Korean Tourist Injured after Being Attacked by Baht Bus Drivers in Pattaya

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PATTAYA – Pattaya police chief Pol Col Apichai Kroppetch has told Thai Media that a 53 Year-old South Korean man was injured in a fight with songthaew drivers in Pattaya early on Sunday.

Tourist police who rushed to the scene on being informed of the incident found Hyon Soo-bae, 53, lying on the pavement, unable to move from an injury in the right leg reportedly inflicted during a beating he received in an argument over seating on a songthaew ( a pickup truck converted into a mini bus).

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A Thai woman accompanying Hyon’s said the quarrel started after the songthaew driver hurled abuse at Hyon for refusing to move further inside the pickup.

She said Hyon could understand the Thai language but did not follow the instruction because, as a big person, it was difficult for him to move around inside the vehicle.

When the Korean man decided to get off to walk away, he was reportedly attacked by a group of songthaew operators and a fight ensued. The tourist ended up lying on the footpath, while the attackers fled.

Police  checked the footage from security cameras in the area to help identify the attackers.

They were later identified as Kosol Meekhai, 25, and Prasit Butrdee, 29, according to Pattaya police chief Pol Col Apichai Kroppetch.

They were later arrested and Pol Col Apichai said they had confessed to beating the tourist.

Meanwhile, Pattaya Police raided a hotel, pub and restaurant owned by Luke Joshua Cook, 34, and his Thai wife in the Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri province at about 2am on Sunday.

The raid revealed that the hotel and pub was operating without a proper license and several foreign workers there did not have proper work permits. In addition, police found drug abuse and one of the workers also tested positive in a drug test.

Workers found violating the law were taken to Muang Pattaya Police Station for further legal action.

The raid followed the arrest of Cook and his wife at Suvarnabhumi Airport on December 10 on suspicion that they might have engaged in trans-border drug trafficking