SURAT THANI, THAILAND – A woman confronted a man in a petrol station toilet after discovering she was being secretly filmed, in a case that drew police action and widespread online attention.
Camera spotted in neighbouring stall
The 27-year-old Prae was returning from Songkran celebrations with companions when the group stopped at a petrol station in Baan Na Doem district. While using the toilet, she noticed a mobile phone protruding from the neighbouring stall and pointing in her direction.
At first she suspected a prank by someone she knew. When it became clear that none of her female companions were in the toilet area, the group called on the person inside the stall to come out.
Suspect emerges and confrontation follows
After about ten minutes, a young man left the cubicle. He claimed he had been hiding from other youths, an explanation that did not convince the women.
A physical altercation ensued, and staff at the petrol station eventually alerted the police. Bystanders filmed the scene, and the footage was later shared on the internet.
Confession at the police station
At the police station, the man confessed. He admitted to having secretly filmed the woman and said he had deleted the video. His mobile phone was seized and later destroyed.
During an on-site review of the device, the women found indications of deleted files and search terms suggesting a targeted interest in such recordings. The police recorded the incident in an official report.
Prae urges vigilance in public toilets
The woman, who said she had experience in self-defence, later spoke publicly about the incident. She advised other women to look out for suspicious objects in cubicles in public toilets and to immediately alert staff or the police if in doubt.
“Be alert to anything unusual in public restroom stalls and, if something feels wrong, contact staff or the police right away.”
said Prae, the woman who confronted the suspect.
The video of the confrontation spread quickly on social networks and was widely viewed in Thailand. It was also taken as an indication of a broader problem in public spaces.
Second case in Prachuap Khiri Khan
At the same time, cybercrime police in Prachuap Khiri Khan province detained another man. He was suspected of having collected and sold secretly recorded videos.
During a search, officers seized around 60,000 files. The case pointed to a large volume of potentially illicit material.
Both incidents underscored that violations of privacy in public facilities in Thailand were not isolated events. Authorities had stepped up enforcement in recent years, including through revisions to the Computer Crime Act, to address such offences more rigorously.