Canadian man held captive in fake Pattaya bar by 3 Thai women
A retired Canadian man issued a warning to others after being a victim of vicious assault and theft by three cunning Thai women in Pattaya.
The Canadian victim, Douglas, was led to a makeshift bar in Pattaya by the three Thai women where he was held captive and physically assaulted.
On Monday, March 10, Douglas returned to Thailand after several months away. Staying near Rompho Market in Jomtien, the 64 year old decided to head out alone despite the jetlag fatigue.
After visiting three bars close to each other, a ladyboy waitress confirmed that the women in her bar were freelancers, not regular employees.
A lady, who had smiled at Douglas on a previous visit, invited him to join her at another bar. They left together while the other women headed in a different direction, revealed the Canadian.
“They split up. There’s camera footage of them leaving and returning to the original bar. One lady I know a little was watching me from across the road.”
They walked for quite a distance, away from the familiar bar area. Douglas began to feel uneasy but was reassured by the woman, who insisted that they were near the bar, which was supposedly located upstairs.
“When we got to the second floor, it wasn’t a real bar. I told her I wanted to go home, but that’s when things started to go wrong.”
At that point, Douglas was physically restrained by the lady and a man who was with her.
“They sat me down and I knew something was wrong.”
Despite several attempts to leave, Douglas was physically assaulted by a man who had joined the women. He squeezed his face so tight that it gave him a black eye.
Douglas later discovered around 15,000 baht was missing from his wallet.
“I just wanted to go home but they had a motorbike waiting to take me back to one of the bars we were in earlier.”
After reporting the incident to the police, the response was disappointing.
“I was told there was little they could do.”
A female member of staff at one of the bars told Douglas that CCTV footage captured everything that happened to him that night. Below is their LINE chat conversation:
Douglas: There are ugly people here I’m shocked though how they can do this.
Bar staff: It’s up to the owner of the bar whether he agrees or not because he’s afraid it will reflect negatively on the bar. I’ll ask him for you. Then I’ll let you know later.
Douglas: Do you know about what time you saw me leave?
Bar staff: I have surveillance camera footage of when you left.
Douglas: Did you see me at a table there?
Bar staff: Yes, I saw three women take you somewhere and then come back. I saw everything that happened to you.
Police later uncovered CCTV footage of Douglas on a motorbike and the woman who had taken him to the fake bar.
“She said she was going to 7-Eleven to buy condoms but no footage has shown her either going to buy condoms or returning from 7-Eleven as she had claimed.”
Douglas requested footage from 7-Eleven but the store told the man that they would release it to the police only.
“The police accused me of lying. Now I am very confused. I don’t know whether I have been drugged because drink spiking and subsequent robberies of foreigners have become more prevalent in the area.”
The Canadian tourist expressed uncertainty about his recollection and was hesitant to make accusations.
Douglas has since returned to the Pattaya Police Station with a Thai friend and consulted a lawyer in an attempt to obtain a copy of the surveillance footage.
“This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I’m fully aware of the scams here in Thailand, but this one was organised and the people involved weren’t easy to identify. They weren’t regular employees.
“Despite the lack of assistance from staff, who refused to provide their names, and police slowly responding, and the conflicting stories. I know for a fact I was robbed by one or two of the people I was with and encountered from the time after leaving this bar and to my home.
“I am determined to pursue justice but concerned for my well-being. Even though I was a victim, I knew already how this would play out but reported it anyway. And I want to warn others going out alone at night to bars here. You will be emboldened to drink and spend which can make you the perfect target.”
Despite the lack of assistance from bar staff, who refused to provide their names or IDs, Douglas is determined to pursue justice.
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