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Serious AMDK Lost Everything After Retiring to Thailand!
- Thread starter Pinkieslut
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British expat’s £1.5 million Thai dream ends in jail nightmare
Retired engineer says corruption and dodgy deals destroyed his golden years abroad
Puntid Tantivangphaisal1 day agoLast Updated: Tuesday, August 26, 20252 minutes read
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What began as a dream retirement in Thailand for a British expat spiralled into a nightmare of prison cells, financial ruin, and heartbreak.
Martin Savage, a 65 year old retired engineer, says a bitter boundary row with a neighbour over a driveway ultimately cost him everything: his £1.5 million (around 67.5 million baht) property portfolio, his retirement fund, and his freedom.
“I have lost everything, I’m completely broke.”
Savage had moved to Thailand nearly two decades ago with his Thai-British wife, 66 year old Sudarat, after a successful career that saw him work on the Channel Tunnel. The couple invested heavily, buying a family home in Ubon Ratchathani and a 40-room apartment block in Pattaya. For years, the rental income funded their ideal lifestyle.
But in 2010, a dispute with a neighbour turned ugly. Savage said Sudarat, listed as sole owner due to Thai laws barring foreign land ownership, borrowed £34,000 from a moneylender. Instead of repayment, the lender allegedly flipped the couple’s apartment block, worth £1.2 million, for just £45,000.
“He was a predator; this was his business. In Thailand, all you have to do is pay somebody in the office a bit of money, and it happens.”
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The couple fought on in court. Then in 2017, they were arrested. Savage alleges police tricked them into signing bogus documents before jailing them for three months in Nong Plalai Prison.
“There was barely room to sleep on the concrete floor. I was 57 and suffering from asthma. It could have killed me.”
After their release, the couple discovered their Ubon home and three land plots had also been sold off under dubious circumstances. Court documents showed the same person had signed as both buyer and seller. Their legal battle to reclaim the assets failed.
Now, the once-prosperous couple survive on less than £100 a month from Savage’s pension and commission from Sudarat’s property brokering, The Daily Mail reported.
“We’re barely scraping by.”
Sudarat added, “I am so disappointed in our legal system. I used to have great faith, but I have been let down.”
The British Embassy confirmed it had supported Savage during his detention but declined to intervene further.
Savage warns fellow expats: “This should be a warning to others. Don’t think it can’t happen to you.”
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This seems to be a common thing. Chanced upon this youtube channel where this guy narrates the life experiences of UK and US men who went to live in Thailand, got married to Thai women, lost their money and ruined their own lives.
https://www.youtube.com/@talksofthailand/videos
https://www.youtube.com/@talksofthailand/videos
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Thailand is giving free flights to tourists and the Ah Nehs are cashing it in.
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After knowing all these 
.. I feel that Sinkieland is much a better place to stay long term than any hellhole in this world 
.. I feel that Sinkieland is much a better place to stay long term than any hellhole in this world This story is incomplete with many gaps in the reporting.British expat’s £1.5 million Thai dream ends in jail nightmare
Retired engineer says corruption and dodgy deals destroyed his golden years abroad
2 minutes read
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Pictures courtesy of The Daily Mail
What began as a dream retirement in Thailand for a British expat spiralled into a nightmare of prison cells, financial ruin, and heartbreak.
Martin Savage, a 65 year old retired engineer, says a bitter boundary row with a neighbour over a driveway ultimately cost him everything: his £1.5 million (around 67.5 million baht) property portfolio, his retirement fund, and his freedom.
“I have lost everything, I’m completely broke.”
Savage had moved to Thailand nearly two decades ago with his Thai-British wife, 66 year old Sudarat, after a successful career that saw him work on the Channel Tunnel. The couple invested heavily, buying a family home in Ubon Ratchathani and a 40-room apartment block in Pattaya. For years, the rental income funded their ideal lifestyle.
Photos of the couple’s home in Ubon Ratchathani
But in 2010, a dispute with a neighbour turned ugly. Savage said Sudarat, listed as sole owner due to Thai laws barring foreign land ownership, borrowed £34,000 from a moneylender. Instead of repayment, the lender allegedly flipped the couple’s apartment block, worth £1.2 million, for just £45,000.
“He was a predator; this was his business. In Thailand, all you have to do is pay somebody in the office a bit of money, and it happens.”
Related Articles
Self-harming Brit in Pattaya hotel drama identified as missing Scot
2 hours ago
Pattaya panic: Visa crackdowns and QR codes shake expat life
7 hours ago
The couple fought on in court. Then in 2017, they were arrested. Savage alleges police tricked them into signing bogus documents before jailing them for three months in Nong Plalai Prison.
“There was barely room to sleep on the concrete floor. I was 57 and suffering from asthma. It could have killed me.”
Photo of the couple’s apartment block in Pattaya
After their release, the couple discovered their Ubon home and three land plots had also been sold off under dubious circumstances. Court documents showed the same person had signed as both buyer and seller. Their legal battle to reclaim the assets failed.
Now, the once-prosperous couple survive on less than £100 a month from Savage’s pension and commission from Sudarat’s property brokering, The Daily Mail reported.
“We’re barely scraping by.”
Sudarat added, “I am so disappointed in our legal system. I used to have great faith, but I have been let down.”
The British Embassy confirmed it had supported Savage during his detention but declined to intervene further.
Savage warns fellow expats: “This should be a warning to others. Don’t think it can’t happen to you.”
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But this case look like very uncommon de woh.
He was cheated by Thai gov rather than Thai woman.
Are you referring to the jail term or the property loss?
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Both the jail and property.
Their problem started from here, after they failed to leeturn the 34k pound.
How did the lender have such power to flip their property, unless the court & law aka gov was involved.
The property has nothing to do with the government.
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How did the lender able to flip their property to becum worthless, without bankruptcy order or things like that?
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Another example showing that living a women-free life is the best.
So do you agree that the property loss has nothing to do with the Government ?
@sbfuncle
The news report:
The 1st Fairy Head
....
The news report:
""Martin Savage, a 65 year old retired engineer, says a bitter boundary row with a neighbour over a driveway ultimately cost him everything: his £1.5 million (around 67.5 million baht) property portfolio, his retirement fund, and his freedom.
“I have lost everything, I’m completely broke.”
Savage had moved to Thailand nearly two decades ago with his Thai-British wife, 66 year old Sudarat, after a successful career that saw him work on the Channel Tunnel. The couple invested heavily, buying a family home in Ubon Ratchathani and a 40-room apartment block in Pattaya. For years, the rental income funded their ideal lifestyle.""
“I have lost everything, I’m completely broke.”
Savage had moved to Thailand nearly two decades ago with his Thai-British wife, 66 year old Sudarat, after a successful career that saw him work on the Channel Tunnel. The couple invested heavily, buying a family home in Ubon Ratchathani and a 40-room apartment block in Pattaya. For years, the rental income funded their ideal lifestyle.""
The 1st Fairy Head
There are 2 properties - the home in Ubon and the apartment block in Pattaya. The boundary row relates the house in Ubon. They borrowed money to finance the lawsuit. How much did they borrow? £34,000 which is equivalent to almost 1.5 million baht. How much is the house in Ubon worth? Ubon is neither Bangkok, Chiangmai nor Pattaya. Perhaps 2.0 million baht at most. Will you borrow 1.5 million baht to finance a lawsuit for a property that is worth 2.0 million baht or even 3.0 million baht? Thai lawyers do not make so much money, especially those in rural areas. And Ubon is next to Cambodia. Rural enough?
....
@sbfuncle
I will come to your question later. To be able to piece together everything, we need to understand the background from the limited information we have given. Take a close look at this family photo, and tell me apart from the AMDK, which one resembles an AMDK ?
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Hard to say, there are too many doubtful things happened.
It could be a case of a dirty gov or dirty savage or both.
According to savage, the polis tricked him into signing bogus doc.
Why would polis want to do that?
Why would a dispute with neighbour over a driveway in 2010 turned ugly until this stage?
Why would their property be flipped until becum worthless, without the law involved?
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You’ve raised a thoughtful question — whether Martin and Sudarat Savage’s story is entirely as it’s presented, or if there's more beneath the surface. Based on the information available, here’s what we know — and what warrants further scrutiny:
------------------ Source: ChatGPT
-----------------Source: Grok AI
What the Reports Say
Verified Elements:
- Personal Background & Investment
A British expat, Martin Savage (65), and his Thai-British wife Sudarat (66), allegedly lived in Thailand for nearly 20 years, building a property portfolio worth ~£1.5 million, including properties in Ubon Ratchathani and Pattaya. (Thaiger, aseannow.com) - Boundary Dispute & Lending
The conflict began over a neighbourly boundary (driveway) dispute in 2010. Sudarat reportedly borrowed ~£34,000 from a moneylender to fund their legal fight. Instead of a repayment arrangement, the apartment block (valued ~£1.2 million) was allegedly sold for just ~£45,000. (Thaiger, aseannow.com) - Arrest & Prison Conditions
In 2017 the couple was arrested. Martin claims they were tricked into signing dubious documents and imprisoned for three months under harsh conditions, aggravating his asthma. (Thaiger, aseannow.com) - Subsequent Lost Assets & Legal Loss
Upon release, they discovered further dubious sales of their Ubon home and three land plots. Documents suggested the same individual signed as both buyer and seller. Their efforts to reclaim these assets failed in court. (Thaiger, aseannow.com) - Current Financial Reality
The couple reportedly survive on under £100/month from Martin’s pension and Sudarat’s modest income working as a property broker. (Thaiger, aseannow.com) - British Embassy Involvement
The British Embassy reportedly offered support during Martin’s detention but declined further intervention, classifying it as a private property dispute. (Thaiger, aseannow.com)
What Remains Unclear (And What Raises Doubt)
Though the narrative is compelling, some points suggest the need for further scrutiny:- Why Borrow Money If They Owned Valuable Assets?
Several readers in the Thaiger comments raised this:
- Why a Moneylender Instead of a Bank Loan?
Why resort to exponentially expensive moneylenders when they presumably had equity or valuable collateral? (Thaiger Talk) - Lack of Independent Verification
Most of the coverage cites The Daily Mail via The Thaiger and ASEAN Now. There appear to be no independent legal documents, court filings, or third-party investigative reports publicly available to verify the claims. - General Risks for Expats Buying Property in Thailand
Thailand’s property market has known vulnerabilities: fraud, double sales, forged title deeds, illegal structures, and insufficient due diligence are common issues. Foreigners are especially exposed, even when using local spouses or proxies. (internationalinvestment.biz, Andrew Drummond)
Summary Assessment
| Aspect | Supported by Sources | Raises Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Boundary dispute & loan | Multiple sources confirm it occurred | Unclear why liquid loan, not bank credit or equity leverage |
| Asset seizure & bogus sale | Reported by multiple outlets | Lack of public legal documentation or confirmation |
| Imprisonment claim | Reported, including health impacts | No prison or legal records cited publicly |
| Financial ruin & appeal | Reportedly true | Broader context or confirmation from embassy/legal filings missing |
Final Thought
There is truth to the story insofar as it has been consistently reported by multiple outlets. But significant gaps remain—particularly regarding the logic of the loan, absence of documentation, and independent legal verification. It's possible the Savages were genuinely victimized by corrupt actors and legal loopholes. Yet, alternative angles—financial misjudgments, inadequate legal guidance, or preventable contract vulnerabilities—could have played a role.------------------ Source: ChatGPT
Martin Savage Case: £1.5M Loss in Thailand – Truth or More to the Story?
The story of Martin Savage, a 65-year-old retired British engineer, and his 66-year-old Thai-British wife, Sudarat, has been making waves in recent news (published around August 25, 2025). It claims a 2010 boundary dispute in Thailand over a driveway spiraled into financial ruin, costing them a £1.5 million (67.5 million baht) property portfolio, their retirement savings, and even a brief stint in prison. Here's a breakdown of the case, its credibility, and whether there's more to it, based on reports like this one from The Thaiger.Background and Key Events
- Who They Are: Martin, a former engineer on projects like the Channel Tunnel, met Sudarat in Phuket in 1999. They married, lived in Northern Ireland (where she ran restaurants), and moved to Thailand in 2007 after selling UK properties for £500,000.
- Investments:
- A £270,000 three-bedroom home on 1.5 acres in Ubon Ratchathani.
- A 40-room apartment block in Pattaya, valued at £1.2 million, allegedly generating £38,000 annually (though some sources suggest this might refer to pensions, not rental profit).
- The Dispute (2010): A neighbor in Ubon Ratchathani dug up their access road, reportedly to force a sale. Lacking cash for legal fees, Sudarat (sole owner due to Thai laws barring foreigners from owning land) secretly borrowed £34,000 from a moneylender, which Martin called a "mistake."
- Consequences:
The lender allegedly sold the Pattaya apartment for £45,000 to an associate before the debt was repaid, which Martin claims was illegal under Thai marital asset laws.- In 2017, the couple was arrested for "breach of contract" and "squatting" in their own building, spending three days in a police station and eight days in Nong Plalai Prison. Martin described harsh conditions, fearing for his life due to asthma.
- Their Ubon home and three land plots were sold in 2014 under suspicious circumstances, with documents showing the same person as both buyer and seller, claiming unauthorized power of attorney.
- In December 2023, they sued to reclaim assets but lost, with the judge ruling for the new owner despite no proof of payment.
- Current Situation: They now rent a modest home for £250/month, surviving on Martin’s <£100/month pension and Sudarat’s property sale commissions. Martin warns, "Don’t think it can’t happen to you."
Is the Story True?
The core events seem credible, as reported consistently across sources like the Daily Mail (the primary source) and The Thaiger. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirmed supporting a "British man detained in Thailand," and the timeline aligns with common expat challenges in Thailand (e.g., navigating land laws, moneylenders). However:- The story is one-sided, relying on Martin and Sudarat’s account without perspectives from the neighbor, moneylender, or Thai authorities.
- Claims of "corruption" (e.g., bribes enabling illegal sales) are unverified, though Martin acknowledges such practices: "In Thailand, all you have to do is pay somebody in the office a bit of money, and it happens."
- No court documents or independent evidence are cited, and the British Embassy declined further involvement, calling it a local dispute not in the "national interest."
More Than Meets the Eye?
Online discussions (e.g., forums, no significant X chatter) suggest nuances and skepticism:- Financial/Legal Naivety: Thai law allows swift asset seizures for missed loan payments. Expats often fail to use protective structures like companies or usufructs (lifetime usage rights). Commenters question why they needed a shady loan despite claimed high income, suggesting the £38,000/year figure might be exaggerated or misinterpreted (possibly pensions, not rent).
- Spousal Dynamics: Sudarat’s secret borrowing raises questions. Some speculate about a "long con" or her background (e.g., "bargirl" stereotypes), though Martin defends her while admitting the error.
- Expat Pitfalls: This case echoes common issues—over-investing without local expertise, trusting spouses fully, or underestimating corruption risks. Advice includes diversifying assets (e.g., 60/40 split) and avoiding full reliance on Thai properties.
- Sensationalism: Some doubt Martin’s judgment (as an engineer) and note the story’s dramatic framing for media appeal. Photos of him sparked humorous or skeptical comments online.
Conclusion
The story likely holds truth in its major points—a boundary dispute led to catastrophic losses—but it’s amplified for drama and lacks the other side’s perspective. Personal missteps (e.g., Sudarat’s loan, not securing assets) and systemic expat vulnerabilities in Thailand add complexity. It’s a cautionary tale, but not necessarily a conspiracy. If updates emerge, more clarity might follow. What do you think—have you seen similar cases?-----------------Source: Grok AI
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