6 Thai men arrested for attacking 2 foreigners during Songkran

Police arrested six Thai men for beating and stabbing two foreign men during the Songkran festival in the Isaan province of Roi Et on April 15.

Officers from Mueang Roi Et Police Station investigated the water fight event on Thewa Phiban Road at about 10.30pm on April 15 after receiving reports of a physical altercation. Two injured foreigners were rushed to the hospital by the rescue team before the police arrived while the attackers had already fled the scene.

Police reported that a 33 year old foreign man named Phi was a chef at a hotel in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen while the other foreigner was a 30 year old man named Shi who worked as a university professor.

Phi had bruises on his face while Shi had been stabbed in the waist. Their nationalities were not disclosed in the report, and their condition had not yet been updated.

After reviewing security camera footage, police identified and arrested six suspects yesterday, April 17, in Roi Et. One of the six suspects, a 19 year old Thai man named Rattaphum confessed to stabbing Shi on the day of the incident.

Rattaphum explained that he and his friends were initially enjoying a water fight at home and decided to join the festivities in the city centre. However, they encountered a traffic jam, preventing their car from moving.

According to Rattaphum, Phi and Shi were in an SUV behind them and honked a horn at their car. However, they could not move elsewhere because of the traffic. Phi and Shi then got out of their SUV and asked Rattaphum and their friends to move.

Rattaphum said he and his friend were angry and the gang attacked the foreign victims. Rattaphum claimed that he felt like one of the victims attempted to stab him. He claimed he found a knife on the road and stabbed Shi with that weapon.

Despite the alleged traffic congestion reported by Rattaphum, he and his friends successfully fled the scene following the assault.

All six suspects have been charged under Section 295 of the Criminal Law for physically assaulting others, and causing bodily harm. The potential punishment includes imprisonment for a maximum of two years, a fine of up to 40,000 baht, or both.