Two motorbike taxi drivers, known as “Win,” in Pattaya, were arrested on January 1st, 2024, after physically assaulting a foreign tourist over a dispute regarding a parking spot on Second Road. The incident took place on December 30th, 2023, during the New Year’s Eve festivities in Pattaya.
Video footage of the assault, captured by eyewitnesses and shared on Thai social media, showed the two Thai Win drivers wearing orange vests attacking the foreign tourist while he tried to defend himself and escape. Another foreigner, possibly accompanying the victim, attempted to intervene before both individuals walked away from the scene.
The video received widespread criticism from Thai social media users, raising concerns about the behavior of some motorbike taxi drivers in Pattaya and its potential impact on the city’s tourism reputation. Prompted by public outrage, local authorities initiated an investigation on January 1st, 2024, led by Pol. Col. Navin Theerawit, Superintendent of Pattaya Police Station.
During the investigation, two suspects, Mr. Sivakorn Mulna, aged 30, and Mr. Manop Mukcha, were identified and arrested. They were taken to the Pattaya Police Station for questioning, where they reportedly admitted to attacking the tourist. However, they claimed that the tourist had parked his bike in a designated motorbike taxi area, refused to move, and pushed one of the suspects, leading to the altercation.
Both Mr. Sivakorn and Mr. Manop were charged with physical assault and fined 1,000 Baht each. They also received a stern warning from the Pattaya police chief. Despite the incident, the tourist involved has not filed an official report. Pol. Col. Navin urged the tourist to come forward in the future to ensure a thorough and fair investigation.
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