4 Pattaya teenagers arrested for brutally attacking and robbing Belgian man
Police arrested four Thai teenagers yesterday, for brutally assaulting and robbing an 80 year old Belgian man in Pattaya on Christmas Eve, December 24.
A 38 year old Thai woman, Phonthip, alerted officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station and rescuers to assist the injured Belgian man, identified as 80 year old Richard Ander M. Van Bogaert, at a village in the Banglamung district of Pattaya. Bogaert sustained a deep cut to his head and had 7,000 baht in cash stolen.
Officers reviewed security camera footage and identified four suspects arriving at the scene on two motorcycles. The group immediately approached Bogaert, attacked him, and fled with the stolen cash.
The suspects were identified as 15 year old Arm, Crepe, and New, and 18 year old Ton. All four were apprehended yesterday at a rented room in the Banglamung district and police confiscated a 22-inch knife, clothing, and two motorcycles which were used in the crime.
The teenage suspects confessed to their actions, stating they had no personal conflict with the victim and were only seeking money. They admitted to using the stolen cash to compensate a car owner after Arm damaged the car in a motorcycle accident.
The suspects claimed they did not intend to cause serious injury and stated that, after the Belgian national refused to hand over his belongings, Crepe struck him on the head with a knife. They explained that the deep cut occurred accidentally when the knife’s sheath slipped off.
After committing the crime, the teenagers reportedly rode their motorcycles to the beach and spent some time there before returning home, where they were later apprehended.
Under Thailand’s Criminal Law, suspects aged 20 and above face imprisonment of five to ten years and a fine of 100,000 to 200,000 baht for committing theft through assault and using a vehicle to facilitate the crime. However, since these suspects are under 20 years old, their penalties will differ depending on the court’s consideration.
Many Thai citizens called for young offenders to be treated the same as adults, arguing that the violent nature of their actions is comparable to those of adult criminals.
A similar incident occurred in January when five Thai teenagers were arrested for fatally attacking a homeless woman, Buaphan Thansu, and abandoning her body in a pond in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo.
In that case, Buaphan’s husband was initially arrested and coerced into confessing to the murder, despite being innocent, and this incident sparked widespread debate about police transparency and the lenient treatment of teenage criminals.
ORIGINAL STORY: Belgian man brutally attacked and robbed in Pattaya on Christmas Day
In stark contrast to the festive spirits, a Belgian man suffered serious injuries after a group of six thieves brutally attacked him with a knife and robbed him in Pattaya earlier today, December 25, just as he was returning from a Christmas party.
A 38 year old Thai woman named Phonthip alerted officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station to the entrance of a village in the Banglamung district of Pattaya after a foreign man, covered in blood, sought help from her.
The victim was later identified as an 80 year old Belgian man named Richard Ander M. Van Bogaert. He sustained a deep cut to his head, prompting the police to call a rescue team to administer first aid before rushing him to a hospital.
The Belgian informed the officers that he lost his wallet, which contained 7,000 baht in cash, to six thieves. The thieves carried knives and reportedly attacked him. The Belgian man was forced to crawl along the street to seek help from the Thai woman.
Phonthip revealed in an interview with Channel 7 that Bogaert told her he had just returned from a Christmas Eve party. While he was walking to his accommodation within the village, the thieves, riding three motorcycles, approached him and carried out the assault, as he described.
Police have since set up checkpoints on routes where they believe the thieves may have fled. Officers are also reviewing security camera footage from the scene and surrounding areas in an attempt to track down the suspects.
According to officers, the motive for the assault has not yet been determined. It remains unclear whether the gang specifically targeted The Belgian victim for his valuables or if the attack stemmed from a previous dispute.
In a related incident on December 13, a Russian woman was robbed while walking her dog at a public park on Jomtien Second Road at around 5.30am.
The Russian victim reported that two men on a motorcycle approached her, snatched her bag, and sped away. The bag contained her gold earrings, a condominium key card, earbuds, 5,000 baht in cash, and personal documents.
The police have not yet released a statement regarding the arrest of the two thieves or any updates on the case.
