Tulsi joins the party of Common Sense

[Lite Beer]

Drunken Dane fails Phuket bar test

SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS: Two students sit outside the European Bartender School in Patong.

The tuk-tuk and motorcycle drivers near Tai Pan lent a hand in making the 'citizen's arrest'

PHUKET: A group of young foreigners out celebrating their graduation from the European Bartender School in Patong received a lesson in Phuket bar etiquette this week when one man was chased down and “vigorously apprehended” by tuk-tuk and motorcycle taxi drivers.

The objection among the drivers was the rough treatment given to a Thai barmaid following a disagreement late Thursday night over the bill at the Ice Bar, off Soi Bangla.

Following the altercation, the Thai woman involved was taken to Patong Hospital to receive treatment for injuries, and a doorman at the Tai Pan nightclub saw two foreign men running into Soi Sunset, at about midnight.

“They ran into the soi, which is a dead end, chased by more than 10 Thais, including police and a few Thai girls. After about half an hour, one of the two men was led away by police. He had blood on his face,” the doorman told the Phuket Gazette.

The man, from Denmark, was arrested and held overnight at Patong Police Station.

Police Duty Officer Teerasuk Boonsang said the man, whom he declined to name, was released the next day.

“They were really drunk at that time. The Dane didn’t want any problems with this as he and his friends had just finished the course and are supposed to leave soon,” he said.

“Mediation between the parties at the police station was successful and finished at about midday [yesterday], so the case will not go to court. It was agreed [the Dane] would pay for the girl’s medical treatment and damages to the bar,” the policeman said.

The Danish man also reportedly needed treatment for minor injuries sustained in the “citizen’s arrest,” he added.

However, a staff member at the school told the Gazette, “I have heard different stories. I was told that the foreigners did not hit the ladies. They wanted to get out of the bar so they pushed them.

“But one lady was pushed onto the floor and they ran out of there – and then later one of the guys was caught in a dark alley and beaten up by some Thai guys. That’s all I know,” he said.

“They have been here for four weeks, and they were heading out for a good time. I am not saying the 'students' are innocent, but it seems many people got excited,” he said.

“Everything was a big misunderstanding and got out of hand. We do not have any hard feelings against the Ice Bar because we think it’s cool. I always take my students there.

“I know they are a little upset, but I hope they don’t have any negative feelings toward us. It was just a big misunderstanding,” he added.

“We can’t condone any violence against tourists, but some foreigners who come here get what’s coming to them. We are very grateful to the motorcycle drivers for what they did,” he added.

The owner of the Ice Bar said he was also happy to leave the incident in the past.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/detail.asp?fromsearch=yes&Id=11110

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-10-02

[richard_smith237]

Disagreement with the Bill.... Objected to being over charged ?

Thai woman pushed to the ground..... a woman blocked their exit after they paid what they believed to be the correct amount and didn't want any further trouble. She fell to the ground when she got in the way.

The Danish men ran... because they were threatened.

Citizens arrest.... ???... <deleted>... a bunch of local thugs used any excuse to exercise violence against westerners.

Thai woman taken to hospital for needing treating for her injuries.... she embellished or exaggerated an injury in the hope of extorting money from the two Westerners.

The Danish man also reportedly needed treatment for minor injuries sustained in the “citizen’s arrest... They were beaten up by thugs !

"We can’t condone any violence against tourists, but some foreigners who come here get what’s coming to them"... I actually agree with this statement to a certain degree - but all too often in Phuket violence is the only course of action, simply call the police and have them escorted from the bar, if the tourist continue to play up, arrest them. This is never a job for motorcycle drivers and thugs...

This report is heavily one sided. While I have guessed at a lot of the interpretation from the repot, being a realist allows for what may be a reasonable opinion that all this started from an attempted scam / rip off when the bar attempted to 'pad out' the bill and the Danish spotted it and objected.

[ScubaBuddha]

However, a staff member at the school told the Gazette, “I have heard different stories. I was told that the foreigners did not hit the ladies. They wanted to get out of the bar so they pushed them.

Yep. Two sides to every story, and this report is of one side. Be very interesting to hear the other side. A disagreement between tourists and Thai's so the tuk tuk/taxi drivers attack the tourists, same as they have done countless times before. No driver had any intent on arresting anyone, just getting in a few good cheap shots. Pack mentality immune to the laws. Seen this exact thing with my own eyes on Bangla. Same as always. Disgusting.

[ScubaBuddha]

Oh, and btw, it is almost certain that several in this mob of tuk tuk/taxi drivers are the same ones that beat Mr. Trentnow within an inch of his life last month. No arrests in that gang beating either. The sheer number of witnesses refusing to give statements to the police is a good measure of the fear the taxi mafia instills in the people on Phuket. And police cameras? "Not functioning" http://www.thephuketnews.com/news-local-attackers-who-put-german-in-coma-still-sought-by-phuket-police--27080.php

[snamos]

I think the word they yell out is "maa noo" which means dogfight, and the locals will all run to that call, after speaking with my girlfriend about this she confirmed that it is quite normal for Thai men to get involved in this type of behaviour.... So if you here that word your in for a good beating, i would suggest to run.

[Xonax]

We will probably soon hear the other side of the story, after the foreigners are safe back home, and have contacted the local media about this incident!

[Boater]

We will probably soon hear the other side of the story, after the foreigners are safe back home, and have contacted the local media about this incident!

i think that will be the case, again they should ARREST the thai men, regardless of what these boys did, they should take the law into thier own hands, ok a citizens arrest is ok, which involves detaining the subject, not beating two barrels of shit out of the them !

with all that is going on in phuket, i wouldnt be surprised if Sky One or Bravo pick up on this and do another ' Brits Abroad ' or ' Phuket Uncovered ' TV show !

[Payboy]

It was just a big misunderstanding.

Yeah right.