CHIANG MAI – Police have launched a severe crackdown on local nightlife venues after a British tourist was scammed out of nearly 150,000 baht during a night out. High-ranking regional commanders stepped in immediately to protect the northern capital’s vital travel industry from negative publicity.
The incident occurred when the heavily intoxicated tourist and his friends visited an unlicensed venue in the Old City area. According to financial logs, the business processed multiple rapid charges totaling roughly 124,000 baht on the visitor’s credit card and another 26,000 baht on his Thai wife’s debit card. The victim later filed a complaint at the Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station with his attorney.
Key Takeaways
- Full Refund Secured: The venue operators agreed to fully reimburse the victim the entire 150,000 baht to settle the dispute.
- Severe Penalties Issued: Police charged the venue with operating without a valid license, selling alcohol past legal hours, and proposed a mandatory five-year closure.
- Transport Crackdown Initiated: Authorities are launching a major initiative to regulate local tuk-tuk drivers who collude with scam venues.
High-Level Intervention and Venue Shutdown
Following the public outcry, Police Lieutenant General Krittapon Yisakorn ordered a comprehensive investigation into the establishment. Chiang Mai City Police chief Colonel Prachya Titsala directed senior patrol officers to bring the bar operators in for questioning.
While the business operators claimed the high bill resulted from hiring hostesses at 700 baht per hour, they ultimately yielded to avoid prison time. Because criminal violations occurred, police officially charged the venue with operating an entertainment space without permission and selling alcohol beyond legal hours. The department has officially submitted a request to shut down the venue permanently for five years under national regulations.
The investigation revealed a deeply concerning connection between the venue and local transport providers. Reports show that after the tourist paid a minor bill and left, a tuk-tuk driver took him back to the same venue while he was unconscious instead of driving him home to the Hang Dong district.
To eliminate these predatory practices, Chiang Mai police are organizing mandatory meetings for both independent transport workers and the official Tuk-Tuk Association. Drivers will face strict penalties if they transport tourists to venues without clear consent. Moving forward, local authorities plan to coordinate regular monthly transparency meetings with nightlife operators to enforce clearly displayed pricing structures.
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