SHOCKING: Tourist faces YEAR in prison for feeding fish in Thailand
A TOURIST could be jailed for a year for feeding breadcrumbs to fish in the popular destination of Phuket island.
Tourist feeds breadcrumbs to fish in 'forbidden' part of sea
The Russian female was arrested for breaking the island’s environmental law, which prohibits feeding fish around an ecologically sensitive coral reef.
Olga Smirnova, 53, was arrested on 19 February and taken to Chalong Police Station to await a court appearance.
She is currently still in police custody as she did not have enough money to make bail.
Officers from the Phuket Department of Marine and Coastal Resources discovered Ms Smirnova’s illegal fish feeding while doing routine checks around Plub Pla Bay.
We are taking a very strict stance on this
A translator informed her that her actions were illegal and that she had broken an environmental law.
She was then shown posters, displayed all over the island, that demonstrate the rules.
The maximum punishment for breaking this law in Phuket is one year in jail and a fine of B100,000 (£2,285).
“We are taking a very strict stance on this,” said a Marine and Coastal Resources spokesman.
“She has to pay the bail and remain in Thailand until her case is processed by a court.”
An official from the Russian consulate said they had not as yet received an official notification of the arrest.
However, he said: “We managed to talk to officials at the police station where the woman is being kept.
“The Russian citizen did not have the money needed for bail and that's why she is awaiting trial there.”
This comes after Express.co.uk reported on the seemingly harmless item that is strictly prohibited in the Maldives.
Among the usual suspects, such as firearms, explosives and weapons, it is also an offence to take a sex toy into the country.
They are completely banned, as they come under the heading of “pornographic material” as listed by the Maldives Customs Service.
Pornographic books, magazines, films, videos, DVDs and software are also forbidden.