Picture courtesy of SiamChon

 

A 38-year-old Hong Kong tourist, Mr. On Wing Chan, was left bloodied and injured on December 30, following an alleged assault by a group of condominium security guards in central Pattaya. The incident, which has tarnished his New Year holiday, was reported to Police Lieutenant Chanan Kesornbua at the Pattaya City Police Station at 17:05.

 

According to witnesses, the altercation began when Mr. Chan, who had booked a room through an agency, discovered his reservation had been abruptly cancelled upon arrival. The agency cited "room issues" as the reason for the cancellation, leaving the tourist unable to check in. Frustrated by the situation, Mr. Chan expressed his anger towards the staff, leading to an escalation involving the security team.

 

A 24-year-old witness, stated that Mr. Chan had paid 24,000 baht for two rooms over two nights (6,000 baht per room per night). Efforts to contact the booking agency proved futile as they avoided his calls and eventually switched off their phones. Frustration turned to confrontation, and Mr. Chan reportedly clashed with the security staff.

 

Another witness aged 27, recounted that Mr. Chan was dragged into the guard booth where he was verbally abused and punched by a security guard. When the tourist fought back, the situation spiralled out of control, with other individuals, allegedly associates of the security team, joining the fray to assault Mr. Chan. Despite attempts by women present to intervene, the attackers persisted.

 

Police Lieutenant Chanan Kesornbua has recorded the incident and initiated an investigation. Officers are reviewing CCTV footage and gathering evidence to identify and apprehend the suspects involved in the attack. Legal proceedings are underway to ensure justice for the injured tourist.

 

-- 2024-12-31

 

 

 

26 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

Legal proceedings are underway to ensure justice for the injured tourist.

 

LOL, good luck with that. At best, a 500bt fine and business as usual.....

There is the possibility that the booking agency was fraudulent and the condo knew nothing.

 

Irrespective, a beating from several security guards cannot be justified. Restrain if absolutely necessary.

My heart goes out to the guy trying to find another room today.  I don't know about Pattaya, but in the areas I scouted, every reasonably priced hotel was fully booked, and most of the flop house hostels.

 

I ended up cutting my December trip short and flying out because of that. (And a stupid decision on my part...)

 

56 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

There is the possibility that the booking agency was fraudulent and the condo knew nothing.

Exactly.  24000 baht + a ruined holiday is enough to make even the most patient worm turn.  Name the agency who refused to take calls.  Thailand LOL = Land of Lawyers; sue the miscreants.

This is why I have never paid in advance for a room.  Things happen, sometimes even true unexpected issues and not scams and rooms are not available.  Granted some sites such as Agoda seem very reliable and I have used them once here in the USA, I still on all my 15 trips to Thailand have always physically seen the room first before paying.  Rarely did I get charged significantly more than any on line discount although there seem to be more discounts on line these days. 

50 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

This is why I have never paid in advance for a room.  Things happen, sometimes even true unexpected issues and not scams and rooms are not available.  Granted some sites such as Agoda seem very reliable and I have used them once here in the USA, I still on all my 15 trips to Thailand have always physically seen the room first before paying.  Rarely did I get charged significantly more than any on line discount although there seem to be more discounts on line these days. 

It is a fair approach although I have used many an Agoda room that I paid in advance for without incident..... that said I chatted with a guy on the bus from Ekama,i who had arrived in Bkk with a booking from them to find the hotel was not even there... had closed down some time earlier!

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A 24-year-old witness, stated that Mr. Chan had paid 24,000 baht for two rooms over two nights (6,000 baht per room per night). Efforts to contact the booking agency proved futile as they avoided his calls and eventually switched off their phones. Frustration turned to confrontation, and Mr. Chan reportedly clashed with the security staff.

 

Possibly a booking agency from his home country?  They seem to like to use their own people.  Might be better to stick with the big companies.

 

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Another witness aged 27, recounted that Mr. Chan was dragged into the guard booth where he was verbally abused and punched by a security guard. When the tourist fought back, the situation spiralled out of control, with other individuals, allegedly associates of the security team, joining the fray to assault Mr. Chan. Despite attempts by women present to intervene, the attackers persisted.

 

A Thai attacks you.  You fight back.  A gang of Thais attack you as a result.  Welcome to Thailand.

 

Not great PR.

 

Hopefully they all lose their jobs and do some jail time.

Renting a rooms in a condo for a couple of nights - is that not illegal ?

3 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

This is why I have never paid in advance for a room.  Things happen, sometimes even true unexpected issues and not scams and rooms are not available.  Granted some sites such as Agoda seem very reliable and I have used them once here in the USA, I still on all my 15 trips to Thailand have always physically seen the room first before paying.  Rarely did I get charged significantly more than any on line discount although there seem to be more discounts on line these days. 

 

The major booking sites  now force payment in advance. Some offer the option to cancel up to 72 hours in advance subject to a higher room rate and a penalty. When I book, a major hotel chain, the reduced rate is non refundable. It adds up. I often take the non refundable member advance rate at the BKK Airport Novotel,  but I still end up paying 6,000 +baht.

 

Looks to me like the  guy was scammed. It happens when you try to score a deal off the internet.

21 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Renting a rooms in a condo for a couple of nights - is that not illegal ?

I believe so. However, the juristic person and the committee will have a policy on this. Given this is Central Pattaya, i.e. tourist central, I doubt the law would be enforced and short term stays and the revenue they bring would be enthusiastically encouraged!

Condo is not a hotel. He has no business arguing with security and disturbing the piece of residents who pay for maitenance and security.

1 hour ago, Celsius said:

Condo is not a hotel. He has no business arguing with security and disturbing the piece of residents who pay for maitenance and security.

So you reckon it is OK to disturb the PEACE of hotel guests, who do not pay MAINTENANCE directly

17 hours ago, JoePai said:

Renting a rooms in a condo for a couple of nights - is that not illegal ?

Punishable by a good beating from the building security?

Condo security guards are usually the definition of sleepy and avoiding work, no way they wanted a fight

On 12/31/2024 at 6:16 AM, Georgealbert said:

Another witness aged 27, recounted that Mr. Chan was dragged into the guard booth where he was verbally abused and punched by a security guard. When the tourist fought back, the situation spiralled out of control, with other individuals, allegedly associates of the security team, joining the fray to assault Mr. Chan. Despite attempts by women present to intervene, the attackers persisted

A misunderstanding sorted out Thai style.

 The min legal stay in a condominium is 30 days. The tourist had sn illegal booking.  Take your anger out of the condo owner not security. 

On 12/31/2024 at 6:16 AM, Georgealbert said:

The incident, which has tarnished his New Year holiday

Nothing tarnished, just another hostile foreigners being disrespectful and hostile, abusing staff. 

 

On 12/31/2024 at 6:16 AM, Georgealbert said:

Mr. Chan expressed his anger towards the staff, leading to an escalation involving the security team.

There you go, guy is a Goose. 

 

Some people need to be taught a lesson, at times force is necessary. 

 

I'd probably sort out the situation with aggression to if I was there and saw him being disrespectful. 

 

 

On 12/30/2024 at 8:58 PM, Patong2021 said:

 

The major booking sites  now force payment in advance. Some offer the option to cancel up to 72 hours in advance subject to a higher room rate and a penalty. When I book, a major hotel chain, the reduced rate is non refundable. It adds up. I often take the non refundable member advance rate at the BKK Airport Novotel,  but I still end up paying 6,000 +baht.

 

Looks to me like the  guy was scammed. It happens when you try to score a deal off the internet.

Not true. Bookings.com, Hotel.com, Agoda as well as lesser-known booking sites have options to either pay online/in advance or reserved the room and pay later (either closer to the arrival date or pay at check-in.)

I rarely pay in advance unless the deal is too good to pass up. 

2 hours ago, BayArea said:

Not true. Bookings.com, Hotel.com, Agoda as well as lesser-known booking sites have options to either pay online/in advance or reserved the room and pay later (either closer to the arrival date or pay at check-in.)

I rarely pay in advance unless the deal is too good to pass up. 

 Very true. When an option to pay at the hotel is provided, it is almost always  a higher rate. The reduced rates are paid in advance and are non refundable.

 

And when using an OTA, if it is not a major chain, if paying at the hotel, the full payment is collected at checkin making it impossible to get a refund if  checking out  early. Please go to  the OTA and see how it is structured.

6000 Baht per room per night is about 1400 HKD per room per night.  That's really expensive!  

Boo hoo.  Next time stay at a hotel.  Condo rentals of less than a month are illegal.  You were breaking the law, bud.

I know the place and the guards. They are quite nice and helpful. The guy probably got angry and made a fuss (which I may understand). From what I was told, he was at the gate and wanted to get into the residence (probably in the hope of being able to complain to someone). I assume there was also a communication issue as the level of English of the guards is poor. Their response was obviously too violent, but it's their job to prevent non-residents from going inside, and to preserve the quietness of residents.