Credit: Khaosod
On Christmas night, a tragic incident occurred when four teenagers assaulted Mr. Richard Ander M. Van Bogaert, an 80-year-old Belgian national. The attackers struck him in the head with a machete and brutally beat him before stealing 7,000 baht in cash and escaping on motorcycles.
At 11:06 PM on December 25, the Pattaya City police investigative team tracked down and arrested the suspects following an overnight operation. The assailants, all teenagers—three aged 15 and one aged 18—were captured along with a 22-inch machete and two motorcycles used in their getaway. The suspects, identified by aliases Arm, Krape, and New (all 15), and Ton (18), confessed to the crime. They claimed their motive was financial, as one needed money to pay off damages from a recent vehicle accident. Spotting the victim walking alone in a secluded area, they chose to rob him. When the victim resisted, one of the attackers used the machete, severely injuring him.
After the assault, the group fled and relaxed at Pattaya Beach before being apprehended by police. Authorities collected evidence, including the weapon, motorcycles, and clothing worn during the crime. The suspects have been handed over to investigators for legal proceedings under Thai law.
