Romi Abergel on Thailand detention: "I almost lost my life, I still haven't processed it"
Israeli model Romi Abergel opens up about a four-month "nightmare" in Thailand caused by an agent's visa fraud. After her detention and the resulting mental toll, she says she is now focused on rebuilding her life.
Romi Abergel continues to share the story behind her legal entanglement with authorities in Thailand. In recent Instagram posts, she went beyond the details of her visa and legal proceedings, revealing the heavy mental toll she paid throughout the ordeal.
The situation began when Thai authorities arrived at her apartment early in the morning. Abergel recalled: "I was at dinner just hours before the arrest. At about 8:00 AM, they arrived at my door." She explained that she did not initially realize she was being arrested: "There were no handcuffs, no drama. I didn't even know I was under arrest until I arrived at the police station and they explained what was happening."
It later emerged that the source of the trouble was the way her visa and work permit had been handled. "The agent registered my company as a business dealing with nail construction and makeup training—fields that foreigners are forbidden from engaging in in Thailand," Abergel stated. "I didn't know about it." Furthermore, the paperwork included a fictitious Thai partner added without her consent. "The responsibility for everything done was placed on me, as if I had committed these acts myself," she said.
This incident marked the beginning of what she describes as a "four-month nightmare." "I was in complete denial. Due to the pressure, I became an unpleasant, negative, and depressed person. It affected me and those around me. I felt like I was hitting a dead end and feared for my fate," she admitted.
Abergel added that the experience led her to reevaluate her personal life and relationships. "I felt my life was falling apart. I am only now starting to recover from two difficult years. I don't ask God for anything other than to regain the happiness I lost and get my life back." She also described her night in a holding cell, noting that it was her first time ever in a police station.
According to Abergel, the case is now closed after authorities acknowledged she was a victim of fraud. Her passport has been returned, and she was not required to pay any fines. She is now focused on rebuilding her life and distancing herself from relationships that do not benefit her.
