Pattaya – At 1:06 AM on February 13th, 2025, Pol. Lt. Chaowalit Suwanmanee, Deputy Chief of Investigation at the Pattaya City Police Station, received a report of a fight with injuries at Pattaya Beach, opposite Soi 10. He led police officers and rescue workers from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya City to inspect the scene. The Pattaya News team also joined them.
Upon arrival, they found many Thai and foreign tourists who had come to drink and socialize, as entertainment venues had been closed for an important Buddhist holiday and although some had reopened at midnight, many had not. The tourists watched in shock as they discovered Mr. Jakkrit Phimngern, 33, who had been stabbed in the neck and right arm with a sharp object. Rescue workers provided first aid and urgently transported him to a local hospital.
The main suspect attempted to flee but was apprehended by officers in Soi 10, a short distance from the scene. He claimed that he was a beach mat vendor and that the injured group had rented a beach mat from him to sit and drink while celebrating a birthday. They got into a debate over an undisclosed matter, however, exchanging curses, leading to an argument that escalated into a fistfight. The injured man allegedly grabbed the suspect’s neck, and he tried to shake them off and ran away after stabbing him.
A witness reported observing both groups arguing and fighting before one party ran into Soi 10. Officers and the witness pursued the suspect, finding him hiding in a building corner. A packet of crystal meth was found on the ground, which officers collected as evidence. The weapon used in the incident was not found.
Mr. Bee, 31, a friend of the injured person and the suspect’s former employer, stated that he had organized the birthday party and rented a mat from the suspect. He believes the suspect was hallucinating from drugs, mistakenly thinking the group was gossiping and cursing at him. The situation escalated into a fight, resulting in the stabbing.
Pol. Lt. Chaowalit Suwanmanee took Mr. Prayot Rotmuang (Yok), 34, the suspect, to test his urine for drugs. The test confirmed the presence of drugs in his system. Yok admitted to using crystal meth but denied using a knife to harm the other party. Police are reviewing CCTV footage to gather evidence and proceed with the case.
That incident also led to a major crackdown in the Pattaya Beach area on illegal vendors but it is unclear why only a few months later the suspect was free once again.
Just earlier this week due to a number of recent incidents Pattaya police agreed to permanent overnight patrols on the beach and additional safety stations.
This was partly due to a major viral video claiming foreigners were sleeping and littering on the beaches that caused intense discussion online.
There was also a recent viral incident in which police chased an Ugandan woman on the beach on a 600 day plus overstay. She attempted to fake a seizure hoping it would get her out of being arrested, said police, but it did not.
Back in December Pattaya police arrested over 20 foreign women for allegedly working illegally as prostitutes on Pattaya Beach.
Pattaya Beach recently won an award and certification for its well managed beaches but as they become more popular Pattaya Police have had to step up efforts to keep the beach safe.
