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British academic detained at Bangkok airport for four days British academic detained at Bangkok airport for four days
(34 minutes later)
A British academic has been detained in Thailand accused of posing a threat to its national security. Wyn Ellis, who has been working for the United Nations, has been held at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport for four days over a years-old dispute with a former Thai official.A British academic has been detained in Thailand accused of posing a threat to its national security. Wyn Ellis, who has been working for the United Nations, has been held at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport for four days over a years-old dispute with a former Thai official.
In 2008, Ellis proved that the former director of the Thai agency responsible for promoting and protection of intellectual property rights, Supachai Lorlowhakarn, had plagiarised his and others’ work in his PhD thesis. The two also clashed over the authorship of other work attributed to Supachai.In 2008, Ellis proved that the former director of the Thai agency responsible for promoting and protection of intellectual property rights, Supachai Lorlowhakarn, had plagiarised his and others’ work in his PhD thesis. The two also clashed over the authorship of other work attributed to Supachai.
He subsequently won a series of legal battles against Supachai, and Chulalongkorn university eventually stripped the official of his doctorate after an investigation found that 80% of it had been taken from various sources. He subsequently won a series of legal battles against Supachai, and Chulalongkorn University eventually stripped the official of his doctorate after an investigation found that 80% of his thesis had been taken from various sources.
Ellis, an agricultural consultant who has worked with the UN’s environmental programme, was the object of nine legal complaints by Supachai, the former director of the Thai national innovation agency (NIA), but won or settled all of them. Ellis, an agricultural consultant who has worked with the UN’s environmental programme, was the subject of nine legal complaints by Supachai, the former director of the Thai national innovation agency (NIA), but won or settled all of them.
Supachai, for his part, was convicted of criminal forgery of Ellis’s employment contract in 2012. He was fined and given a suspended jail sentence, and was sacked by the NIA in February. Supachai, for his part, was convicted of criminal forgery of Ellis’s employment contract in 2012. He was fined and given a suspended prison sentence, and was sacked by the NIA in February.
But Ellis learned that, in 2009, Supachai had asked the Thai immigration department to blacklist him. Despite being in possession of a letter from the NIA retracting that request, Ellis was detained on Thursday.But Ellis learned that, in 2009, Supachai had asked the Thai immigration department to blacklist him. Despite being in possession of a letter from the NIA retracting that request, Ellis was detained on Thursday.
A foreign office spokesman said: “A British national has been detained in Thailand. We are providing consular assistance and the embassy in Bangkok is in touch with the Thai authorities.” A Foreign Office spokesman said: “A British national has been detained in Thailand. We are providing consular assistance and the embassy in Bangkok is in touch with the Thai authorities.”
Ellis, who was able to access his Twitter account while in detention, told the Guardian on Sunday that both his wife and a member of British embassy staff were due to go to the Thai immigration department to request his removal from the blacklist the following day.Ellis, who was able to access his Twitter account while in detention, told the Guardian on Sunday that both his wife and a member of British embassy staff were due to go to the Thai immigration department to request his removal from the blacklist the following day.
The academic, who has lived in Thailand since 1985, said his detention was part of a “long-running harassment campaign”.The academic, who has lived in Thailand since 1985, said his detention was part of a “long-running harassment campaign”.
He added: “My home has undergone surveillance by individuals with false ID and false number plates, anonymous letters, long-running ... tax inspections, investigation of my Thai citizenship, 480 telephone death threats, and rock attacks on my car.” He added: “My home has undergone surveillance by individuals with false ID and false number plates, anonymous letters, long-running … tax inspections, investigation of my Thai citizenship, 480 telephone death threats, and rock attacks on my car.”
There is no evidence that Supachai was behind any of those alleged actions.There is no evidence that Supachai was behind any of those alleged actions.