PHUKET: After two months barricaded in a Phuket Town condo amid an extended dispute with the landlord, Australian-born British national David Maclean, 50, from Brisbane, remains locked in the apartment despite police previously assuring that action would be taken when his immigration permit to stay in the country expired on Feb 21.
Mr Maclean has not left the condo, located at the “Supalai Park at Phuket City” complex on Nakorn Rd, since Jan 14 amid a dispute with the landlady over paying the rent. Repeated attempts by police and representatives from the British embassy to convince Mr Maclean to at least open the door have failed.
....However, Capt Ekkachai also said yesterday that officers still had yet to come up with a plan to have Mr Maclean vacate the property as police have decided to not enter the property by force.

“We are concerned about him. We have tried many ways before, but without success. I have no plan yet because I am afraid that he might hurt himself or jump,” Capt Ekkachai said.

PHUKET: Australian-born British national David Maclean, 50, originally from Brisbane, Australia, after nearly four months barricaded in a Phuket Town condo has been safely removed from the apartment today (May 2), Phuket Tourist Police have confirmed.

Mr Maclean was removed from the ninth-floor condo, at the “Supalai Park at Phuket City” complex on Nakorn Rd, after Phuket Immigration officers broke a window to gain entry to the back of the unit from atop a fire truck ladder, confirmed Capt Ekkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police.

Under a plan devised by Phuket Immigration Chief Lt Col Kathatorn Kumthien, regular police officers engaged in talks with Mr Maclean through the condo’s front door to the hallway, while Phuket Immigration officers entered from the rear.

Mr Maclean, emaciated by his ordeal, was immediately taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for care, Capt Ekkachai said.

Phuket Immigration Chief Lt Col Kathatorn confirmed to The Phuket News that Mr Maclean will face charges for overstaying in the Kingdom of Thailand.