Two Phuket men were arrested Tuesday for assaulting and robbing a Finnish tourist, after one of them allegedly slashed at her arm with a knife during a snatch and grab theft.
The robbery happened on Jan. 9 when Mari Inkeri Ruohonen, 31, was walking with her husband in front of Kataturk Restaurant in Karon district.
Two men approached them and attempted to snatch Mari’s bag. However, when Ruohonen fought back one slashed her wrist with a knife, leaving her with a 25cm-long wound.
The thieves then ran off with her bag, which contained cash and other valuable items.
Following the report of the incident, police investigated and checked CCTV footage from the area, and yesterday arrested two men. Serm, 18, and Chai, 19, were apprehended at properties in Chalong and Phuket Villa 5 in Wichit, respectively.
Police seized one knife, camouflage shirt, two helmets and a Honda Scoopy from the pair.
“We questioned the driver, Serm, and he told us that he drove the motorbike that day and robbed the tourist with his friend Chai. It was Chai who got off the bike and assaulted the victim before snatching the bag,” police said.
Police said Serm and Chai admitted to the theft, saying they did it because they were high on kratom. They also told police that on Jan 9 they also attempted to rob a Chinese tourist in Soi Kedkwan in Karon. However, they failed so drove around town looking for another victim, which led them to Ms Ruohonen as she was heading back to her hotel.
The men were taken to Karon Police station to be charged.
Story: The Phuket News
