PATTAYA, Thailand
Tourist police in Pattaya have arrested four transgender suspects in connection with the violent robbery of an Australian tourist, officials said Monday, July 27, 2026.
The incident occurred back on December 27th, 2025, when Mr. Rajinish, 53, reported that a group of transgender women attacked him and stole his belongings in the popular resort city. The assault and robbery drew significant attention over its potential damage to Pattaya’s international tourism image.
Police investigators from the local station and the Tourist Police Division did not let the case rest. After taking the victim’s statement, officers reviewed CCTV footage and gathered witness accounts. On June 29th, 2026, the Pattaya Provincial Court issued arrest warrants for four individuals on charges of jointly committing nighttime robbery and jointly assaulting a person, causing physical and mental harm.
Officers from the Tourist Police Subdivision 4, Group 2, Tourist Police Division 1 tracked the suspects over many weeks. Some had fled the area, while others continued living openly in Pattaya.
The four were taken into custody as follows:
– Peerapong, 19, arrested outside a condominium in Pattaya
– Phimphisa, 20, also arrested outside a condominium in Pattaya
– Chanachai, 20, arrested outside a restaurant in Maha Sarakham province
– Phongsakorn, 18, arrested at a residence in Ratchaburi province
All four admitted they were the individuals named in the warrants and appeared in the CCTV footage from the scene. However, they denied the specific charges listed in the warrants.
The suspects have been handed over to investigators to face legal proceedings, police said.
