Director and security chief of Don Mueang suspended over assault of Chinese tourist

“Immigration police dismissed the tourist’s claim that immigration officials had demanded 2,000 baht from him for a visa on arrival in addition to the normal fee of 2,000 baht.”

The Director of Bangkok’s Don Mueang international airport, as well as the director for security, have been suspended from active duty for at least 30 days pending an investigation into an incident. It has been reported that a Chinese tourist was assaulted by a security guard last Thursday night.

The AoT announced the suspension for at least 30 days of Wing Commander Suthirawat Suwanwat, director of Don Mueang international and the director for security. They are being held responsible for the actions of a security guard who allegedly assaulted the Chinese tourist, Mr Mei Ji, at a restricted zone in the transit lounge while awaiting for a flight to China.

The security guard has also been suspended from active duty. Wing Commander Suthirawat, speaking to the media yesterday, says he felt sorry for the incident. He said he agreed to compensate the victim and, later on, would make a written apology to him through the Chinese Embassy.

AOT say that the outcome of the investigation of the incident would be sent to the Office of the Thai Civil Aviation for consideration.

The Chinese tourist in question arrived at Don Mueang on a Jakarta-origin flight on Lion Air and asked for a visa on arrival. But the immigration official rejected his request because he didn’t produce any document to confirm his accommodation in Thailand.

The tourist was later escorted to the restricted zone in a transit room for a flight back to China. However, it’s reported, he tried to sneak out of the restricted zone by mingling with other passengers, prompting a security guard to intervene. The confrontation ended up with the guard assaulting the tourist as shown on the video clip which was posted in the social media.

The Chinese tourist was eventually put on board a Lion air flight to Guangzhou, southern China, in early morning of September 28. Meanwhile, Pol Col Choengron Rimpadee, deputy superintendent of the immigration police dismissed the tourist’s claim that immigration officials had demanded 2,000 baht from him for a visa on arrival in addition to the normal fee of 2,000 baht.

SOURCE: Thai PBS