
PATTAYA — A Russian tourist was assaulted in Pattaya after a woman mistakenly believed he was filming her during his livestream. The incident, which occurred in front of the Pattaya City Police Station in the early hours of January 22, has led to assault charges being filed.
Mr. Evgenii, 45, reported to Pattaya City Police Station at around 4:30 a.m. after being attacked by a woman who had been standing near a coconut tree along Pattaya Beach. The incident unfolded when Evgenii was conducting a social media livestream in the area
Despite attempts by her companions to calm her down, the woman, believing she was being recorded, became confrontational and charged across the street, pulling the tourist off balance. The assault resulted in minor injuries to Evgenii’s knee.

During the police investigation, Evgenii presented video evidence from his livestream demonstrating that he had not intentionally filmed or violated the privacy of the woman in question. Based on this evidence, authorities have pressed charges against the woman for assault causing bodily harm, an offense that carries penalties of up to three years imprisonment, a fine not exceeding 60,000 baht, or both.
The incident highlights ongoing issues in Pattaya’s beach areas, where women known locally as “coconut tree ghosts” frequently solicit foreign tourists. Recent changes in law enforcement procedures, stemming from an October 2023 Ministry of Social Development and Human Security decree, have shifted the handling of prostitution-related cases from police to civil authorities.

Under the new regulations, police officers are no longer required to bring suspected sex workers to the station. Instead, they document evidence and forward cases to the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security for fact-finding and legal proceedings.
Individuals charged under these regulations can contest fines or opt for community service as an alternative penalty.
Police typically focus on maintaining public order and handling disturbances in these areas, often resolving conflicts through fines and warnings about behavior that could damage the city’s tourism image.
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