Russian man arrested in Phuket for teaching riding illegally

Phuket Tourist Police detained a Russian man for illegally working as a motorbike driving instructor in Kathu. Following a tip-off, officers initiated an investigation into motorbike-riding lessons advertised on Instagram.

Their inquiries led them to the now-defunct floating market’s parking lot in Kathu, where they apprehended 29 year old Roman Lazarev around 2.30pm yesterday.

Upon arrival, officers found Lazarev in the midst of teaching a Russian woman, equipped with a full-face helmet and protective clothing, how to ride a Honda Scoopy-i. After concluding the lesson, Lazarev wheeled the motorbike into a small room, where police discovered orange and red cones used for setting up the training course.

The woman disclosed to the police that she had paid 2,000 baht for the lessons, which spanned three days. She found Lazarev’s services through an online search.

Lazarev was subsequently taken to the Kathu Police Station and charged with working without a work permit.

The police noted that they had discovered other foreigners offering similar services online, reported Phuket news.

In related news, a Russian driver collided with a motorbike, leaving one dead. Local rescue services quickly arrived at the scene, finding the car’s front end heavily damaged. The driver, a 40 year old Russian national named Romasco, exhibited signs of intoxication. Nearby, a motorbike lay wrecked, with two severely injured Thai nationals, 28 year old Mukcharee and Boonpop.

Local police also responded, documenting the accident scene and gathering evidence, including photos and witness statements on the spot. They intend to review nearby CCTV footage to piece together a complete account of the events leading up to the crash. An alcohol test is pending to determine the driver’s level of intoxication at the time of the accident.