charles sobhraj

C'est un criminel français, qui a passé la moitié de sa vie en prison. Le 22 décembre 2022, la plus haute juridiction du Népal a ordonné sa libération. Charles Sobhraj est rentré en France, deux jours plus tard. Surnommé le Serpent, il est soupçonné d’avoir tué une vingtaine de personnes.

Invité : Isabelle Coutant-Peyre, avocate de Charles Sobhraj

Most know who Charles Sobhraj is. 

But even if he has become something of a legend, Sobhraj was—by many accounts—a thief and murderer after petty gains. And not an international crook engaged in high profile art and diamond heists. Nor an international arms dealer whose shenanigans get the collective underwear of nations in a twist.

Or was he?

My guest today—the renowned writer, Farrukh Dhondy—spent considerable time with Charles Sobhraj. Farrukh’s descriptions of those  meetings resulted in his latest book, Hawk and Hyena. The book reveals aspects of Sobhraj’s life— that of an opportunist...a wannabe businessman. One of those guys we have all met—a person of indeterminate skill and dodgy provenance, never peddling the same thing twice.

Importantly, the book raises a startling and surprising question—did Charles Sobhraj hold the key to a potentially unpalatable truth—that maybe Sadaam Hussein did have weapons of mass destruction after all?

In a similar question, did the Government of India seek the assistance of Charles Sobhraj in getting the release of the hostages from the hijacked Air India plane in Kandahar in 1999?

Was Charles Sobhraj more than a small-time crook who seduced hippies and liberated them from life and lustrous diamond?

Hawk and Hyena by Farrukh Dhondy raises those questions and answers many.

This book is his latest offering in a fascinating life of journalism, TV shows, films, plays and books and political activism—he was a marxist member of the British Black Panthers. There’s a link to his Wikipedia page below.

Here’s another book I recommend, Fragments Against My Ruin: A Life—Farrukh Dhondy’s memoirs, or autobiography.

This book is a riot. From a humility that can only come from someone inherently funny, Farrukh Dhondy turns important incidents into escapades and wit into wackiness.

My own introduction to his writing was from columns he wrote—and writes—in various papers. He frequently opened with the line, “As an elder of the community I am often asked..." For many reasons, I found that line delightful. 

Some years ago, a friend brought Farrukh to my office in an unplanned visit and neither of us can remember why. We had coffee. I was happy for this social surprise. But I had no idea what to say to him if only because I had too much to say to him and I had been blindsided.

Happily, that’s not the case today.

It is both honour and privilege to have Farrukh Dhondy join me from his home in London as my guest.

Buy Hawk & Hyena: https://amzn.to/3HRGNuR
Buy Fragments Against My Ruin: A Life: https://amzn.to/3HUuk9H

ABOUT FARRUKH DHONDY
Farrukh Dhondy is a British-Indian writer. Born in 1944 in Pune, he studied in Pune, Cambridge and Leicester Universities. He writes fiction, non-fiction, journalism, stage drama, TV and films.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrukh_Dhondy

WHAT'S THAT WORD?! - UNDIES IN A TWIST
Co-host Pranati "Pea" Madhav joins Ramjee Chandran in the segment "What's That Word?", where they discuss the origins of the phrase "Undies in a twist".

WANT TO BE ON THE SHOW?
Reach us by mail: theliterarycity@explocity.com or simply, tlc@explocity.com.
Or here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theliterarycity.
Or here:  https://www.instagram.com/explocityblr/.

It was October 18, 1975, when a farmer found the body of a young woman floating face down in the Gulf of Thailand. 

Teresa Knowlton was wearing a floral bikini - a detail that journalists would use to eventually brand her murderer 'The Bikini Killer'.

The 21-year-old had traveled to Bangkok, from Seattle in the US, and was following the “Hippie Trail” that would eventually lead her to study Tibetan Buddhism at Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu. 

But along the way, she’d met someone. 

Although accounts differ, it appears that a man invited Theresa to his home in Pattaya, about 100 kilometres southeast of Bangkok. 

There, it’s likely her drink was poisoned. And then, she was invited out for a swim. 

She would become the first victim of a man who would come to be known as 'The Serpent'. 

And his crimes would only get worse.

CREDITS

Guest: Julie Clarke

Host: Jessie Stephens

Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Ian Camileri

CONTACT US

Tell us what you think of the show via email at truecrime@mamamia.com.au  

Join our closed Facebook community to discuss this episode. Just search True Crime Conversations on Facebook or follow this link https://bit.ly/tcc-group 

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FAST FORWARD about 30 minutes if you haven't watched the Netflix show The Serpent, because Dani is covering the true story. It all evolves around Charles Sobhraj, a conman and master manipulator turned murderer. He convinced Marie-Andree Leclerc, a young Canadian woman, to join him in Thailand and help carry out his crimes. Together they drugged western tourists, stole their valuables and passports, and killed them.

Carly brings us a non-traditional survivor this week by covering the survival story of Tanya Rider. When Tanya goes missing her husband Tom attempts MULTIPLE TIMES to file a missing persons report, but is told the criteria to file the report are not met. Finally, after days of calling 911 to report Tanya missing, he's finally "allowed" to. Police begin to investigate and when they don't find any evidence or trace of Tanya, they start to suspect Tom. The police find her on the brink of death.

Listen to find out how our cases end!

Follow us on social media - IG, Twitter, Facebook - @SlayorSurvive.
Please also subscribe, rate, and review us!

Check out our website www.slayorsurvive.com

En este episodio hablo de mis aspectos favoritos de la serie y el cómo  la producción llevaron una historia  verdadera y la convirtieron en una serie llena de drama y tensión.

In this special quarantined episode:

- We record remotely once again
- Sophie smells serial killers and America
- Daniel cooks bad food with finesse
- Sophie tells a horrifying burger story
- Daniel tells his most shameful drunk story
- We get drunk

Thanks for listening! Please like, subscribe and review!

Topics discussed: Richard Ramirez, Serial Killers, The Serpent, Charles Sobhraj, Gordon Ramsay, Hells Kitchen, Turkey Twizzlers, Rustler Burgers, Hangovers, Bowling For Soup,  Music, Comedy, Patreon, 

Netflix is producing an eight-part series on con-man and serial killer Charles Sobhraj - and we're going to beat them to the punch!  Listen in for how the Hippie Trail of Southeast Asia played a role in his wicked crime wave.  Then, in our second story, mind control will prevent you from tuning out!