Phuket’s Biggest Stories From the Past Week: At Least 33 Foreigners Arrested, and More

Hello, Phuket Express Readers and Supporters!

The following is our weekly feature in which we highlight the top local stories in our area of Phuket from the past week. The number of stories differs from week to week.

These are chosen and curated by our editorial team and are designed for our readers to get a quick “catch-up” of important stories they may have missed. We publish many stories daily and it is easy to lose track of important events or changes in our area. We do national recaps in a separate article, this is only the top local stories in Phuket.

They are in no particular order of importance but roughly in order of publishing. These are from Monday, March 4th to Sunday March 10th, 2024.

1. Over 500 local residents gathered at Ya Mu Beach in Phuket to demonstrate against a Swiss national, Mr. David, who allegedly kicked a female doctor.

Some of the protesters also claimed that Mr. David had previous issues and problems with neighbours and locals well before this recent incident leading.

2. Stairs at the villa that had encroached to the Yamu Beach where a Thai doctor was allegedly kicked by a Swiss expat in a viral incident were demolished.

The owner of the luxury villa project used a backhoe to demolish the stairs of the villa and some structures in the villa area that encroached on the beach.

3. Mr. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, the Deputy leader of the United Thai Nation, publicly revealed after visiting Phuket last week to inspect and gather information regarding an allegation of foreign mafia gangs in the area.

Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior added that any sort of influential person with bad influence, Thai national or not, needed to go if they were not following the law and did not have good intentions.

4. A Swiss Expat in Phuket at the center of a viral alleged kicking incident has been bailed but he is being banned from working and leaving Thailand.

The Phuket Immigration has approved for a 30 day bail. However the bail is under conditions.

5. Mr. Sophon Suwannarat, the Phuket Governor, held a press conference regarding the case progress of Mr. David, a Swiss expat who allegedly attacked a Thai female physician.

Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul issued an urgent order to the Phuket Governor to return to Thailand who reportedly was participating in a tourism event in Germany.

6. There were 33 foreigners who have been arrested in Phuket after a viral alleged kicking incident involving a Swiss expat who dominated Thai media in the past week.

However, no foreign mafia was found, according to the Phuket Police Commander.

That’s it for this week. Be safe!