Video Foreign Tourist Arrested in Phuket Over Unpaid Bar Bill and Alleged Insults

[jesimps]

This isn't the west madam, you won't be indulged here like you would over there.

[Evil Penevil]

I think I recognize the woman in the OP from another video;

 

 

[StandardIssue]

 

It all boils down to four simple words.

 

You not have money!

 

Someone getting caught on a dine and ditch is funny in any language 🤣

[CHdiver]

It's a case of BMM Black meals matters. As a black, you have a right for a meal, even if you have no money. Works best if you outnumber the police. Does not work if you are alone.

[FritsSikkink]

14 hours ago, Tomtomtom69 said:

 

Huh? She touches him gently, doesn't push him. He's the one yelling. She simply says "I'm taking my glasses" but then the officer barks "GO" at her. 

She has no right to touch him and wouldn't be there if she paid for what she ordered.

[quake]

2 hours ago, FlorC said:

Nearly always they state the nationality , why not now ?

 

 Most likely uk.

[JakeC]

I see the racist and misogynist keyboard warriors are out in force today...

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The event unfolded at the Nine Smith entertainment venue in Phuket's Talat Yai sub-district. According to the video caption, the woman ordered food and drinks but could not pay, citing a stock market crash and failed bank withdrawals as reasons for her inability to settle the bill.

But not her ability to order and consume food...

[Presnock]

1 hour ago, simosiam72 said:

And what about just take her passport as guarantee for the payment? It cuold be really a problem connection to the app. It happens in Thailand when the bank update the system. Police act rudely because she isn't American or British but she may have much more money than most of us

I believe if all govt follow the same rules, that a passport is still the property of the issuing government and they can require one to return it to the issuing department so might have a legal problem just by taking the passport.  I also realize that like in the US the court can require one to turn in or surrender their passport to insure that they can't leave the country legally.

[save the frogs]

On 5/27/2025 at 9:35 AM, KireB said:

She would get shot in the US.

 

No, US cops tolerate a lot. They won't shoot people for that.

Sometimes cops are too relaxed and the person pulls out a gun. 

But may be charged with resisting arrest in addition to other crimes.  

 

[save the frogs]

On 5/27/2025 at 5:27 AM, snoop1130 said:

citing a stock market crash

trumps tariffs 

[JimGant]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the woman ordered food and drinks but could not pay

If she's a sex worker, easy to see why she has no income. And I guess that insisting a black person has to pay for their meal -- means Thailand hasn't signed up to the Black Lives Matter mantra. Sigh. 

[bendejo]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the woman ordered food and drinks but could not pay, citing a stock market crash and failed bank withdrawals as reasons for her inability to settle the bill

 

Sounds like she had the whole con scripted before they entered the place.

 

[JonnyF]

Give her a break.

 

I'm sure she's just about to receive a huge inheritance from her royal father back home. 

 

All the cop needed to do was lend her a few thousand USD and she would have shared it with him. 

[Magictoad]

2 hours ago, stupidfarang said:

If you touch someone without their consent, then that can be seen as assault. If you touch a police officer very high chance you are arrested for assault.

In America; but not in normal nations. 

[Old Croc]

South African. Drinking tequilas, not eating.

 

Tourist rants at police after 'refusing to pay drinks bill in Phuket' | Watch

[black tabby12345]

 the woman ordered food and drinks but could not pay, citing a stock market crash and failed bank withdrawals as reasons for her inability to settle the bill.

 

The most stupid excuse ever heard from the mouth of the bilker.

If she was a bit smarter, she might have faked heart attack instead.

 

 

[black tabby12345]

1 hour ago, NickyLouie said:

Hopefully they stuck her in a cell, filthy animal ....

 

 

Yeah.

That's what she deserves.

Even street dogs show better attitude for free food(wagging their tails and expressing their gratitude).

 

[connda]

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Legal repercussions for the woman remain unspecified. However, Thai law under Section 345 states that individuals who knowingly consume food or drinks without the means to pay may face up to three months in jail, a fine of up to 5,000 baht, or both.

Cash Is King.  Don't leave home without it!  

With that said, mistakes can happen.  Problems with debit cards and bank transfers via phone which can go south during power outages or just problems with international banking can happen. And she was trying to bring up her banking application to show that she did have money. There are ways to sort that out without resorting to threats of imprisonment.  However???  Perhaps you're considered to be a "special person" in your home country (America?), then you come to Thailand, have issues with paying a bill, and then insult Thais in general because, well, don't Thais know you're special - and get physical and then essentially assaults the cops? 
Not a good plan at all.  Enjoy detention! 

[black tabby12345]

The incident underscores potential cultural misunderstandings and legal implications faced by tourists who visit without adequate financial preparation.

 

Beating the bill, has nothing to do with "cultural" differences.

It is the act of rude criminal offence whatever the country, culture, or religion.

 

Bringing those without sufficient financial means.

That's what this kingdom is currently exercising(visa waiver scheme extended to 93 nations).

[black tabby12345]

4 minutes ago, connda said:

Cash Is King.  Don't leave home without it!  

 Enjoy detention! 

 

That's it.

 

Free accommodation and meal(?) by the courtesy of Thai police.

This way, she is no longer chased by own bill.

[connda]

2 hours ago, simosiam72 said:

And what about just take her passport as guarantee for the payment? It cuold be really a problem connection to the app. It happens in Thailand when the bank update the system. Police act rudely because she isn't American or British but she may have much more money than most of us

 

Like I said, there are ways to handle that situation.  The cops could have acted as an intermediary, taken her passport (or taken some other valuables or documents), and told her to come collect when she has the money for the bill.  The phone probably could have covered the bill.  

Gotta keep your cool.

[KireB]

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

No, US cops tolerate a lot. They won't shoot people for that.

Sometimes cops are too relaxed and the person pulls out a gun. 

But may be charged with resisting arrest in addition to other crimes.  

 

Yeah right!
Thanks to AI

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, KireB said:

Yeah right!
Thanks to AI

 

All cops have to wear bodycams now. So corruption has gone down. Video is analyzed. If cop doesn't follow protocol, he's done. 

 

[richard_smith237]

6 hours ago, Presnock said:

arrest her, put her in jail for 3 months and if still unable to pay fine, an additional period after which deport her and not let her back in.

 

Ah yes, because clearly the only sane, proportionate response to someone unable to cover a few hundred baht for their food is to arrest, jail, deportation, and black-list them....

..... Perfectly rational. Not in the least bit the musing of someone mentally deranged and seriously unhinged...

 

Tell me - when the chemical fog lifts, be it booze, pills, or whatever cocktail you’ve overindulged in... do you ever scroll back through your posts and think, “Good grief, which lobotomised halfwit typed that?” 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

18 hours ago, Tomtomtom69 said:

 

Huh? She touches him gently, doesn't push him. He's the one yelling. She simply says "I'm taking my glasses" but then the officer barks "GO" at her. 

She has no right to touch him and wouldn't be there if she paid for what she ordered.

 

I disagree - the Police are being overly-assertive in a situation that does not require any assertion (at that point in time)....

 

 

In the past I've been stopped by the BiB for 'just walking down Sukhumvit rd'... 

... I stop and am polite, but when they grab my arm, I tell them to 'Let go'...   when the reach to put their hands in my pockets, I tell them "No !"... and take their hands and stop them from going in to my pockets....

... I then empty my pockets in front of them and leave the pockets turned inside out...  I hold all items in my hands (wallet and phone), I open my wallet and let them see inside...

... They can the pat me down, check my pockets etc.

 

This is not the USA...   Co-operation is simple when the police are not over-stepping their mark. 

However, in this case the woman seems not to be co-operating, but neither is she trying to do a runner - she is simply in a 'sticky-spot' unable to pay her bill because her banking apps are not working.

 

It seems the lady has tried for 2 hours to pay her Bill and something is wrong with her digital Banking.

 

This is surely an easy enough situation do deal without police 'trying to take hold of her an restrain her'....  I suspect had this been a White Western lady or Male, they'd have simply been able to leave their details with the restaurant and pay again on another day - Perhaps 'racism' is a facet of this interaction, its difficult to tell. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[faraday]

7 hours ago, Presnock said:

arrest her, put her in jail for 3 months and if still unable to pay fine, an additional period after which deport her and not let her back in.

I agree. There are a lot too many falang-& other nationalities, behaving atrociously & getting away with a reprimand or a small fine.

[Presnock]

33 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Ah yes, because clearly the only sane, proportionate response to someone unable to cover a few hundred baht for their food is to arrest, jail, deportation, and black-list them....

..... Perfectly rational. Not in the least bit the musing of someone mentally deranged and seriously unhinged...

 

Tell me - when the chemical fog lifts, be it booze, pills, or whatever cocktail you’ve overindulged in... do you ever scroll back through your posts and think, “Good grief, which lobotomised halfwit typed that?” 

 

 

 

since I don't drink alcohol, smoke dope or do drugs - not even aspirin/tylenol and haven't had a headache at all for more than 30 years,  I answer and usually put IMHO because that is what it is for the most part on this forum - opinion.  When one askes for information on a specific subject I provide that information if I am positive about the facts.   The charge agains this person - that Thai law says that they know they cannot pay for a meal/service yet partake of it anyway.  I see more and more of these from visitors to this country, plus other regular crimes.  I realize Thailand welcomes as many visitors as they can process so included among the good visitors are those that need to be treated as the dogs that they are and need to be sent out of the country and not allowed back in.  IMHO anyway.  You obviously have your opinion and I respect that but maybe you are one takes chemicals, drugs, booze or something which clouds your responses so if you don't like my response ignore it and just put me on your "do not disturb list".

[mikebike]

4 minutes ago, Presnock said:

since I don't drink alcohol, smoke dope or do drugs - not even aspirin/tylenol and haven't had a headache at all for more than 30 years

Wow. Good 4 u. My wife does not imbibe, same as u. But suffers from migraines. So... It's not lifestyle. What the F is the point of your post?

[richard_smith237]

41 minutes ago, Presnock said:

since I don't drink alcohol, smoke dope or do drugs - not even aspirin/tylenol and haven't had a headache at all for more than 30 years,  I answer and usually put IMHO because that is what it is for the most part on this forum - opinion.  When one askes for information on a specific subject I provide that information if I am positive about the facts. 

 

Respect to you for that - but did we watch the same video ? - the lady didn't shout at or grab the police officers.

But, they did raise their voice and and grab her - which, at the time was not necessary at all IMO.

 

They lady had been 'trying' to pay for two hours (digitally it seems) - and what was the bill, a few hundred baht ?

 

I am wondering which facts you are positive about which warrants physically handling the lady ?

 

41 minutes ago, Presnock said:

The charge agains this person - that Thai law says that they know they cannot pay for a meal/service yet partake of it anyway. 

 

Does it - because if my Credit Card or PromptPay fails then I'm in the same boat....  as would many of us... 

I'd throw a good guess out there and assume that had this been you or I, our wives or any of our 'respectable' friends the situation would have been quite different and resolved amicably by simply leaving our details and making an agreement to send the funds the following day.

 

41 minutes ago, Presnock said:

I see more and more of these from visitors to this country, plus other regular crimes.  I realize Thailand welcomes as many visitors as they can process so included among the good visitors are those that need to be treated as the dogs that they are and need to be sent out of the country and not allowed back in.  IMHO anyway.  You obviously have your opinion and I respect that but maybe you are one takes chemicals, drugs, booze or something which clouds your responses so if you don't like my response ignore it and just put me on your "do not disturb list".

 

So you are judging one person who 'at that time' found themselves unable to pay due to a digital error (it seems), is deserving of being treated like a Dog ?...  Don't you think thats excessive - don't you see the mentally unhinged excess in that statement ?

 

I found myself exceeding the speed-limit on the expressway yesterday - worthy of arrest, deportation and black-listing - you reckon ?? - us hardened criminals should be deported and black-listed.... 

 

This is the issue I'm getting at - Your reaction: [arrest her, put her in jail for 3 months and if still unable to pay fine, an additional period after which deport her and not let her back in.] is not in alignment with any sense of resonable thought.

 

 

The reason I've responded to you - is that you put together a comment which even with your own hindsight is excessive in the extreme - it was just a meal which she had difficult paying for... No violent crime, no assault, no attack, no cold-theft etc....     there's a strong element of 'just awkward and unfortunate circumstances' and you'd see her jailed for 3 months... Its ridiculously extreme.