Post on Facebook says the Swede was with his wife going home and the Russian came from behind and cleaned them up. They weren't riding together as this article seems to imply.
Given the tacky jewelery and the fact that he's riding around Bangkok with headphones on, I have to conclude he's a dimwit who brought this on himself.
Called it!
It's Phuket, it's beachfront, ipso facto...
"The steps have since been deemed by Phuket officials public land and encroaching on the beach."