The incident, dating back to late last year, was recounted on a local social media channel yesterday (Mar 2). With Fehr being charged with assault for kicking a woman doctor in the back, the incident has gained widespread attention through Thai-language social media posts.
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According to the post, Fehr has threatened to press charges under the Computer Crimes Act for details of the incident being posted online.
The ambulance driver reported the incident at Thalang Police Station on Dec 25, confirmed Acting Second Lieutenant Wiboon Horbut of the Thalang Police.
The incident was reported as Fehr had obstructed an ambulance, but more importantly because the act of making the shape of a gun and threatening a person was considered a genuine threat.
The case was handed over to Pol Lt Col Thitiwat Asasingh, Deputy Inspector (Investigation) at Thalang Police Station, who recorded the complaint as received at 8:50pm.
THE INCIDENT
At the time of the incident, about 9:55am on Dec 25, the ambulance from Thalang Hospital was delivering vaccination injections to a mobile clinic being held at the Robinson Lifestyle Thalang shopping mall, beside the Heroines Monument.
As the ambulance was not conducting urgent business, the driver did not activate its warning lights or siren. At the Yee Teng U-turn on Thepkrasattri Rd, located south of the Heroines Monument, a black Audi with red licence plates driven by a foreigner cut in front of the ambulance.
The foreign driver made his hand in the shape of a gun as he passed by, then gave the ambulance driver the middle finger. He then lowered the window and said “F*ck you” at the ambulance driver.
The ambulance driver followed the black Audi, which could not escape as the lanes were blocked with traffic, while a video of the car was recorded to mark the incident.
The ambulance driver kept his distance to avoid any further confrontation, and when he reached the Heroines Monument turned left to enter the Robinson Lifestyle mall car park. After parking the vehicle, the video, which plainly identified the car and its licence plates, was posted online, spurred many angry reactions and comments..
After finishing work, the driver went to Thalang Police Station to report the incident.
TACTICS
On Dec 29, Fehr was contacted by police and a meeting was arranged for him to present himself at Thalang Police Station on Jan 3.
On Jan 3, Fehr arrived with his wife. After being informed by police that “what he did was wrong”, Fehr offered a wai as an apology, which the ambulance driver believes was not sincere, due to the expression on Fehr’s face.
Then on Jan 10, the ambulance driver was informed by Cherng Talay Police that a complaint had been filed over the video being posted online. The “other party” ‒ not specifically named as Fehr ‒ wanted the posts removed.
Fehr failed to present himself at Cherng Talay Police Station on Jan 11, but a senior police officer called on his behalf, questioning the status of the complaint about the video posted online. It was agreed to have the posts removed after being online for seven days.
Fehr did present himself at Cherng Talay Police Station on Jan 11, also with his wife, when through his lawyer he submitted a signed affidavit assuring that he, Fehr, would not engage in any similar behaviour again.
However, an argument ensued that saw Fehr storm out of the room. Calmed down by a senior officer, Fehr returned to offer yet another wai as an apology, also deemed to not be sincere.
The matter remained unresolved and on Feb 27 the ambulance driver was contacted by Cherng Talay Police and asked to come back to the police station. The driver replied that he was unable due to work. Those messages remain unread by the police officer, the ambulance driver said yesterday (Mar 2).
Following the resurfacing of the ambulance incident in the media fallout of Fehr’s role in the ‘doctor kicking’, posts online claim that the incident has been resolved, with compensation, which the ambulance driver yesterday strongly denied.
As of yesterday afternoon (Mar 2), Thalang Police were coordinating with Cherng Talay Police over the incident. The ambulance driver has been asked to withdraw his complaint, but has been advised that he is also free to let it stand.