British Dad Faces Thai Prison for Phone Grab

0:00It's April 29th, I'm Cory with the story, and this is Edinburgh News Today, your AI-powered local news. A 37-year-old dad from Edinburgh, named Rory McColl, is stuck in Thailand, facing up to five years in prison for what he says was an accidental phone grab at a bar. He went there alone in early March to clear his head after a breakup, got arrested on his first night, and now his court case won't wrap up until at least July 28th. Here this week, Rory spent seven hours on the bench in a Bangkok court, only to learn three more dates are set before any real decision. He's already lost his bar job back home, so he's pushing to switch his tours visa for local work just to stay busy and cover costs. His family got a huge scare during the hearing when Rory texted them at 3am to call ASAP, but his phone got taken by officials, leaving them. Thinking he'd been locked up, they had to pay an extra 1,000 pounds for bail renewal after a scammer no showed his guarantor.

1:01Rory's lawyer submitted evidence from the phone owner, who calls it a total mix-up and wants no charges. Still, with his passport held by police, he'll need the British Embassy's help for any visa changes to keep him focused through these long days. The family's rallying with the GoFundMe, that's pulled in over 3,000 pounds for legal and living expenses, and others have reached out sharing. Similar Thailand mishaps, Rory staying optimistic despite the toll, and they'll keep talking him through it until he gets home.