Pattaya police arrested a vendor on Tuesday night for allegedly intimidating Chinese tourists after they refused to buy his bags.
Tourist police in Pattaya and officers from the Pattaya police station arrested Somchai Kraiphan, 43, at a beach road off of Na Klua beach at 9:30PM.
Earlier, at 11.30am on Tuesday, a tour guide, whose Facebook identity is Wicha Tham, posted a 1.46-minute video clip showing Somchai shouting angrily at Chinese tourists.
The clip showed Somchai threaten to shoot the tourists for failing to buy his crocodile skin bags after they asked for discounts.
Wicha said in the post that he hoped Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpal, deputy commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, would see the post and take action
Pol Lt-Colonel Piyapong Ensarn, inspector of the sub-division 4 of the Tourist Police Division 2, said Surachet saw the clip and ordered the arrest.
After his arrest, Somchai stated that he was sorry for what he had done. He said his case should serve to remind other vendors to have patience. It is unclear if he has to pay a fine or penalty for the threats that give Pattaya a bad reputation.
