NZ brothers return home after 4 months in Thai custody for assault

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of The Phuket News

Two New Zealand brothers, who were detained in Thailand for nearly four months following an assault on a police officer in Phuket, have returned home. Hamish and Mattson Day had faced multiple charges after a disagreement over a speeding violation on March 16 escalated into violence.

 

A passerby captured footage of the incident, showing 38 year old Mattson Day attacking the police officer while 36 year old Hamish held the officer’s gun. The video quickly went viral, drawing widespread attention on social media.

 

The New Zealand Herald reported the brothers’ return, though the exact date remains undisclosed. In a written statement, the Day family expressed their gratitude for the support received from friends, family, and the New Zealand Government. They also requested privacy as they adjust to life back home.

 

“They would be grateful for a bit of space and privacy for them and their family during the coming weeks,” the family stated.

“They want to express their sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support they’ve received from their family, friends, and the New Zealand Government. As they begin readjusting and focus on their well-being, they ask for your understanding and respect.”

 

The family declined to comment further on the matter.

 

Police assault

 

Hamish and Mattson were on holiday in Phuket when the altercation occurred. They were charged with assaulting a police officer, robbery, obstruction of police duty, driving without a licence, and bribery.

 

Following their arrest, they appeared in Phuket provincial court and were remanded in custody. Although specific details about the final outcome of their cases were not disclosed, it was confirmed that their visas were revoked, and they have been blacklisted from re-entering Thailand.

 

Phuket police chief Sinlert Sukhum explained that the incident began when the brothers refused to stop after an officer observed them speeding on rented motorcycles. Police Senior Sergeant Major Maj Somsak Noo-iad pursued them and called for backup. When they eventually stopped in front of a restaurant on Chaofa Road in Mueang district, the officer informed them of their traffic violation and requested their licences.

 

The brothers reportedly offered a bribe, which the officer refused, instructing them to pay the fine at the police station. As the officer took their pictures with his mobile phone, the situation escalated. Angered by the officer’s actions, one of the brothers attacked him, wrestled him to the ground, and seized his firearm, reported The Phuket News.

 

During the struggle, the gun discharged once, though no one was injured. Backup officers arrived shortly after, preventing the situation from worsening.

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-07-15

 

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[zakalwe]

Must have been expensive.

[Owiee]

No accounting for the ridiculous actions of some, while on holidays. Imagine if they had tried to pull the same stunt in America. 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“They want to express their sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support they’ve received from their family, friends, and the New Zealand Government. As they begin readjusting and focus on their well-being, they ask for your understanding and respect.”

Something the brothers know nothing about.

[Jonathan Swift]

"overwhelming support they’ve received from their family, friends, and the New Zealand Government." Nothing about the widespread condemnation they deserved and got. They don't deserve anyone's support. What do you want to bet that they have a police record for the same thing in NZ?

[sumongkhwai]

Wow, I reckon things must be a be different under the Southern Cross. In the States and most other countries with armed officers if you try and take their weapon you'll be shot if not tasered. These two blokes are just lucky there wasn't a motorbike taxi stand nearby. I reckon they've set up their GoFundMe page to pay for their holiday. Banana peelers.

Edited July 14 by sumongkhwai

[Wayne G]

What a pair of <deleted> these two blokes are a disgrace should have got 5 years each the amount of money changed hands would be substantial 

[Robert Paulson]

So you can assault a thai cop, as long as you have money. Sounds just like every other country’s “justice” system

[baansgr]

Somewhere between 20-30 million baht..and what's happening about the Swiss lady beater, that's all gone quite

[ChasingTheSun]

Money makes the world go round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited July 14 by ChasingTheSun

[thaibeachlovers]

I'm outraged that the NZ government got involved in bring the criminal back to NZ. I'll give a pass to the brother that didn't assault the cop, but the one that did should be a guest of the Thai government for a while.

[zepplin]

Pair of stupid low class bogans , mummy and daddy didn’t raise them right and had to bail them out, how utterly pathetic!

[Andycoops]

The thugs should still be in the monkey house, lucky to get out so soon.

At least we have seen the back of them.

Good riddance.

[IamNoone88]

... I guess they won't be feeling like coming back again anytime soon.

[tandor]

24 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Somewhere between 20-30 million baht..and what's happening about the Swiss lady beater, that's all gone quite

should help bolster the coffers.

[Olmate]

38 minutes ago, sumongkhwai said:

Wow, I reckon things must be a be different under the Southern Cross. In the States and most other countries with armed officers if you try and take their weapon you'll be shot if not tasered. These two blokes are just lucky there wasn't a motorbike taxi stand nearby. I reckon they've set up their GoFundMe page to pay for their holiday. Banana peelers.

Banana bender more likely, but in Kiwicuntry its baba, not banana! 

[Zack61]

They got off easy. 

[captnhoy]

No mention of alcohol. My exposure to the cultures from down under are admittedly limited but the theme was always mass quantities of alcohol. How could you do something like that in your right mind? And now they want respect? As mentioned previously, they'd be shot dead in the US with those stupid moves.

[SAFETY FIRST]

3 hours ago, zakalwe said:

Must have been expensive.

Yeah, I'd like to know how many Kiwi Peso's that cost them. 

 

Edited July 15 by SAFETY FIRST

[cncltd1973]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Although specific details about the final outcome of their cases were not disclosed, ...

I wonder why, is there more to this story? also, 4 months is a really light sentence compared to the west! would be interesting to hear their side of the story, might explain why the sentence was so short

Edited July 15 by cncltd1973

[SAFETY FIRST]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

the NZ government got involved in bring the criminal back to NZ

This is strange behaviour. 

 

Why would they do something so bloody stupid? 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

This is strange behaviour. 

 

Why would they do something so bloody stupid? 

 

Beats me. I expected that sort of thing from the last shower, but I thought this lot was better.

[renaissanc]

If I did what these two did, I'd be in jail for years and years. They must have spent millions to buy their freedom.

[lordgrinz]

If someone can buy their way into a 5-Star police Hospital, then you shouldn't be surprised when others buy their freedom too, corruption in Thailand is known around the World. Welcome to the 3rd World!

[newbee2022]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of The Phuket News

Two New Zealand brothers, who were detained in Thailand for nearly four months following an assault on a police officer in Phuket, have returned home. Hamish and Mattson Day had faced multiple charges after a disagreement over a speeding violation on March 16 escalated into violence.

 

A passerby captured footage of the incident, showing 38 year old Mattson Day attacking the police officer while 36 year old Hamish held the officer’s gun. The video quickly went viral, drawing widespread attention on social media.

 

The New Zealand Herald reported the brothers’ return, though the exact date remains undisclosed. In a written statement, the Day family expressed their gratitude for the support received from friends, family, and the New Zealand Government. They also requested privacy as they adjust to life back home.

 

“They would be grateful for a bit of space and privacy for them and their family during the coming weeks,” the family stated.

“They want to express their sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support they’ve received from their family, friends, and the New Zealand Government. As they begin readjusting and focus on their well-being, they ask for your understanding and respect.”

 

The family declined to comment further on the matter.

 

Police assault

 

Hamish and Mattson were on holiday in Phuket when the altercation occurred. They were charged with assaulting a police officer, robbery, obstruction of police duty, driving without a licence, and bribery.

 

 

Following their arrest, they appeared in Phuket provincial court and were remanded in custody. Although specific details about the final outcome of their cases were not disclosed, it was confirmed that their visas were revoked, and they have been blacklisted from re-entering Thailand.

 

Phuket police chief Sinlert Sukhum explained that the incident began when the brothers refused to stop after an officer observed them speeding on rented motorcycles. Police Senior Sergeant Major Maj Somsak Noo-iad pursued them and called for backup. When they eventually stopped in front of a restaurant on Chaofa Road in Mueang district, the officer informed them of their traffic violation and requested their licences.

 

The brothers reportedly offered a bribe, which the officer refused, instructing them to pay the fine at the police station. As the officer took their pictures with his mobile phone, the situation escalated. Angered by the officer’s actions, one of the brothers attacked him, wrestled him to the ground, and seized his firearm, reported The Phuket News.

 

During the struggle, the gun discharged once, though no one was injured. Backup officers arrived shortly after, preventing the situation from worsening.

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-07-15

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

 

 

I would have liked to see them in prison for four years. Scumbags😵‍💫

[mikeymike100]

1 hour ago, Owiee said:

No accounting for the ridiculous actions of some, while on holidays. Imagine if they had tried to pull the same stunt in America. 

Quite so, the 2 guys would have been toast, literally!

[mfd101]

And Kiwis used to be such NAICE people!

[rocketboy2]

WTF. 

They got away with it. unbelievable.

Amazing Thailand.

 

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, rocketboy2 said:

WTF. 

They got away with it. unbelievable.

Amazing Thailand.

 

 

With the right amount of money given to the RTP benevolence fund, anyone can walk away 😉

[Michael Headland]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Something the brothers know nothing about.

Appalling behaviour. Hopefully they have be banned for life from Thailand.

The New Zealand Government condoning this behaviour, what a surprise.