PHUKET CITY: A homeless couple from Sweden face imminent deportation for overstaying their permits to stay.

Lt Col Boonlert Onklang of the Chalong Police identified the couple as Bjorn Lennart Lundqvist, 59, and his female companion Gabriella Rose-Marie Strand, 58.

Officers found the couple lying on the sidewalk in front of the the Bangkok Bank branch in Karon at 1pm last Wednesday.

Asked to produce their passports, only Ms Strand was able to do so.

Her passport revealed that her permit to stay expired January 19.

Both Mr Lundqvist and Ms Strand were in rough shape when found by police.

Ms Strand’s hair was all tangled up and Mr Lundqvist had numerous cuts and abrasions on his arms and legs.

On Thursday, Chalong Police took the couple to Phuket Court where they were charged with breaking immigration laws.

Mr Lundqvist initially told police his passport was being held at Patong Hospital pending payment of 20,000 baht in treatment charges following a motorbike accident last month.

(The Phuket Gazette)