[yusamile]

Exclusive: Freed Aussie Mum Says: 'I'm So Glad It's Over'

By Alan Morison and Cutima Sidasathian
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Updating Exclusive Phuketwan Report

TRAPPED Australian tourist Annice Smoel is free to fly back to Australia and her four children.

Her court appearance, scheduled for Monday, was accellerated to this afternoon on Phuket.

To expedite the case, she pleaded guilty to a theft charge over the incident that saw her passport confiscated and put her briefly in a cell.

She was fined 1000 baht (A$38), which was paid by the Governor of Phuket, Wichai Praisa-nob.

He intervened in the case after receiving telephone calls earlier today from Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and the Foreign Ministry.

Annice and her husband embraced after the case. When we talked to her at the court and asked her what was happening, she said: ''I think I am going home.

''The Govenor is waiting for my passport now. He has been very gracious.''

''I don't know exactly how it all happened today. I think it was probably a combination of my lawyers here, my lawyers in Australia and my government and the Thai government.

''The governor has apologised to me and been very kind. He seems like a lovely man.''