Crime
Foreign Tourists Attacked and Robbed in Southern Thailand
Youssef Benhatoun in the yellow shirt and Othmane Tigzirine in the black shirt during police interrogation in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Tuesday. Photo by Chaiwat Satyaem
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PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN – Police in Southern Thailand are investigating after two tourist one from Italy, and the other from Morroco were attacked and robbed near Sam Roi Yot National Park on Tuesday.
Youssef Bemhatoun, from Italy, and Othmane Tigzirine, from Morocco, told police they were attacked by three men who robbed them of their possessions including a rented motorcycle on a minor road in Sam Roi Yot district.
According to the Bangkok Post the two men, who are studying Thai kick-boxing in the Sam Roi Yot district, were heading back to their accommodation when they were attacked.
Police said they went to a beach on the motorcycle but on the way back they ran out of petrol and were pushing the motorbike when the three men on another motorcycle attacked and robbed them of valuables including 7,700 baht, credit cards and their passports.
The robbery was the latest in a series of high-profile tourist attacks in the province that have received foreign media attention since a British family was attacked during the Songkran holiday.
The incident on Tuesday prompted the Hua Hin/Cha Am Tourism Business Association to call a meeting yesterday to discuss the issue. Tourism Authority of Thailand officials also attended.
It was agreed more action was needed to ensure the safety of tourists.
Orasa Awutkhom, director of the Prachuap Khiri Khan tourism office, admitted this latest case would affect the country’s reputation.
Police Maj. Gen. Kritsana Jamsawang said we are sure we will be able to arrest the perpetrators soon and that a manhunt was under way to track down and arrest the robbery suspects.
