A Tale of Island Police And The Most Credible American Professional In Thailand

The logo of the alleged law firm shows two suited but headless figures running off with two bags over three mechanical cogs.
Could this be interpreted as two brainless lawyers running of with their clients’ cash while the cogs of justice slowly grind to a halt?

Absolutely, says frail Dutch pensioner Hans Boozajer, 67, but it’s not the Thai lawyers who have made off with his money its American Drew Noyes and his wife ‘Kung’ the editor and co-owner of the ‘Pattaya Times’ newspaper, and co-director with Noyes in their supposed law office ‘PAPPA Co.Ltd’.

Well obviously the directors of PAPPA, both of them, neither of whom are lawyers, will say this indicates their people are rushing about on your business and the book is in the picture to show how learned they are.
But in another tale of  incompetence and familiar overbilling, PAPPA, run by Noyes who says he has helped over 4,500 foreigners and another 20,000 for free, appears to have failed again in its mission.
 Hans says he contacted Drew Noyes after his Thai girlfriend swindled him out of 4.3 million baht.

‘I decided he was the person who could help me best because he was sort of sanctioned by the Pattaya City Expats Club as a legitimate and trustworthy ‘lawyer’  and he was also a past chairman of  the club.’

Despite living on Koh Samui Hans decided Drew Noyes would be better. After all he claimed to specialise in ‘getting money back from Thais’

Hans’ Thai girlfriend, Thanyarat Promai, 52, known as Shirley (right) he said, had allegedly cheated him as follows. 
While he had already bought her land in Phitsanalok as security for her, she later wanted cash to start up a factory.  He agreed but demanded security for the cash.
She in turn gave him four land chanotes, including the one for the land he had bought her.

These chanotes allegedly guaranteed the land and cash he had given her.

Well this seems foolish of course, but Hans is elderly and ill and perhaps thought of spending his twilight years with a nice Thai lady to look after him and to all intents and purposes she WAS loving.  In the fullness of time he discovered that the chanotes were all fake.
There was the inevitable big bust up, the usual threats, she said she knew the police and her brother was an army general.

Meanwhile Hans had read Noyes’ glowing tributes to himself on the net, and with the police on Koh Samui he felt were untrustworthy, he had few choices.  So when the chips were down he want to see our American friend not knowing that Noyes had already been exposed by an American newspaper as a man of ‘myriad lies, a phony resumé  pursued by lawyers with unflattering allegations.’

Noyes was confident.  His PAPPA Co. Ltd.,would prosecute her in the criminal courts and then prosecute her in the civil court. Hans signed a contract, one of those with the running lawyers logo as a header, and charged him 200,000 baht, which Hans handed over in a first payment of 50,000 Thai baht and later 150,000.

 Definitely a collectible – Drew Noyes’ signature
‘The fees will not exceed this amount and Power of Attorney will be used so that Hans Boonzayer only appears at the court and police station when absolutely required.  All other appearances will be by lawyers paid for by PAPPA Co. Ltd.’

Drew Noyes also signed the document .

 

 Ignorance is bliss: Hans with Shirley before he realised he had lost it all
Read on in Hans’ own words: 

‘This is a record of my very negative encounter with Mr Drew Noyes and Ms. Kung from PAPPA law office on Thepprasith Road in Pattaya City

“Through a website, (site deleted) from the Pattaya City Expat Club where Mr. Drew Noyes praises himself  into high heaven, I decided to use his office (PAPA Co.., Ltd. 448/21 Moo 9, Tower 1, Thepprasit Road, Nongprue, Banglamung, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260) to find out about my legal options concerning a fraud case in Koh Samui where I live.
I went there on 23 December 2009. I was in need of legal advice / help, concerning an ex-girlfriend who had cheated me and reading his credentials I decided he was the person who could help me best. 

 
As I understood he was sort of sanctioned by this Pattaya City Expat Club as a legitimate and trustworthy ‘lawyer’, he was also a past chairman of this club.

The first contact with Drew, went smoothly, he was understanding and compassionate, and he told me that he could help me .

The first step to take would be a criminal lawsuit against my Thai ex-girlfriend for swindling and fraud, and, as it would be won, a civil suit against her for the return of my money (4.36 million Bath) would follow.

The total cost to start a criminal case would be 200,000 baht with no added cost Drew assured me.  I met my obligations on and paid 50,000 baht in cash as a deposit on 23 December 2009 and on January 4 2010 the rest, 150,000 baht through a bank transfer.

The deal was that everything we would discuss and decide would only happen between me and him and not with any of his staff.  He told me I had to sign some papers, and then Drew walked away from our meeting to do other things.

A staff member gave me a stack of A4 papers (50 or so) in the Thai language which I had to sign which I did reluctantly because I cannot read Thai.  I suppressed my feelings of doubt, after all he was the right person in town to deal with I thought at that time.

With difficulty it was explained to me by the Thai that this was necessary for the criminal case, and it was then not necessary for me to come down from Koh Samui every time where I live.  I later on asked Drew to number all the sheets and when needed one to translate it and ask me for permission to use it as to stay in control of what my signed documents were used for, this never happened.

In February 2010 I was called by Miss Kung (Drew’s wife) who told me that she would fly to Samui February 25th, the next day together with another PAPPA staff member, to lodge a report to the police in Bo Phut (Ko Samui), so it happened. Miss Kung had a staff member (Miss. Nat) with her, and told me she hired a car because she first had to see another client in the morning in Mae Nam.
A few weeks later I was called by a staff employee of Drew, and in broken English he wanted me to send another Baht 200,000 baht to start the civil case. I was perplexed and asked for his name, which I never heard before, and suddenly I got Drew on the telephone and he confirmed what his employee just requested.

 I told him that nothing happened to the criminal case so far, and I first wanted to wait and see whether we would win.  He then told me that Pol. Lieutenant Colonel Phusaroj Sira in Koh Samui saw no reason to take action. I also just found out that the police report which was prepared at the time by Ms. Kung, was marked as Civil Case No. 155.53 I was very surprised as we never decided to start a civil case but we would start a criminal case first.

A few days later, Drew sent me an email with an incomplete listings of what he had done (mostly lies)  the rest is part of the work under the contract and the oral agreement.

After having consulted with a friend of mine who gave me this sage advice to ask for evidence from all accounts, time, names and locations of hotels, and people with whom he had spoken.

When I informed Drew about my request, I was told that I gave him only more work, and that I still had to pay 45,000 baht, as additional costs which was not included in the contract

I reminded him that the 200,000 baht already paid was an all in price, according to our written agreement.

Then he wanted to see my proof of my payment of 200,000 baht (which I’ve since emailed him), wondering and asking him whether his administration was alright to ask such stupid question or was it just time wasting.

On 21 August 2010 I ordered him to cease and desist all work as I lost complete trust in his ability to bring any case to a court after 9 months of … yes, of what, I would not be able to describe his work method, a lot of blab la but nothing tangible by any stretch of the imagination..

Some time later I went to his office to pick up all my papers and documents after I had just enough of his lies and perversions of words and events.

I could not get it, he refused to give my documents back, I had to pay 45,000 baht first.  It is for me incomprehensible that a so called lawyer who does not even bring a case to court and still is able to take Baht 200,000 from unsuspecting and trusting pensioners like me.  I find it equally incomprehensible that the Pattaya City Expat Club is not willing to warn its members for such charlatans and Mr. Drew Noyes in particular. 
 By not doing so they are part of the problem and it may be the start of the demise of their club.  Expats helping Expats, yeah to lose their money on a past Chairman.’
Hans Boonzajer

Well we had another look at this case. From the above it just looks that this is just another lawyer (law firm or fixer) seeking lots of money but not really being competent to do the job. These cases are two a penny. But of course, that may be why Noyes is in the business.

That his client is getting the best legal advice is not true, certainly not if he is sending, not the lawyer, but his wife Kung (Wanrapa Boonsu) down to Koh Samui with another non legal person called ‘Nat’ to handle his case and who seemingly fail to dismally to convince the Koh Samui police of anything.
Interestingly however at one stage Hans did have direct contact with lawyer Paisan Thunnok, who was the man who actually found a Bangkok address for Hans’ errant girlfriend and also some genuine land up in Phitsanalok owned by her.

‘Now please do not pay any money to anybody until you know (you have) the chance to get your money back or not,’ Paisan advised Hans.

‘If the chance is very low you have to make your own decision to go ahead or stop.’
 
Khun Paisan also advised Hans about making a will because Hans, as is often the case, now believed he was under direct threat from his now ex-girlfriend and her ‘police friends’ and Army General brother.

His advice was quite correct.

But what did Drew Noyes do when he heard: 
 ‘We invited you to meet him (Paisan) in our office but you should NOT be discussing fees with him.  He will help you with the criminal case in Bangkok, if he thinks there is a case to be made. …

‘Again please limit your conversation with Mr. Paisan to the criminal case filing in Bangkok,’ he wrote. 
And who was the person in his office who made Hans sign 50 different documents in Thai? Well his name is Gift and he is a ladyboy and apparently was the same person who called and asked for more cash.  But Gift’s email was one at ‘Spice’ magazine.
Who was ‘Nat’? That’s another employee, not legally trained, who has since left.
‘Spice Magazine’ is Drew Noyes’ gay publication which he claims sells in 22 countries, but actually went under a long time ago.
So who exactly are we dealing with at PAPPA.  And why are PAPPA charging Hans for ‘security’ from ‘our people’ on Koh Samui when they do not even have a lawyer there.

In fairness to Drew Noyes and Kung we publish their full report below:
An Updated Full and Accurate Report
of All Work Performed for Hans
 
Dated 20 August 2010
Prepared by Drew Noyes, Managing Director PAPPA Co., Ltd.
 
Dear Hans,
 
You hired us on December 23, 2009. In our agreement I promised “a full and accurate report of all work performed” in efforts to see is you have the basis for filing a Civil or Criminal court case as a result of the loss of money and confidence at the hands of your former Thai girlfriend.
 
On January the 4th we met again in my office and after my lawyer’s review of your case and a full and accurate report of all work performed was given to you by me you decided to file a criminal case against Thanyarat Phrommai and you paid the balance due of our agreement. 
 
As I told you before your agreement to hire us, these types of cases take years to resolve unless the police are willing to make an arrest based on your evidence and in your case, unfortunately, they are not.
 
Since my last full and accurate report of all work performed on January 4, 2010, this is what we have done for you to date:
 
1)  The first step was for you to file a police report in your hometown of Koh Samui. You were reluctant to do so.

2)  We determined in order for you to get any money back we needed to see what assets Thanyarat Phrommai holds.
 
3)  At your request, on February 2, 2010 our staff went to Pitsanuluk Province Land Office to check about Thanyarat Phrommai’s land title deeds at an expense of 16,200 baht which was not included in our written agreement.
 
4)  The findings were two properties were in Thanyarat Phrommai’s name and two properties were in the name of Thanyarat Phrommai’s relative. Three properties had clear title and one property is ‘Ki fak’ meaning Thanyarat Phrommai borrowed money against it.
 
5)  We reported our findings to you.
 
6)  You asked us to fly to Koh Samui to go with you and file the police report as you were fearful of your life at that time.

7)  We contacted our people in Koh Samui and told them to offer protection to you and our staff as you went to file the police report.    We paid 5,000 baht for this and it was not part of our written agreement.

8)  We paid 12,850 baht in travel expenses not included in our agreement as only fees to file the Criminal case and appearances at the court were included, not our assistance to file the Police Report.
 
9)   On February 26, 2010, at your request Nat and Kung went to Bophud Police station in Samui to file police report. The three of you filed the police report on your behalf. Staff time was 20 hours total (2 pax x 10) from our office to our office.

10)  We also conducted inquiries with the protection we hired and other contacts we have their to see if Thanyarat Phrommai was considered a violent threat to you and determined that Thanyarat Phrommai was not in Koh Samui and her whereabouts were unknown, and further Thanyarat Phrommai’s character did not indicate a propensity for violence.
 
11) Upon returning from Koh Samui Kung stayed in constant contact with the Koh Samui police to try to get them active in your case.
 
12) Also, our lawyer Paisan and his assist and Boy contacted the police in Koh Samui several times directly to find out if they thought you had a case they could issue an arrest warrant against Thanyarat Phrommai. They said they needed compensation to pursue the case.
 
13) We informed you of this fact and advised against payment. You agreed.
 
14)  After months of discussion the Koh Samui police informed us they are not able to file an arrest warrant based on your evidence.
 
15) We informed you of this fact.
 
16) We have made many attempts to communicate with your adversary, Miss Thanyarat Phrommai, in Pittsanolok and Koh Samui. These are the two cities you said Thanyarat Phrommai may be living.
 
17)  After our lengthy investigations to locate Thanyarat Phrommai in both Pittsanolok and Koh Samui we discovered Thanyarat Phrommai is no longer in Koh Samui or Pittsanolok.
 
18)  On May 10 we found Thanyarat Phrommai was living in Bangkok.
 
19)  We found Thanyarat Phrommai’s address in Bangkok. This investigative expense was 11,000 baht not included in our agreement.
 
20)  On May 14 we sent Thanyarat Phrommai a registered letter, but no one would sign for it. It was returned to our office.
 
21)  On May 25 we resent the registered letter to Thanyarat Phrommai with the same result.
 
17) We have conducted many inquiries to aid in your prosecution of this case. Paisan has spoken with courts in Koh Samui and in Bangkok to determine the proper jurisdiction for this case since Thanyarat Phrommai is now registered in Bangkok but the crime occurred in Koh Samui.
 
18) We determined the fairest outcome without additional expense to you would be Bangkok.
 
19) We informed you of our findings.
 
20) Kung and I have both communicated results to you as we had them by email and phone.  My advice was to pursue the case in Bangkok and you have not yet authorized this action.
 
20) We have spent countless staff hours trying to resolve your case and additional expenses.  Your attitude as expressed in your recent email is of no help in this situation.
 
21) At your request we have spent staff hours on seeing if a viable Civil case is possible and determined it is not unless the Criminal conviction occurs.
 
22) We made several determinations based on your case. We want to help you as agreed in the Criminal case and shall not pursue the Civil case at this time and certainly under no circumstances, as I told you in July during one of many phone conversations, will we file a Civil case and pay the fees for any client regardless of the offer for a portion of the recovered monies.
 
I hope this detailed explanation gives you added insight into the amount of work we have done on your case.
 
Therefore, we will begin your criminal case by filing it in Bangkok since after many months you have not replied to our request as to where you want the criminal case filed: in Bangkok or Kho Samui.  My advice was Bangkok.  Since you have not commented otherwise, we will file the case within the next two weeks in Bangkok and schedule a court date on your behalf.
 
Our ability has never been questioned before. Our results in numerous past cases of this nature speak to our commitment to our clients to achieve the best results possible when a crime has been committed against them. We leave it to the judge to decide after presenting your best evidence.
 
We will contact you prior to the filing to review the case.
Best wishes,
 
Drew Noyes
Managing Director
PAPPA Co., Ltd.
 
CONCLUSION: At today’s rate, and the dollar has not been well for a while, that cost Hans US$6,500, plus, of course his wasted trips from Koh Samui to Pattaya. The only costs to Noyes, were payments to his lawyer, an alleged trip to Phitsanaluk (under 800 baht bus fare) and to send his wife and Nut to Koh Samui for a couple of days without a lawyer. And no receipts were provided.
Estimate Minimum Profit: US$5000 that is generously allowing US$1000 for time spent.
 
APPEAL FOR PAPPA CO. LTD SUCCESS STORIES
If you have had a successful and good value deal from PAPPA.Co.Ltd, please share it here. There should be some 4,500 of you out there.
All we ask for is a genuine receipt and some documention into what was done on your behalf.
 
NOTE TO READERS: Normal Noyes service, sorry News Service, will resume tomorrow