PHUKET — A Russian man who was protecting his Finnish girlfriend and her friend from alleged harassment by three German and Turkish tourists was injured in a physical altercation that followed.
The incident occurred on March 8 at approximately 5:37 a.m. at a 44-year-old Russian national Mr. Aleksandr’s room in the Neptuna Hotel on Rat Uthit 200 Pi Road in Patong, Kathu District, Phuket. Two Finnish women were present during the incident.
Patong Police investigators questioned the two Finnish women who were in the hotel room with Mr. Aleksandr when the incident occurred. They testified that three tourists had followed them to their room and attempted to harass them. When they refused the advances, Mr. Aleksandr intervened to help them, which angered the three suspects who then assaulted him, causing facial injuries. The Russian man was subsequently transported to Patong Hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, investigators requested surveillance footage from the hotel for examination. Police Colonel Chalermchai Hersawat, Superintendent of Patong Police Station, ordered detectives to track the suspects’ escape route. The investigation revealed that the suspects were staying at LaCaza Hotel on Rat Uthit Road in Patong, where officers proceeded to make the arrests.
Two of the suspects are German nationals: Mr. Can, 30, and Mr. Cem, 22. The third suspect is a 23-year-old Turkish national named Mr. Salman. All three admitted to assaulting the Russian man but denied harassing the Finnish women.
They claimed they were merely escorting the women back after spending time together at a nightclub when the Russian man identified himself as the woman’s boyfriend, leading to a verbal argument that escalated into physical violence.
Police have taken all three suspects to Patong Police Station for further legal proceedings on charges of causing bodily harm to another person.
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