Savage Denies Torching Shopping Mall

Savage often bragged in local bars that he had been a mercenary in Bosnia in the 1990s and had fought alongside a group of Neo-Nazis. On hearing what he had said, a patron of a local Pattaya bar frequented by professional mercenaries said, "The idiot is a punk for what he did in Bangkok."

In an exclusive interview with the Pattaya Times while being held at the Bangkok Remand Prison, Savage said, "I am going on a hunger strike...if nothing good happens in the court... I applied for bail and that was rejected because I don’t have a passport. I have to go on a hunger strike, this place is too much, I have to get out of here, they can’t just keep extending my detention. I don’t care if I get carried out on a stretcher, I need to get out."

It appeared he had very little information from the outside, "Where are all the other Red Shirts who left the temple giving the police high fives and going back to their provinces. Why am I the only person stuck here? I haven’t even been charged with anything yet, they just keep detaining me."

He also claimed, "I never saw anything which was written in English during the protests."

He remained defiant throughout, "I was thinking is Thailand really the land of smiles or land of trials?….Abhisit is the butcher of Bangkok, Happy to be Red and dead."

"I was living in Pattaya and I went along to witness what was happening at the ASEAN summit when the Red Shirts were protesting. I spoke to loads of people, it’s not true what Abhisit says, he is just living a lie. Not all Red Shirts are uneducated, I met lots of educated Red Shirts who spoke English and were really clever, they really know what is going on in their country," Savage stated.

Continuing on the subject of his understanding of the Red Shirt movement, Savage said, "Don’t get me wrong, I want to make this very clear I don’t support Thaksin."

He was also aware of Connor Purcell, an Australian who was arrested for his alleged involvement in the riots. Savage said, "Connor has been put in the high security part, I am so happy I am away from him. I am so glad that I don’t have to put up with him. He went crazy in court...He makes me look like a saint."

Connor Purcell, an Australian citizen, was seen on the Red Shirt podium speaking out against the government. He claims to have been a member of the Australian SAS, a fact which is yet to be confirmed. He claimed to have been the only person brave enough to run the gauntlet between the front lines of the protesters and the military.

The Pattaya Times also visited the Soi Khao Noi neighbourhood in Pattaya which Savage used to call home. His house is owned by his parents. In the four years Savage had lived there a neighbour said he had only met him a few times and met Savage's wife only once, but didn't know her name. The neighbor went on to say that Savage and his family are not very friendly and didn't interact with the neighbours.

Savage was well known for yelling at kids who made too much noise when they were swimming at the village pool, three doors down from his house.

Another neighbor, Ms. Wa, was more direct in her comments, "Most of the foreigners I know don’t usually get involved with politics. They don’t usually take sides. Since Geoff doesn’t interact with neighbors I didn’t know what side he was on. I didn’t think he would be such strong Red Shirt supporter. His story was talked about throughout the village."

Police have told the Pattaya Times investigations are on-going in both cases with many witnesses still to be interviewed. Both detainees have made regular court appearances. To date, their detention has been continued.