We all like to let our hair down (in my case, figuratively) when we are on holidays. But sometimes a bit of harmless fun can go very wrong.
The latest case involves two young British women who spent three days in a Greek prison cell after what they claimed was a harmless prank. Such stories are not uncommon.
The best advice to remember when you travel is that home country almost certainly can’t get you out of trouble when things go pear-shaped.
The Australian Government’s Smatraveller website spells it out here:
When you are overseas, local laws and penalties, including ones that may appear harsh by Australian standards, apply to you. Some countries impose tough penalties including corporal punishment, life imprisonment and the death penalty.
The Australian Government cannot get you out of prison.
The equivalent British Government site says: Consular staff will do what they can to help you but they can’t get you out of jail or help pay for a lawyer.
And the US State Department offers this simple tip to avoid arrest in a foreign country: Understand that you are subject to the local laws and regulations while visiting or living in the country – follow them.
It’s sometimes the case that people don’t know the law. But, as is true in your own country, ignorance is not an excuse.
In the case of the British girls, it would seem on the surface that a prank got out of hand. But the fact is that they admitted tampering with somebody’s property, and that wasn’t a smart thing to do.
Prison is not pleasant anywhere, and in some places it is beyond disgusting. Don’t let a moment of madness lead you there.
