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British man denies inciting Bangkok riot
A British man arrested in Thailand after being filmed allegedly inciting people to burn down a Bangkok shopping centre has protested his innocence.
Jeff Savage, 48, said he was "wound up after being under sniper fire" during anti-government protests and his comments were meant to be sarcastic.
He also denies being involved in the destruction of the Central World shopping centre days later.
Dozens of people were killed during the red-shirts protests in the capital.
Mr Savage, from Tonbridge, Kent, told the Guardian newspaper: "I am being stitched up, being fitted up. I thought (my arrest) was just for overstaying my visa, but now this is serious.
"They are trying to pin a whole lot of stuff on me, and a few others... that we had nothing to do with. We are being made scapegoats."
'Old British sarcasm'
Mr Savage was filmed saying of Central World: "We're gonna loot everything, gold, watches, everything, and then we're gonna burn it to the ground."
In the interview from a remand prison in Bangkok, he admitted: "It was definitely me, I said that."
But he said: "I was under stress when I said those things. I was emotional, I was wound up because I'd been under sniper fire.
"I said it using old British sarcasm. I was being the caricature of the British soccer hooligan."
Mr Savage, who has lived in Thailand for nine years, then denied any involvement in the destruction of the shopping centre, which burnt down last Wednesday.
"I had nothing to do with Central World burning down. Nothing at all. I swear. And I can prove it."
The Thai government is reportedly preparing to charge him with violating the state of emergency decree and overstaying his visa. The maximum sentence he will have to serve for both alleged charges is six months.
A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed Mr Savage had been arrested in Thailand on 22 May, adding: "We are offering consular assistance."
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Yah right Jeff, the video showed you are within 500 metres away from Central World, we believe you are innocent, LOL
British man denies inciting Bangkok riot
A British man arrested in Thailand after being filmed allegedly inciting people to burn down a Bangkok shopping centre has protested his innocence.
Jeff Savage, 48, said he was "wound up after being under sniper fire" during anti-government protests and his comments were meant to be sarcastic.
He also denies being involved in the destruction of the Central World shopping centre days later.
Dozens of people were killed during the red-shirts protests in the capital.
Mr Savage, from Tonbridge, Kent, told the Guardian newspaper: "I am being stitched up, being fitted up. I thought (my arrest) was just for overstaying my visa, but now this is serious.
"They are trying to pin a whole lot of stuff on me, and a few others... that we had nothing to do with. We are being made scapegoats."
'Old British sarcasm'
Mr Savage was filmed saying of Central World: "We're gonna loot everything, gold, watches, everything, and then we're gonna burn it to the ground."
In the interview from a remand prison in Bangkok, he admitted: "It was definitely me, I said that."
But he said: "I was under stress when I said those things. I was emotional, I was wound up because I'd been under sniper fire.
"I said it using old British sarcasm. I was being the caricature of the British soccer hooligan."
Mr Savage, who has lived in Thailand for nine years, then denied any involvement in the destruction of the shopping centre, which burnt down last Wednesday.
"I had nothing to do with Central World burning down. Nothing at all. I swear. And I can prove it."
The Thai government is reportedly preparing to charge him with violating the state of emergency decree and overstaying his visa. The maximum sentence he will have to serve for both alleged charges is six months.
A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed Mr Savage had been arrested in Thailand on 22 May, adding: "We are offering consular assistance."
________________________________________________________________
Yah right Jeff, the video showed you are within 500 metres away from Central World, we believe you are innocent, LOL
