Couple attacked on bypass road

RASSADA: A Phuket man was beaten and blasted by a shotgun when he and his wife were attacked by a motorbike gang on the bypass road early on Monday morning. K. Chatchai Chuenjitsoonthorn, 26, was taken to Vachira Hospital where he is still recovering from his injuries. His condition is reported as not life threatening.

Lt Theeradet Jiraksa, Duty Officer at Phuket City Police Station, told the Gazette that Chatchai and his wife Maliwan were riding their motorbike home after a late-night meal when they stopped for a red light at the Tesco-Lotus intersection about 1:30 am.

While they waited, about 20 youths on about 10 motorcycles pulled up around them. K. Maliwan reported that the group of riders, incensed by the way K. Chatchai looked at them, started to follow them, Lt Theeradet explained.

The gang hurled insults and beer bottles at K. Chatchai, eventually causing him to lose control of the motorbike and fall off. The gang then pulled up around the couple, and about six youths dismounted their bikes and started beating K. Chatchai while the rest looked on.

K. Chatchai hit one of the youths, who in retaliation pulled out a sawed-off shotgun and fired into K. Chatchai’s side. The gang then fled, leaving K. Chatchai by the side of the road.

K. Maliwan sustained minor injuries in the fall but was otherwise unharmed.

The couple identified the shooter from police photographs. A warrant for the arrest of a Phuket youth has been issued, Lt Theeradet said.