Self-proclaimed prophet’s wrath descends on Phuket lottery shop

PHUKET: A man who claimed to be a prophet of the ‘God of the Sun’ was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital yesterday after turning violent at a lottery shop in Phuket Town.

Suktiporn Onsuwan, 45, claimed that the God of the Sun had divulged to him the winning lottery numbers on the auspicious day of the solar eclipse (story here). However, when he went to buy the tickets, the shopkeeper refused to sell them to him.

“The shopkeeper told officers that Mr Suktiporn was shirtless and acting very erratically, so he refused to sell him the tickets, telling him that he needed to wait for the owner to come back,” said Lt Sontaya Lookkliang of the Phuket City Police.

Mr Suktiporn became enraged, ripping up the lottery tickets on display, attacking the shopkeeper and punching nearby motorcyclists as they drove by.

“Rescue workers and police were able to restrain Mr Suktiporn and take him to the hospital for minor injuries received during his altercations and for psychiatric evaluation,” Lt Sontaya said.

Officers learned from locals that Mr Suktiporn lived in the area and suffers from epilepsy. He was admitted to the hospital last month when his episodes worsened.

“Locals told us that after he was released from the hospital, he started acting strangely,” said Lt Sontaya.

Police will continue to compile evidence and collect complaints, if any, against Mr Suktiporn from those involved in the incident.

— Winai Sarot