The men, 36-year-old Hamish Day and 38-year-old Oscar Mattson Day, were initially pulled on traffic violations before attacking the officer that was cautioning them by wrestling him to the ground and taking his firearm.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:50pm yesterday in Chalong while Pol Lt Somsak Noo-iad was stationed road side on Chao Fa East Rd conducting traffic duties.
Officer Somsak noticed the two Kiwi men speeding on their motobikes and so gestured for them to pull over, a command they completely ignored before carrying on their journey.
Officer Somsak subsequently chased after them before he was able to get them to stop at the side of the road nearby the popular dining establishment Kitti Duck Noodle Shop, next door to the Stadium Cafe.
When officer Somsak approached the men to reprimand them they responded with anger before wrestling the policeman to the floor. A tussle ensued when Lt Somsak reached for his gun as one of the men managed to grab it from him and a shot was fired, while the other man snatched officer Lt Somsak’s phone.
Additional officers from Chalong Police Station were soon at the scene to lend assistance and managed to apprehend the two assailants before taking them to the station for questioning and to be charged.
The two Kiwi men stand to face charges of “jointly stealing property, jointly fighting or obstructing officials in the performance of their duties, jointly assaulting officials in the performance of their duties, jointly attempting to bribe officials and driving without a driver’s license.”
Although not specifically stated in the official police report of the incident, it appears Lt Somsak had discovered neither of the Kiwi men had a driver’s licence when they were stopped and they had potentially offered a bribe which he declined and which resulted in their angry response. This reasoning is made as per the charges stipulating the absence of driver’s licences and the subsequent offer of a bribe to an officer of the law.
It was not stated in police reports whether the two men were tourists visiting Phuket or residents here. Similarly, it was not disclosed who had recorded the photographic evidence of the attack which accompanied police reports and which has since surfaced on several social media channels.
The latest incident came only days after Singaporean national Lim Jia Jie was apprehended for driving his motorcycle in Cherng Talay without a helmet or license.
When reprimanded by police and issued with a fine, Lim threw the money in the police officer’s face before punching him in the back of the head. Lim was subsequently charged for his outburst.
Prior to this was the high-profile incident of Swiss national Urs Fehr allegedly kicking a female Thai doctor outside his rented villa at Cape Yamu which saw his visa revoked and his business dissolved.
Fehr was classed as a “threat to society” following a police investigation report and his case handed to the Phuket Prosector for further review and action.
The foundation behind Fehr’s business, the Green Elephant Santcuary Park in Cherng Talay, was also officially dissolved by authorities who came down heavily on the man for his conduct.
Fehr’s behaviour stirred up much dissatisfaction among local Phuket residents and has led to increased scrutiny on the legaility of foreigners based on the island with a spate of arrests made of late and senior tourist police and immigration officials visiting the province last week in an effort to impart order.