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British Tourist Alleges Assault and Extortion by Thai Police

British Tourist Alleges Assault and Extortion by Thai Police; Pattaya Authorities Deny Claims

PATTAYA – A British tourist has sparked controversy after alleging he was assaulted, detained for 36 hours, and extorted by Thai police following an incident in Pattaya. However, local authorities have firmly denied the accusations, insisting that all procedures were followed correctly and that the claims are misleading.

Andrew Hopkins, the tourist in question, told The Daily Mail and other foreign media that the ordeal began when he accidentally walked into a traffic barrier near his apartment on November 22, 2024. He claimed a security guard shouted at him in Thai, which he did not understand, and he attempted to apologize. Shortly after, police arrived and arrested him.

Andrew alleged that after being held for over 36 hours, an unidentified Italian man informed him he needed to pay 15,000 baht (approximately $430) for his release. He stated that police escorted him to an ATM to withdraw the money, which was then taken by two high-ranking officers before he was let go.

A video shared online purportedly showed the poor conditions of the detention cell at Pattaya Police Station, including the presence of ants and cockroaches. Andrew also claimed that over 130 prisoners were crammed into small rooms and that a pregnant woman was handcuffed to bars and forced to sleep in a dirty area. Pattaya Police have vehemently denied these allegations, stating that the footage and images shown were not from their facility.

Pol. Col. Nawin Thirawit, Chief of Pattaya City Police Station, provided a different account of the events. He explained that Andrew had damaged a car barrier at his lodging, not a traffic sign as initially reported. Police were called to the scene to de-escalate the situation and fined Andrew 100 baht before releasing him, believing he was heavily intoxicated and disorderly.

Later that evening, Andrew returned to his accommodation, but his room had been canceled by the landlord due to previous complaints of loud noises and disruptive behavior while drunk. This led to another altercation, prompting the landlord to call the police again. Andrew was re-arrested and faced further legal proceedings.

Police confirmed that all of Andrew’s belongings were returned to him, with photographs taken as evidence. They strongly denied allegations of theft or extortion, emphasizing that the detention cell is cleaned daily and monitored by 24-hour CCTV cameras. Pol. Col. Nawin expressed confidence that the footage would prove the police acted appropriately.

A multi-agency investigation is now underway to ensure transparency and uphold the integrity of the justice process. Pattaya Police maintain that they followed standard procedures and handled the situation lawfully.

The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting the challenges of balancing tourist behavior with law enforcement in a bustling international destination like Pattaya.

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