The Phuket Kwaeng Court issued the warrant for Fehr’s arrest after he failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing on Monday (Apr 21).
The court appearance on Monday was to deliver the verdict in the appeal by Dr Thandao Chandam, a doctor at Dibuk Hospital, who had her criminal charges against Fehr for assault dismissed on Sept 3 last year due to lack of evidence.
Fehr was accused of kicking her in the back and verbally abusing her while she sat on the steps in front of his rented beachfront villa on Yamu Beach in Thalang on Feb 24, 2024.
Fehr had accused Dr Thandao of trespassing, but Dr Thandao, then 27, filed a physical assault complaint shortly after the incident, which was partially captured on video and widely shared online, sparking national outrage and demands for his deportation.
Public Prosecutors and Dr Thandao’s legal team, led by lawyer Nipit Intarasombat, jointly appealed the decision to have the case dismissed.
In a post online on Monday, Mr Niphit explained, “Today, the court was supposed to read the verdict from the appeal… but the defendant failed to appear. The Phuket Provincial Court has now issued an arrest warrant and postponed the reading to May 23, at 9am.”
“Fehr had received a court subpoena in advance, clearly stating that he was required to appear in person. Under Thai criminal law, defendants are required to appear in person for all hearings. He cannot send a legal representative on a criminal case,” Mr Nipit explained to The Phuket News today (Apr 23).
The court’s arrest warrant gives police the authority to find and arrest Mr Fehr for not showing up in court, he added.
Phuket Provincial Police have confirmed they have received the warrant, but declined to present a copy.
Phuket Provincial Police said the warrant had been passed to Thalang Police, since the incident happened there and Mr Fehr is currently living in that area.
However, Thalang Police Chief Pol Col Nikorn Chuathong told The Phuket News today that they have not yet received the arrest warrant.
“Once we receive the warrant, we will begin the search and take Mr Fehr into custody at the court,” Pol Col Nikorn said.
The incident involving Fehr last year also triggered a government investigation into encroachment on public land, as the staircase where the assault occurred was found to be illegally built and was later demolished.
While authorities have since ordered the removal of such encroachments, those matters are being handled separately from the ongoing criminal case.
“This is a criminal appeal filed after the lower court dismissed the case. There is no civil case involved,” Mr Niphit confirmed.
“Authorities are being handled separately and are not part of the criminal case that I am working on,” he added.
Immigration authorities previously launched a probe into Mr Fehr’s conduct, including allegations of firearm possession and visa violations.
However, any decision on deportation is expected to follow the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.