CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – Police arrested a 28-year-old French man accused of spraying graffiti on the gate of a pizzeria in Chiang Mai and charged him with two offences, including payment of a fine and cleaning costs.
Social media post triggers investigation
A police investigation began after images circulating on social networks showed an unidentified man spraying graffiti on the gate of a pizza shop in Mueang Chiang Mai district. According to police statements, the incident took place at around 11 p.m. at the affected business.
Officers said the case drew public attention online and in the local community. Authorities added that the act risked harming the tourism image of Chiang Mai province.
Police chiefs order rapid manhunt
After receiving the social media information, senior police commanders instructed Chiang Mai city police to quickly identify and locate the suspect. They stressed that the incident touched local feelings and had become a matter of public interest.
An investigation team reviewed footage from CCTV cameras along the route to and from the restaurant. The images showed a foreign man walking from a hotel to the pizza shop and later returning the same way.
CCTV trail leads to Old City hotel
Investigators traced the route to a hotel on Phra Pok Klao Road in Tambon Si Phum, within Chiang Mai’s Old City. Checks at the hotel led officers to identify the guest as Daniel, a 28-year-old French national who had entered Thailand on a tourist visa.
Police said he presented himself to the officers when approached at the hotel. He was then taken to Chiang Mai city police station for further questioning.
Confession and claimed motive of “spray art”
During interrogation, Daniel admitted spraying graffiti on the pizzeria gate, according to police. He allegedly told officers that he liked spray art and used the paint he had brought with him when he saw the gate, believing his own spraying skills to be “beautiful.”
The graffiti consisted of the word “IMMA”, pronounced “imma,” as recorded in the investigation report. Daniel explained that the word meant “mother” in Hebrew and that he considered it an image or message in his personal style.
20,000-baht compensation demand
Police said Daniel expressed remorse for his actions and stated he was sad about what he had done, which he described as stemming from ignorance. The restaurant reportedly demanded 20,000 baht in compensation for the damage.
According to the police account, he agreed to pay the requested amount. He also consented to restoring the gate to its original condition and arranging for cleaning work.
Two charges under criminal and cleanliness laws
Officers laid two charges against the French national. The first was criminal damage under Section 358 of the Criminal Code, which provides for up to three years in prison, a fine of up to 60,000 baht, or both, for damaging or reducing the value of another person’s property.
The second charge referred to the Cleanliness Act of 1992, Section 12. That section prohibits writing or spraying text or images, including graffiti, on streets, walls, trees or buildings in public places without permission, and carries a fine of up to 5,000 baht.
Court appearance and cleaning to follow
After his arrest, Daniel was handed over to investigators for prosecution and held at Chiang Mai city police station. Police said he was to be brought before Chiang Mai Provincial Court the following day.
Following the court proceedings, he was expected to arrange the removal of the paint and further cleaning of the affected area, in line with the compensation and restoration agreement reported by police.