A Pattaya cannabis shop employee has been questioned over an assault after a video showed him punching a foreign man in the street. The worker says he acted in anger after discovering that the customer had allegedly used fake bank-transfer slips to obtain cannabis worth 29,200 baht.
The confrontation happened at about 5.30pm on 30 August in Soi Bongkot, South Pattaya, Chonburi, according to Watcharapong, known as Ice, a 31-year-old employee at a cannabis shop in Pattaya.
More than six minutes of video circulated online, showing Watcharapong restraining the foreign man on the road and repeatedly striking him as passers-by watched. A Thai woman who said she knew the foreigner stopped her car and attempted to intervene.
Fake payment slips alleged
Watcharapong told reporters on the evening of 31 August that the foreign customer had placed two orders through the shop's website, with the pair communicating on WhatsApp.
He said the shop did not initially realise it had been deceived. During the second order, staff found that no money had arrived in the account and reviewed the payment slips from both transactions.
Picture courtesy of แจ็ค โพธิ์แดง
According to Watcharapong, the slips had altered times and sums but carried the same transaction reference number. He put the total loss at 29,200 baht, adding that the customer replied mockingly when the shop sought payment.
The shop then posted appeals to locate the man for more than two to three weeks, he said, before a member of the public called with information on his whereabouts.
Watcharapong said he went to the location and tried to hold the man, who appeared to be preparing to run away. Fearing he might flee on a motorcycle, he said he parked his vehicle, gave chase and struck him, as seen in the footage.
Settlement payments under way
Both sides later went to a police station to negotiate. The foreign man agreed to repay the loss in instalments, Watcharapong said.
He said a first payment of 10,000 baht had been made on 31 August, while another 10,000 baht due today was still awaiting transfer. Watcharapong has also been summoned by police for questioning, with a report made in connection with an assault allegation.
Worker apologises for violence
Watcharapong apologised to the public, saying he had let anger take over and used excessive violence. He said he had not expected the recording to become viral.
He also rejected online claims linking him to grey-area businesses or other drugs, saying the shop sold only cannabis and that he did not use narcotics. He said he was willing to undergo a hospital drug test.
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1 September 2026
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