Patong Police Chief Col. Tassanai Orarigdech said he is looking into the actions of a foreign man, believed to be German, who was recorded lying down on a sidewalk wearing just shorts and making himself comfortable in the gutter in Patong earlier this week.
The man’s behavior was brought to light after a video of him was posted on the Facebook page on “O Lai Thai” on Sunday, with Thai text reading, “Here in Patong, why do foreigners have to act like this?”
The Thai man recording the video was happy to tell passers-by in Thai that the man was drunk or on drugs, while telling others that he wasn’t sure if the foreign man was drunk or on drugs.
The passers-by just kept on walking, not seeming to care at all about the man lying on the sidewalk who did not seem to be distressed.
In the clip, the Thai man does ask the foreign man once in English to sit down while pointing to the front of a shop. His request is ignored and the foreign man moved instead to lay down in the nearby gutter.
Asked in English where the man was from, the foreigner replied, “Germany.”
Asked where the man’s hotel was, the foreigner replied, “The manager thinks that I’m crazy. He kicked me out.”
A police officer is seen approaching the man, but takes no action after the foreign man offers an overly respectful wai on all fours and returns to the footpath.
The Thai narrator then points out that the police officer made no effort to determine whether or not the man was in need of assistance.
The man recording the video also notes, “This is how foreigners get their kicks.”
The German Honorary Consulate in Phuket has been notified of the incident, and has requested that Patong Police ask the man – if they see him again – whether he requires assistance.
Story: The Phuket News
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