2 foreigners caught pulling police-seized motorcycle in Phuket (video)
A viral video surfaced yesterday showing two foreigners ignoring a Thai police wheel clamp and legal consequences, as they pulled a police-seized motorcycle along a road in Phuket.
The video, shared on Facebook by a Thai man named Somsak Lerchai, quickly gained attention. In his caption, Somsak sarcastically remarked, “Wheel lock doesn’t work with Grade A tourists. #OneDayButThousandsSituations.”
In the footage, one of the foreign men can be seen sitting on the red motorcycle to steer it while the other pulled the vehicle by holding onto the police’s lock chain.
The incident yesterday, December 18, which occurred on Thawewong Road in the Patong sub-district of Kathu district, left local vendors and tourists puzzled as they watched the duo’s actions.
Somsak explained to DailyNews that he was drawn to the scene by the loud protests of taxi drivers, who were shouting at the foreigners.
The drivers reportedly warned the pair not to move the vehicle, as it was under police custody for being parked in a prohibited area. However, the foreigners ignored the warnings and continued dragging the motorcycle along the road.
Somsak’s video received nearly 130 reactions and was shared almost 4,000 times. Many locals took to the comment section to criticise the leniency of Thai law in dealing with foreigners, with some alleging that legal penalties could easily be avoided with bribes.
“They said, ‘We’re not afraid of the police; we have money.'”
“That’s considered damaging public property.”
“Feel sorry for the owner of this rental motorcycle.”
“Hope the police won’t prioritise bribes over enforcing the law.
This incident is not an isolated case. In April, another foreign motorcyclist was caught cutting a police wheel clamp chain on Phang Nga Road in Phuket. He even gestured quietly at a Thai man who was recording the act, urging him to keep his act secret.
In March, yet another foreigner in Phuket was seen repeatedly striking a police wheel lock chain with a rock to free his motorcycle before driving away.
Under Thai law, the two foreigners in this latest incident are expected to face a fine of up to 1,000 baht for parking in a prohibited area. Additionally, they may be charged under Section 358 of the Criminal Law for damaging public property, which carries penalties of up to three years in prison, a fine of up to 6,000 baht, or both.
