Yousefi Soroush (37 years old) and Nikhil Manjayya Ganguli (35 years old) were arrested at around 4am yesterday (Mar 28) near Loma Circle in the northern part of Patong. The men were tested for alcohol and consequently charged with drunk driving.
Oddly enough, both Mr Soroush and Mr Ganguli hail from the Islamic Republic of Iran, where alcohol consumption is legally prohibited with severe consequences ranging from flogging and fines to potential imprisonment.
According to Iranian law, Muslim citizens are not allowed to consume alcohol at any circumstances, only officially recognized non-Muslim minorities may produce alcoholic beverages for their own consumption and religious rites.
In Thailand, Mr Soroush and Mr Ganguli will face a maximum of one year in jail and/or a fine of B5,000-20,000 baht if it is their first offense. For a second offence within two years, the repeat offender faces up to two years in prison and/or a fine of between B50,000-100,000.