PATONG, THAILAND – Six foreign tourists filed a police complaint in Patong after a mobile app meeting allegedly escalated overnight, leaving them threatened, assaulted and short of about 30,000 baht.
Night-time complaint at Patong police station
Deputy investigator Pol Lt Chittawan Pengkaew from Patong Police Station said the group lodged their complaint at about 4:27 am. The six men stated they were visiting Phuket as tourists and staying in a rented house in Soi Khuan Yang in Patong.
According to police, the men described themselves as visitors and identified the address of the rented property where the incident occurred. Officers recorded their statements as part of the initial report.
App meetup and moment of discovery
The tourists told investigators they had invited a person they had contacted via a mobile application to their accommodation at about 12:30 am. In their complaint, they said the contact name on the app was listed as Thai Friendly.
However, once the guest arrived, the men said they realised the visitor was a transgender woman, and an argument then broke out. Police said the details of the dispute formed a central part of the tourists’ account.
More people arrive at the house
According to police, the person at the centre of the dispute then called several friends to the house. Shortly afterwards, about four additional transgender women arrived at the accommodation, based on the tourists’ statements to officers.
Investigators noted that the new arrivals were described as joining the initial visitor inside or around the rented property. Their alleged involvement is now a focus of the case.
Demand for 40,000 baht and assault allegation
The group then allegedly demanded 40,000 baht from the tourists, according to the complaint. When the men said they did not have the money, they were reportedly threatened and assaulted before the suspects searched the room.
The tourists told police that personal belongings and cash were targeted during the search. Officers said the complainants maintained they felt intimidated during the encounter.
Cash taken, suspects flee and CCTV review
According to the complainants, about 30,000 baht was taken during the incident, after which the alleged perpetrators fled. Police are now reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding area and along possible escape routes to identify the suspects.
Officers said they were tracing movements before and after the reported robbery. Footage from nearby cameras is being collected and compared with the tourists’ timeline.
Ongoing investigation and search for witnesses
In parallel, investigators are questioning people who may be connected to the incident in order to track down those responsible. Authorities said they were focusing on individuals who might have seen or interacted with the group on the night in question.
Police stated that their goal was to locate and arrest the people involved while continuing to clarify the sequence of events and the roles of each participant. The investigation remained open as officers worked to corroborate the tourists’ account with additional evidence.