Seven teens detained over attack on Japanese tourist in Bangkok

Yesterday, August 13, 2023, police detained seven teenagers aged 13 to 17 in Bangkok's Din Daeng district in connection with an attack on a Japanese tourist near Makkasan Airport Rail Link Station. The assault took place the previous night, on August 12. The victim, a 43-year-old man named Yuki, recounted that a group of teenagers first communicated with him in Thai before demanding money in English.

Allegedly, the group prevented him from leaving and attacked him, causing injuries to his mouth before fleeing with his credit card.

Police investigators from Makkasan and Din Daeng stations apprehended all seven teens at an accommodation in Din Daeng district around 7:20 PM. During initial questioning, all seven teenagers provided similar accounts of the incident, asserting they used only their fists during the attack and refrained from using any weapons. Some of the teens allegedly carried knives at the time but claimed they did not draw or utilize them during the occurrence.

The group informed officers they collected 1,400 baht and divided the money equally, receiving 200 baht each. They stated that all the money had since been spent.

According to their statements, the teenagers frequently approached strangers to request money in a similar manner, with most encounters not causing issues. However, they claimed the Japanese tourist refused to hand over money on this occasion, leading to the assault. A multidisciplinary team will question the minors today, August 14, as part of the ongoing investigation. Police will subsequently evaluate charges and pursue further legal actions.