German at centre of Thai AIDS scare remanded in custody

CHAIYAPHUM, Thailand (AFP) — A German at the centre of an HIV scare involving potentially hundreds of Thai women and girls was detained by a court for overstaying his visa.

Hans-Otto Schiemann, 54, who claims to be infected with HIV and that he had unprotected sex with hundreds of Thais, was remanded in custody for a month after denying the offence.

Health officials, police and prosecutors say they are powerless to charge him over his sexual activities.

Schiemann, who was not legally represented at the court in Chaiyaphum, was remanded after a 30-minute hearing and is due before a judge again on November 15. In court the German appeared disoriented.

As he was led away, Schiemann told reporters: "It's unfair to put me back in jail. I haven't committed any crime.

"I have the right to stay here in Thailand but now I have to stay in jail another month. This is a complete scandal, there is no justice in Thailand."

Schiemann, whose common-law Thai wife of five years has ... // 68% Remaining