Finnish tourist behind bars after Phi Phi pub row

PHUKET: A Finnish tourist is being held at Krabi Provincial Prison pending charges of causing bodily harm after he allegedly struck a female bar manager over the head with a beer bottle just south of Phuket on Phi Phi Island.

Ms Saen Chinno (originally reported as “Jeen-no”), the 29-year-old manager of Breakers Bar on Phi Phi Island, suffered a serious head injury and was transferred to Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Phuket Town, where she arrived at 9am last Friday and was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Lt Wissawa Sanaeha, the officer at Phi Phi Island Police Station in charge of the case, named the Finnish tourist as Jake Petri, aged 31.

“He arrived on Phi Phi with his girlfriend [also from Finland] about a week ago, and the incident happened on his first night on the island,” Lt Wissawa said.

“Mr Petri and Ms Saen became embroiled in an argument at the Slinky Bar at about 2am. Both of them then left the bar, where they continued to argue. Mr Petri struck Ms Saen, and then ran away,” he said.

One of Ms Saen’s female friends grabbed Mr Petri’s girlfriend so she could not escape, Lt Wissawa explained.

“She told her to phone Mr Petri and get him to come back. So the girlfriend called him and convinced him it was best to turn himself in.

“He did. We kept him here at the police station for two days and then transferred him to Krabi Provincial Court, where he was taken into the court’s custody,” Lt Wissawa added.

“We are aware of the case. We are still waiting for the investigation to close before we present this to the court,” Sub Lt Wattanapan Umal, an inspector of Krabi Provincial Police, told the Phuket Gazette

Bail has yet to be set, the Gazette was told.

Hospital staff told the Gazette today, “Ms Saen underwent a successful operation. She has now been discharged from the ICU and is in a general recovery room.”

— Orawin Narabal