A family run clothing shop in Nana is allegedly being terrorized by a gangster called the Black Tiger.
Sua Dam or Black Tiger and a number of accomplices have been striking fear into an elderly couple over a dispute involving pavement space.
Bob’s Fashion on Sukhumvit soi 3, which has been run by the same couple for 35 years, was the scene of intimidation and violence between the unruly thugs and elderly store owners.
”I told them that if they touched our stuff I would charge them with trespassing,” said Jazz Ratisatien, 38, the daughter of the store’s owner.
The dispute dates back to an agreement made between Jazz Ratisatien’s father, the store owner, and Ms Farida over the use of pavement space. Ms Farida was allowed to sell her merchandise for three years in front of the shop until Ms Ratisatien’s father asked for his piece of land back and Ms Farida refused.
Ms Ratisatien says that in Nana city inspectors, tesakij, charge THB500 per month for hawkers to use the pavement. Normally, the shop owner gets priority to rent the pavement in front of the shop. She showed a document that stated her parents had the right to the pavement space, for which they pay tesakij THB500 per month. She said tesakij kept records of all the street hawkers, detailing who owned which space and the payment, according to The Bangkok Post.
Ms Ratisatien believes Ms Farida hired the thugs to try to scare her parents.
The intimidation by the Black Tiger and his gang dates back to early January when they turned up at the shop wearing army jackets. As the men tried to clear merchandise from the stall on to the pavement a minor scuffle broke out, a glass was thrown at Ms Ratisatien’s mother, and Ms Ratisatien suffered a wrist injury.
The police were duly called and once on the scene they decided the best course of action was to have a chat with The Black Tiger, who claimed to be a military officer, and then leave without pressing charges.
Tong, a painter selling his art on the pavement space near Bob’s Fashion who witnessed the incident on Tuesday, said: ”The police normally don’t like to get involved. When there’s a dispute, you go to Seh.”
According to Tong, locals also refer to the Black Tiger as Seh Dam, Seh Daeng or just Seh and there is speculation he has military connections.
The legend of Seh is also picked up on by “Mama” who is a well known lady in charge of a group of prostitutes in Nana, she says whenever someone has a problem, they go to Seh, and then things can be arranged.
“Two weeks ago, a policeman and a soldier shot at each other inside a club,” Mama claimed. ”Then someone cleared it up.”
Was that someone Seh?
