Pattaya —
Two motorbike taxi drivers, commonly referred to as “Win,” in Pattaya, were arrested on Monday, January 1st, 2024, following a physical assault against a foreign tourist over a parking spot on Second Road.
The assault, captured on video and posted on Thai social media by passersby, occurred on December 30th, 2023, during Pattaya’s recent New Year’s Eve festivities from December 29th to the 31st.
The clip portrayed two Thai Win drivers, clad in orange vests, ganging up on a lone foreign tourist of unknown origin beside Pattaya Second Road outside Central Pattaya shopping mall. The two drivers were seen ferociously punching and kicking the unidentified foreigner while he attempted to defend himself and escape. Another foreigner, a female possibly with the victim, tried to help the lone victim before both of them walked away from the scene.
The video immediately drew widespread criticism from Thai social media users, prompting people to question the behavior of some motorbike taxi drivers in Pattaya, and the damage they could have done to the city’s tourism reputation.
Soon, the incident caught the attention of local authorities, leading Pol. Col. Navin Theerawit, Superintendent of Pattaya Police Station, to initiate an investigation on January 1st, 2024. The investigation primarily focused on identifying the drivers involved in the incident and the assaulted tourist.
According to Pol. Col. Navin, investigators identified Mr. Sivakorn Mulna, 30, and Mr. Manop Mukcha as the prime suspects in the attack. They were arrested yesterday and taken to the Pattaya Police Station for questioning, during which both reportedly admitted to assaulting the tourist in the video. However, they argued that the tourist allegedly parked his bike in a motorbike taxi “only” area, refused to move, and then pushed one of the suspects, which sparked the dispute.
Still, Mr. Sivakorn and Mr. Manop were charged with physical assault and fined 1,000 Baht each. They were also given a stern warning from the Pattaya police chief.
While the tourist has not yet come forward to file an official report, Pol. Col. Navin urged him to do so in the future to ensure a comprehensive and fair investigation.
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