Michael Salinger watches other foreigners come and then go from the concrete floor he is confined to day in and day out and wonders, what is taking so long to get him out and back home.
The 45-year-old Kiwi man was聽聽after being sentenced to be deported back to New Zealand, following pleading guilty for the possession of two ecstasy pills.
After sentencing, Salinger spent five gruelling nights in the Patong Police Station jail before being moved to a detention centre in Phuket. He was then transferred with 28 others to a detention centre in Bangkok.
Out of the group of 28, he is one of only a few who remains in the detention centre.
He told the聽贬别谤补濒诲听that he is becoming increasingly concerned about his safety as he waits for the New Zealand Embassy to reply to tens of unanswered emails he has sent them in an effort to get help.
鈥淓mbassies of other countries have all got their citizens out by now for safety reasons,鈥 he said.
鈥淎ll other western countries people I have met, which has been about 50, have been deported within two to three days, sometimes hours. Third world country people seem to be deported in a week at most.鈥
The New Zealand Embassy could not provide any details on Salinger鈥檚 situation other than that it was providing him with consular assistance.
Michael Ari Salinger and his partner Vanessa Pagarigan in Phuket. Photo / Supplied
Salinger is under the impression that he is required to pass a medical check and a risk assessment before an airline will accept him to fly due to his criminal conviction and his ADHD condition. However, he is yet to receive details on how to facilitate these checks.
鈥淎DHD affects work and study, not being a passenger on a flight,鈥 he said.
In an email to the embassy, and at his wits鈥 end, Salinger wrote 鈥減lease just stop delaying and book the flight!!鈥
Human rights lawyer Craig Tuck said it can take months to get a professional, such as a psychiatrist, to detainees and said airlines may have flagged Salinger as a risk because of his mental health condition.
鈥淭hese things can go on for weeks and weeks and they are extended because they can鈥檛 actually get an appropriately qualified psychiatrist to do the report,鈥 said Tuck.
Salinger鈥檚 father, esteemed climate scientist Jim Salinger, said he is not a risk and his mental health issues should not be an issue.
鈥淗e鈥檚 perfectly fine and he鈥檚 a non-violent person,鈥 said Jim.
In regards to being a risk because of his criminal conviction, Jim said 鈥渋n this case, two tablets of ecstasy, I couldn鈥檛 see this as a problem. It鈥檚 not as though he is trafficking it, he鈥檚 not a Schapelle Corby.鈥
Jim, who has already given money to the New Zealand Embassy for the flight, said the situation is made even more complicated with his son also needing approval for access to countries he would just transit through.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very frustrating for all of us,鈥 said Jim.
鈥淭he sooner we can get him back the better because it鈥檚 not nice there [detention centre].鈥
Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you
Get the iHeart App
Get more of the radio, music and podcasts you love with the FREE iHeartRadio app. Scan the QR code to download now.
Download from the app stores
Stream unlimited music, thousands of radio stations and podcasts all in one app. iHeartRadio is easy to use and all FREE