PHUKET — A British tourist sought help after being assaulted by a Thai man in front of Burger King in Soi Bangla, Patong, opposite New York Bar on Friday morning.
Pol. Col. Chalermchai Hernsawat, Superintendent of Patong Police Station, dispatched patrol officers and Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation staff to investigate. They found the injured victim, Mr. Robert, 62 years old, and provided first aid.
Robert said he had a problem with a Thai man, later identified by police as Mr. Kittipong, 27 years old. He informed Patong police that during the assault, his 3-baht weight gold bracelet also went missing.
Later, police examined CCTV footage which showed that at 8:15 a.m. on August 9, a British tourist wearing a black shirt and shorts was talking to a Thai man in a purple shirt and long yellow pants.
The British man, appearing drunk, told the Thai man, “My wife will give you money later.” The Thai man then sat waiting on the sidewalk, approached again to talk, but the tourist tried to snatch the Thai man’s bag, tearing it. Angered, the Thai man punched the British man.
Another CCTV camera at 8:18 a.m. recorded sounds of fighting and showed the tourist falling onto black garbage bags by the road. The Thai man then jumped and kicked his neck again, snatched the tourist’s bag, and walked away.
A woman’s voice was heard saying to the Thai man, “Don’t hurt him, he’s not in his right mind.” The assaulted tourist, with blood on his face, shouted for help before calling the police.
Police stated they will summon both parties for further investigation at Patong Police Station.
