Pattaya Nightclub Guard Arrested For Beating Foreign Tourists

Witthaya Chaiyasak, admitted to assaulting two Israeli tourists brothers in a police press conference yesterday.

CHONBURI — Police have arrested a security guard from a well-known nightclub on Pattaya's Walking Street for reportedly beating two Israeli tourists.

Eli Aurheem, 31, and his brother Dekel Aurheem, 27, were attacked by five or six security guards at Lucifer Pub on the night of 8 June, police say.

One of the suspects, Witthaya Chaiyasak, admitted to assaulting the brothers in a police press conference yesterday. According to Mr. Witthaya, the older Israeli visited Lucifer Pub without ordering any drinks and responded "aggressively" when a waitress asked him to buy one. 

Mr. Witthaya said he and other security guards approached Mr. Aurheem and instructed him to leave the nightclub, but he refused, leading to a scuffle with the security guards. Mr. Witthaya admitted to punching Mr. Aurheem in the face several times before police officers spotted the incident and intervened.

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Pol.Col. Suphatee Boonkrong said Mr. Aurheem's brother, Dekel, tried to help but was beaten up by the guards as well.

"My supervisors are very interested in this case," Pol.Col. Suphatee told reporters. "They have ordered me to strictly prosecute the violators."

According to Pol.Col. Suphatee, the tourist has been charged with the small offence of inciting a fight while Mr. Witthaya and the other security guards, who are still on the run, have been charged with physical assault leading to injury.

Following the incident, police raided the pub and uncovered a number of other violations of law, including underage customers, evidence of narcotic use, and an expired nightclub license, Pol.Col. Suphatee said. He added that the police have advised the Governor of Chonburi province to permanently shut down the establishment as a punishment.

"I insist that the police have proceeded in accordance with legal steps. We don't care about mafia influence," Pol.Col. Suphatee claimed.

He also said the police will convene a meeting with owners of every nightclub in Pattaya to put an end to physical assaults against tourists by nightclub staff.

"If this news reached foreign countries, it will severely affect the atmosphere of tourism," the officer explained.

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