A Scottish backpacker arrested in Thailand over an alleged mobile phone theft must wait until 9 December to learn whether he will be allowed to return home. Rory McColl, 37, from Edinburgh, claims he mistakenly picked up a woman's phone from a bar, thinking it was his own, shortly after arriving in Bangkok in early March. According to BBC News, his family says two Thai police officers testified the incident was a "misunderstanding" during a hearing before four judges in the Thai capital on Thursday.
McColl remains free on bail while awaiting the verdict, though his passport has been seized, preventing him from leaving Thailand. He previously spent seven weeks in a hotel in Pattaya, approximately 90 miles southeast of Bangkok, after his initial arrest.
How did the incident unfold?
McColl had been enjoying drinks at a bar on the famous Khao San Road district following a 30-hour journey to Thailand when he realised he had misplaced his own phone. He noticed an identical device on the bar counter and, without realising it belonged to another tourist, placed it in his pocket. The phone was returned to the woman shortly afterwards, and McColl explained what had happened to police.
Despite his explanation and the alleged victim's acceptance of his account, he was arrested the following day and charged with stealing a mobile phone. He spent two days in a Thai jail before being released on bail.
What has the legal process revealed?
The case has been marked as "theft by night" under Thai law. According to Edinburgh News, McColl's family has been advised that a conviction could result in a one-year suspended sentence. The alleged victim had previously written to McColl accepting his apology and explanation, yet the court has continued to seek to locate her for the proceedings.
The case has already experienced delays. Edinburgh News reported that the case was postponed because police needed additional time to present CCTV evidence and locate the alleged victim. An earlier hearing was deferred to 28 July, and the case was subsequently scheduled to return to court on 29 October.
What impact has this had on McColl's life?
The prolonged legal limbo has taken a significant toll on McColl. His family stated that the extended stay in Thailand has cost nearly £12,000, and he has lost both his Edinburgh job and his flat as a result of his inability to return home. The uncertainty surrounding the case has left him stranded in the country for months, unable to resume his normal life.
What happens next?
McColl will receive the court's verdict on 9 December. Until then, he remains on bail in Thailand with his passport retained by authorities, unable to leave the country while the legal process continues.
