Bring Kurt Home: US Citizen Detained in Thai Jail

This gofundme is to support legal fees for Kurt Metzger, a U.S. citizen and 30-year permanent resident of Singapore, who has been detained at Bangkok Remand Prison since Nov 26, 2024.

He was arrested as he was named as a director of Continental Petrochemical Company Thailand (CPCT) over 15 years ago. CPCT were under investigation by Thai Customs for 239 shipments of hazardous substances without proper import or export licences, a case against them since 2012, which CPCT failed to resolve. Kurt’s role with the company as an external 3rd party restructuring officer is detailed here:

https://ionanalytics.com/insights/debtwire/turnaround-experts-metzger-and-nacson-arrested-and-refused-bail-in-thailand-more-than-a-decade-after-continental-chemical-restructuring-legal-analysis/

On that day Kurt’s life as he knew it, disappeared. He was taken away to the cells and then driven to the prison. His wife was handed his jacket, belt and wedding ring. It has now been over 6 months since he was detained - forced to sleep on the floor daily in an overcrowded prison cell with over 45 other inmates, lost over 60 lbs in body weight, separated from his family, his livelihood and any semblance of mental stimulation. Kurt’s mental and physical health is now in rapid decline with this drawn out pre-trial detention, and there is an urgent need, and moral obligation, to see him released from prison immediately. We need to Bring Kurt Home.

No shipments left to prosecute Kurt and wrongful registration of directorship by CPCT. The statute of limitations meant that of the original 239 shipments only 14 remained to be prosecuted, hence the urgency of the Prosecutor to expedite matters. At the time of his arrest, Kurt knew that he had no operational oversight in the affairs of the company. What also became clear was that Kurt's directorship (May - Oct 2009) had been wrongfully registered in Thailand by CPCT, they added him from late Dec 2009 to Aug 2010. As this fact came to light - there are no remaining shipments to be prosecuted during his term of directorship.

Despite this evidence, bail has been denied 8 times. The scheduled court hearing for 16-31 Oct 2025 with an expected decision by the judge in late Nov 2025 - a full year since his initial detention. To date courts have looked primarily at the severity of the case as outlined by the prosecutor’s complaint and the view that all foreigners are seen as a flight risk.

How can you help?

Funds are needed to support Kurt, his legal team/prison conditions, as well as his family currently based in Bangkok to free Kurt

We respectfully request low media engagement at this time as we focus on internal channels to press for resolution in our efforts bring Kurt home we fully respect the laws of the Kingdom of Thailand and will work in concert with the authorities