The surprising laws that could land travelling Kiwis in jail on an OE
A New Zealand teenager faces serious legal charges in Thailand after allegedly stealing a watch at an airport. The incident serves as a warning to travelers about the strict enforcement of local laws abroad.
Why it matters
It underscores the importance of cultural and legal awareness for international travelers to avoid severe legal consequences.
Posing for a photograph next to a statue of Buddha is illegal in Sri Lanka. Photo / Bloomberg
When Kiwi teenager Loukas Rainger allegedly took a cheap watch that was not his at an airport in Thailand, he might not have expected to be sitting in a high-security prison for it.
The 18-year-old was charged with “theft at the airport” last week – a more serious charge than theft under Thai law – and carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a fine, Stuff reported.
Rainger, who just finished school and was in Thailand on an OE, has now been released on bail after spending six days in Surat Thani Prison, according to a Givealittle page set up by the family.
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