Pattaya, Thailand – Two teenage suspects have been arrested after a knife attack and robbery at a guesthouse in South Pattaya left an Australian tourist injured and robbed of 6,000 Australian dollars.
Dispute After Invitation to Room
The victim, Alikosh Ghulam, told police he invited two people he thought were women into his room late Monday. When he realized they were transgender, a dispute broke out.
“I invited two people I thought were women into my room. When I noticed they were transgender, a dispute broke out.”
said Alikosh Ghulam, the victim.According to his account, one of them pushed him into the bathroom and stabbed him with a sharp object. The two then fled with his cash.
Arrest in a Condominium
Ghulam sought medical treatment and then filed a complaint with Pattaya City police. Officers launched a search and tracked the suspects to a condominium near the crime scene.The two were soon arrested. They were identified as Phi, 17, and Priew, 16, both minors.
Confession and Charges
The two suspects confessed to the attack. They were charged with armed robbery committed by two or more people and handed over to Pattaya City police for further legal proceedings.A pair of scissors and some cash were seized as evidence.
Pattaya Under Pressure
Police stated that incidents of this kind damage Pattaya’s image as a tourist destination. They referred to cases where transgender individuals target tourists.
“Incidents of this kind damage the image of Pattaya as a tourist destination. Crimes in private rooms are difficult to prevent, but we will pursue suspects as quickly as possible.”
said police.