PHUKET, THAILAND – A French couple was arrested over a sex video filmed on a public beach in Kamala and given the maximum fine, while immigration officials reviewed their visas and a possible deportation.
Video goes viral and triggers police response
Authorities said the investigation began after a video surfaced online and spread quickly through local networks. The footage reportedly showed the couple having sex on a public beach in the Kamala subdistrict of Kathu.
Officials stated that they acted promptly once the material went viral. The case came at a time when public patience with the misconduct of foreign visitors in Thailand had been visibly declining.
Arrest in Patong and identification of suspects
Officers from Kamala Police Station arrested the two on Thursday at around 9 p.m. in a hotel in the Patong area. The arrest followed the identification of the individuals based on the widely circulated recordings.
According to police, the suspects were Halan (24) and Nadia (24), both French nationals. Authorities said the pair admitted to the act during questioning.
Charge: “indecent act in public”
Investigators reported that the incident took place at Layi Beach, a location clearly visible to the public. The sexual act was said to have occurred within sight of other tourists and beachgoers.
Several witnesses reportedly observed the scene and filmed it with mobile phones. Officials viewed the high visibility and the presence of onlookers as an aggravating factor in assessing the offence.
Maximum fine imposed; criminal case closed
Police brought charges for committing an indecent act in public, an offence punishable by fines under Thai law. Both individuals received fines of 5,000 baht each, which officers described as the maximum penalty allowed for this charge.
With the fines imposed, the criminal aspect of the case was considered concluded. No additional criminal charges had been reported, and no further sanctions beyond the fines had been imposed at that stage.
Immigration weighs visa revocation and deportation
The case was passed to immigration authorities, who began reviewing the couple’s visa status. Officials indicated that the revocation of their visas was being considered, which could lead to deportation.
A final decision had not yet been announced and the procedure was ongoing. Police also stated that the two had cooperated during arrest and processing; no further personal details or information about the length of their stay were released.
Signal for tourist destinations like Phuket
Authorities underlined that public indecency was a criminal offence in Thailand and that laws would be enforced regardless of nationality. They warned that such behaviour in heavily visited tourist destinations like Phuket could damage the public image of the region.
Officials urged visitors to respect Thai laws and local customs and to behave appropriately in shared public spaces. Police also announced that they would continue to monitor public areas and take tips from the population seriously.
Reference case: Tuk-Tuk sex video brought tougher outcome
Officials pointed to a similar incident in early February involving French nationals. In that case, an online video allegedly showed sex taking place in a Tuk-Tuk in the city, and those involved were initially fined 5,000 baht each as well.
According to reports, the matter did not end with the fines in that earlier case. Immigration ordered a new arrest and deportation, demonstrating that in repeated or highly publicised incidents, an escalation of measures by authorities was possible.