Thai Ice Cream Vendor Attacks Dentist With Sword

[george]

Thai Ice Cream Vendor Attacks Dentist With Small Sword for Pulling Wrong Tooth, Police Say

BANGKOK, Thailand Oct 18, 2005 — An ice cream vendor attacked a Bangkok dentist with a small sword, breaking his arm and badly cutting his face, police said Wednesday.

Somboon Saisida, 43, stormed Pornpoj Suriwong's dental clinic in Bangkok on Tuesday, assaulting the man because three years ago he mistreated Somboon by leaving an infected tooth in his mouth and pulling a healthy one, police Lt. Prapas Yongsatar said.

Somboon claimed this alleged error led to weakness in his left arm and leg, and eventually he lacked the strength to paddle his ice cream tricycle cart, forcing him to stop working. Somboon was charged with attempted murder. Police were holding him in custody pending trial.

--AP 2005-10-19