Australian Shaun Davidson has supposedly resurfaced in Thailand almost 18 months after his daring escape from Kerobokan jail.
An Australian man who pulled off a daring escape from one of the world’s most notorious prisons has supposedly resurfaced in Thailand after almost 18 months on the run.
Shaun Davidson posted a cheeky Facebook “check in” from tourist mecca Phuket over the weekend, sparking an avalanche of comments from his thousands of followers.
He followed up with a declaration that he would not “reply to negativity, only good vibes”.
The 34-year-old ex-Perth resident has taunted authorities with Facebook posts in which he claims to be living it up in various cities around the world ever since busting out of Bali’s Kerobokan jail in June last year.
Davidson has provided no pictorial proof he’s in Phuket and may have jokingly referenced that city because of Thailand’s reputation for allegedly harbouring international fugitives as well as speculation he fled there immediately after the breakout.
On October 12, he posted a “check in” from Queensland’s Gold Coast after claiming to have partied in The Netherlands, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Barbados, Cuba and Dubai in the months since his breakout.
He has celebrated his situation by posting mock up movie and wanted posters and often posts links to stories written about him. Other days he shares crude jokes and cartoons.
Thousands of supporters follow his life on the run via at least two Facebook accounts purportedly controlled by him and as well as a fan page run by his sister.
In his first months on the run, Davidson attempted to negotiate payment from several media outlets (including news.com.au, which does not pay for stories) in exchange for an interview but retreated after either failing to reach a satisfactory deal or for fear such a transaction would get him caught.
Davidson burrowed his way to freedom along with three other inmates via a narrow, 12 metre tunnel dug beneath prison walls in June 19, 2017.
Bulgarian Dimitr Nikolon Iliev, 45, and Indian Sayed Mohammed Said, 33, were quickly recaptured at a five star resort in East Timor but Davidson and Malaysian national Tee Kok King, 50, remain at large.
Tee was serving a seven-year sentence for drug offences while Davidson had less than three months left to serve after having been jailed for one year for immigration violations.
Six months later, Kerobokan lost another inmate when American Christian Beasley, 32, scaled a wall at the rear of the jail. He was recaptured a week later.
Beasley, a Californian awaiting trial on drug charges, was believed to have cut through bars in the ceiling of his cell before scaling a perimeter wall of the prison in an area which was being refurbished.
The jail, located just 10km from Kuta — Bali’s main tourist drag — is home to scores of foreign prisoners, many of whom were arrested on drug related charges.
