Australian man jailed for 15 days for motorcycle wheelie in Phuket
Locals question sentence and call for deportation
Thai police sentenced an Australian man to 15 days in prison for performing a motorcycle wheelie on a road in Phuket on April 27, in an apparent effort to demonstrate that no special treatment is given to foreign nationals in Thailand.
The 32 year old Australian, Daherwalid, went viral on Thai social media in April after images and videos of him lifting the front wheel of his motorcycle were shared by the Phuket Times. The incident reportedly occurred on Witsanu Road in the Rawai area of the province.
Officers from Chalong Police Station quickly launched an investigation to determine the man’s identity and arrested him on April 28.
The motorcycle involved was found to be a rented Honda Click 160. The owner of the rental shop was also summoned for questioning.
Daherwalid was charged under Section 43(8) of the Land Transport Act for reckless driving without regard for the safety or convenience of others. The offence carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a fine ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 baht, or both.
Police officers stressed their commitment to public safety, stating that no foreigners are above the law in Thailand.
The case was subsequently transferred to Phuket Provincial Court, where a verdict was delivered on May 5. According to Chalong Police Station’s official Facebook page, Daherwalid received a 15-day prison sentence for his dangerous behaviour. No fine was imposed.
However, several Thai netizens claimed that other news pages reported the Australian had secured bail and had his sentence suspended. They called on police to clarify the situation publicly.
Some critics also demanded the man’s deportation, arguing that a 15-day sentence was unlikely to reform his behaviour.
In a related incident, another foreign motorist was involved in a road rage altercation in Phuket on May 4. The man, believed to be a Russian national, was seen in a viral video slapping a Thai taxi driver in the face.
This individual also reportedly slammed on his brakes suddenly in an apparent attempt to cause a Thai van driver to crash into his vehicle. Local police have yet to take any action in response to this incident.
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