Thai-Irish Couple Reports Swiss Man Over Restaurant Confrontation

Thai-Irish
A Thai-Irish couple file a police report at Bang Saphan Police Station in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Jan. 27, 2025 following an alleged verbal assault at a local restaurant.

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN — A Thai-Irish couple has filed a police report at Bang Saphan Police Station in Prachuap Khiri Khan following an alleged verbal assault by a dog owner at a local restaurant.

Mrs. Panicha, 55, and her Irish husband, 71, residents of Moo 1, Phong Prasat Subdistrict, reported the incident that occurred with Mr. Mathias, a Swiss national who has been previously complained about for letting his dogs roam unleashed.

According to the Irish husband, on January 24 at approximately 7:30 p.m., while dining with his wife and friends at a restaurant, Mr. Mathias approached their table and allegedly verbally abused them twice in an aggressive manner. The situation escalated until restaurant staff had to intervene. Concerned for their safety, the couple decided to file a police report.

dog conflict 22
CCTV footage shows the moment when the Swiss man approached and verbally confronted the Irish man at the restaurant on January 24, 2025.

The couple believes the confrontation stemmed from their recent complaint to the Phong Prasat Subdistrict Administrative Organization about Mr. Mathias allowing his dogs to roam freely on the beach, causing fear among local residents and tourists at Ban Suan Luang beach. This practice reportedly continued despite a municipal order prohibiting dogs on the beach.

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Police Lieutenant Ek-in Sonpromhom, the investigating officer, stated that authorities will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and proceed with appropriate legal actions.

Swiss dog owner
Combination photos show (left) a Swiss man living in Thailand walking his unleashed dogs on the beach, which led to dog attacks in August 2024, and (right) the same man walking his dogs at the same location on January 20, 2025, despite official orders prohibiting it.
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The conflict between the dog owner and local residents began last year when a foreigner was bitten by dogs and many people were chased and barked at by a pack of dogs, significantly impacting the region’s tourism revenue. Locals report that visitors have been avoiding Suan Luang Beach due to safety concerns.

Subsequently, local officials intervened to mediate. The Pong Prasad SAO ordered Mathias to remove his dogs from the area pending legal resolution, but Mathias’s lawyer has filed an appeal to contest this decision.

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