Swedish tourist beaten up by Patong tuk tuk driver and friends

PHUKET: A tuk tuk driver and four accomplices were arrested yesterday for ganging up on a Swedish tourist and beating him unconscious in Patong in the early hours of Monday morning.

Police responding to reports of the beating found Frederik Gustav Wilhelm Erikson Holm, 32, lying unconscious at the end of Soi Bangla at 3.45am. He was sent to Bangkok Phuket Hospital for treatment.

“According to witnesses, Mr Holm appeared drunk when he staggered out of Soi Bangla onto the Patong beach road and began arguing with tuk tuk driver Natee Det-oop, 27,” said Phuket Tourist Police Chief Maj Naruewat Puthawiro.

“The pair came to blows and then several other locals joined in to help the tuk tuk driver. Mr Holm was knocked unconscious and fell to the ground.”

Police soon arrested the suspects after reviewing CCTV footage. The four who came to the aid of the tuk tuk driver were named as Yosphat Chaona, 21; Sompong Wichienrat, 29; Jirawat Pratumchat, 34; and Busaron Kalupae, 28.

Police charged the five with assault.

Mr Holm’s injuries were not serious and he was later discharged from hospital.

— Kongleaphy Keam