, Hippo, this will be a great weight off your mind.
However it should also act as a strong warning and hopefully an end to the: 'it's okay to go to KSR to get a degree if your employing school wants to see a certificate, it's only a piece of paper' argument. Let the fake degree buyer beware.
Facist^^ I love Law & Order.
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