Mall Employee Allegedly Beaten, Robbed By Protesters

Mr. Siam Thanachattranond, 30, told officers at Pathumwan Police Station that he was traveling to work at around 09.30 yesterday when he was stopped by volunteer guards of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) at Chalermla Bridge, metres away from the shopping mall.

 

PCAD protesters have been occupying Pathumwan Intersection, the famous shopping district of Bangkok, for three weeks, and PCAD guards have set up security checkpoints around the area.

 

According to Mr. Siam, the guards asked him for his ID card, which he complied, but one of the guards aggressively asked him "Why the fuck are you looking at my face?", before the entire group mobbed and beat him. 

 

In a statement to the police, Mr. Siam said the PCAD guards took his iPhone 5, eyeglasses, cap, and 15,000 baht – a total loss of approximately 50,000 baht. One of the assailants also hit his head, Mr. Siam said, adding that he kept screaming for help but no one in the vicinity dared to help him.

 

A Bangkok authority official later reportedly came to help Mr. Siam wipe the blood from his head injury, and told him not to argue with the PCAD guards as they are known to be very aggressive. The official also escorted him to a first aid station nearby, Mr. Siam said. His wound reportedly required 5 stitches. 

 

Pol.Maj.Gen. Wallop Prathummueang said he has instructed the officers to coordinate the investigation with PCAD leaders in order to locate the suspects. 

 

He added that a 53 year old police officer was also beaten by PCAD guards in the same area yesterday morning as he traveled through the intersection for work at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters. The protesters reportedly took away the officer′s 3,000 baht cash, a .357 pistol, and 5 bullets, Pol.Maj.Gen. Wallop said.

 

Mr. Siam later posted on his Facebook profile that he has previously joined anti-government rallies with his friends, but he has now "lost faith" in the movements after the incident at Pathumwan Intersection. 

 

"It hurts," Mr. Siam wrote, "Not the wound. It hurts in my heart".