Police arrest Cambodian for raging fire at Pattaya ‘secret’ beach (video)

Police arrested a homeless Cambodian national yesterday under suspicion of starting a raging fire at a secret beach in Pattaya, eastern Thailand, on Monday night, causing damages amounting to 300,000 baht.

On Monday, 41 year old fisherman Teeraphat Iampinyo discovered a raging fire at a secret beach – mostly used by fishermen to sell fish and store equipment. The beach is located off Soi Naklua 18, near Wong Amat Beach.

The fisherman said the fire was blazing in four different spots, leading him to believe it was an arson attack. A witness told him he saw two homeless people at the scene earlier on.

The fire destroyed 300,000 baht’s worth of fishing equipment, said Teeraphat, who now can’t go out fishing to make a living. Another fire caused damage to the nearby Parody Art Museum.

Teeraphat added that a blaze had never happened in the area before. He said it was fortunate that the fire department responded quickly to prevent further damage. No one was reported injured by the fire.

Yesterday, officers from Pattaya Police Station arrested 30 year old Ra, a Cambodian national, living in the forest nearby, claiming that they have enough evidence to believe he is the arsonist, reports DailyNews.

At the scene of the fire at the museum, black stones were bizarrely arranged on the floor in a line. Inside Ra’s backpack, police found the same kind of stones. Police also found three lighters and a gas canister inside the backpack.

CCTV footage from the entrance to Wong Amat Beach and Parody Art Museum confirmed Ra’s presence at the scene on Monday night.

Superintendent of Pattaya Police Station Pol. Col. Thanapong Phothi said that officers would not be complacent in prosecuting Ra to prevent more damage to the community.

In other Pattaya news, a cute white lion cub sauntered out of a Chinese man’s house on Tuesday night, shocking residents.