PATTAYA, THAILAND – A pre-dawn dispute between two transgender women and an Indian tourist on Pattaya Beach Road was settled on the spot without a formal police complaint.
Incident in the early morning hours
According to eyewitnesses, the confrontation occurred at about 5:06 a.m. near Soi 13/4 on Pattaya Beach Road. Two transgender women reportedly followed a foreign visitor and shouted after him, drawing the attention of passers-by.
Witnesses stated that the pair accused the man of refusing to pay after alleged sexual services. Both women were reportedly naked, which further intensified the public attention to the scene.
Intimidation attempt and payment demand
Onlookers said the two women loudly demanded payment from the tourist and prevented him from leaving the situation. Several bystanders recorded parts of the incident on their phones.
The scene quickly attracted more spectators, some of whom feared the conflict might escalate. They continued filming to document what was happening along the busy Beach Road.
City official Anuchart Kotmad intervenes
Pattaya city official Anuchart Kotmad (59) noticed the disturbance and stepped between the parties. He later reported that the tourist claimed he had been harassed, while the women insisted on outstanding payment for companionship that was said to have taken place earlier in a nearby hotel.
To de-escalate the situation, Kotmad obtained towels from nearby vendors and used them to cover the women before continuing the discussion. This action helped calm the atmosphere and allowed talks about a possible settlement to proceed.
Settlement without police involvement
With the support of other people at the scene, all parties agreed that the tourist would pay 1,000 Baht to each woman. After the payment was made, they went their separate ways and the dispute did not escalate further.
Neither the tourist nor the two women filed a police complaint afterwards. The incident therefore ended without any immediate legal proceedings or formal charges.
Legal questions remain unresolved
It remained unclear whether authorities would later consider charges related to public indecency or activities linked to prostitution. Both are prohibited under Thai law, but enforcement in everyday life was described as inconsistent.
The case fell into a legally ambiguous area, as the settlement was negotiated without direct police involvement. Such a private payment did not necessarily rule out later investigations by relevant authorities.
Reactions and impact on the city’s image
Local voices warned that incidents of this kind in one of Pattaya’s most visited tourist zones could damage the city’s reputation as a safe travel destination. Footage shared on social media was seen as increasing pressure on officials and business operators along Beach Road.
City staff and police regularly faced the challenge of balancing law enforcement with the protection of the tourist environment that is central to Pattaya’s economy. The incident highlighted ongoing tensions between maintaining public order and preserving the city’s image for visitors.