Dutch tourist slashed by deranged vagrant in Krabi

PHUKET: A Dutch tourist is recovering from neck lacerations sustained in a knife attack by a homeless drifter in front of a McDonald’s outlet in Krabi.

Krabi Police raced to the scene at Ao Nang Beach yesterday morning.

When they arrived shortly after 11am they found 29-year-old Dutch tourist Reiner Fleaf lying on the sidewalk in a pool of his own blood. He suffered a deep cut to the back of his neck measuring 20 centimeters long and about 2cm deep.

Mr Fleaf was rushed to Krabi Hospital, where he arrived in stable condition and has since been released.

According to eyewitness accounts, the attack appeared to be completely unprovoked.

“Mr Reiner Fleaf was on his way to look for something to eat. He left the hotel and started looking for a restaurant. Some witnesses saw a deranged-looking man run up behind him and use a knife to slash the back of his neck before running away,” said Lt Col Thongchai Sengrod, an investigator with the Muang Krabi District Police

Fearing more attacks, police staged a manhunt that ended at 3pm the same day with the arrest of 33-year-old Sompong Kongpiphit, known locally as “Bang Mhan”.

Originally from the border town of Padang Bezar in Songkhla, Mr Sompong’s wild hair and filthy clothes matched eyewitness descriptions, which said he appeared to be mentally ill.

Whether the result of mental illness or sheer stupidity, the suspect made no effort to dispose of the weapon he used to attack the Dutchman or any other incriminating evidence.

“We arrested Bang Mhan as he walked along Ao Nang beach. He was holding a knife ten centimeters long. His hands were still covered with blood. He spoke as if confused, like he didn’t know what was going on,” said Col Thongchai.

The attack was not the first by the vagrant.

“After we arrested Bang Mhan, we received a report that he had slashed the head of a Burmese worker in the Ao Nang area just a few days earlier,” he added.

Bang Mahn is now being held in a cell at Muang District Police Station, where officers are preparing assault charges against him.

Col Thongchai said he expects the court to order a full psychiatric evaluation as part of the justice process in this case.

— Warisa Temram