Chonburi Police Chief Denies UK Media Report of Alleged Assault and Wrongful Arrest of British Tourist in Pattaya

PHOTO: TMN Cable TV Pattaya

Pattaya

Chonburi police have refuted a Daily Mail report claiming a British tourist was assaulted and robbed by Pattaya officers, clarifying that according to police the man was arrested twice for causing public disturbances while heavily intoxicated and that all procedures were conducted lawfully.

The Chonburi Provincial Police have responded to a Daily Mail report about the arrest of 55-year-old British tourist Mr. Andrew Hopkins in Pattaya. The report claimed he was detained twice, assaulted by police, and wrongfully arrested just for what Mr. Hopkins claimed was bumping into a road sign. Chonburi police have now clarified the situation shortly after another clarification from Pattaya police themselves.

On February 4th, at the Pattaya Police Station, Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawatchakiet Jindakornsanoong, Chief of Chonburi Provincial Police, held a press conference alongside Pattaya Police Chief Pol. Col. Navin Theerawit, as well as Ms. Apinya Wittayanikorn, the manager of Hyde Park Residence, which was the location the disturbances took place.

According to Ms. Apinya, the incident stemmed from Mr. Hopkins allegedly being heavily intoxicated, causing a public disturbance, and damaging property by breaking a security barrier while drunk at Hyde Park Residence, snapping it nearly in half and not “bumping into it by accident” as he claimed.

As a result, the police were called by Hyde Park Residence to help calm Mr. Hopkins who was, according to police and staff at the residence, heavily intoxicated and aggressive. Police arrived but decided to detain Mr. Hopkins due to his alleged behavior until he calmed down. However, after his release shortly after and a fine of 100 Baht, he returned to the same location, allegedly resumed his disruptive behavior, and frightened tenants with inappropriate actions, leading to his second arrest after he allegedly refused to leave the residence and allegedly threatened and frightened staff.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawatchakiet stated that the arrests were made lawfully and not simply because Mr. Hopkins bumped into a sign, as reported in foreign media. Additionally, his claims that Pattaya police stole from him were not true, as all his valuables were properly recorded before he was detained, and they were returned upon release.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawatchakiet also refuted the claim about the poor condition of the holding cell, stating that the images circulated online did not depict an official police detention facility, and rather a completely different picture and situation that had nothing to do with Pattaya holding cells.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawatchakiet revealed he plans to formally request the British Embassy to address the misleading coverage, as it harms Pattaya’s world-class tourism reputation. He also emphasized that Thai police strictly follow legal procedures when handling people causing public disturbances to protect law-abiding citizens regardless of nationalities.

As of press time Mr. Hopkins, who is back in the UK, has not formally responded to the police statements.

PHOTO: TMN Cable TV Pattaya

PHOTO: TMN Cable TV Pattaya
PHOTO: TMN Cable TV Pattaya


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Aim Tanakorn
The local news translator and writer at The Pattaya News. Tanakorn "Aim" Panyadee is a twenty-five year old who currently lives in Bangkok. Interested in English translation, story-telling, and entrepreneurship, he believes that hard-working is an indispensable component of every success in this world.