Thai man held for hit-and-run, drug, and overstaying in South Korea

A 36-year-old Thai man was arrested in South Korea after being involved in a hit-and-run accident and found to be overstaying his visa. The incident occurred on September 23 near Exit 4 of Dosan Station in Gwangsan District, when an electric scooter collided with a nine-year-old girl's bicycle. The girl suffered serious injuries, including the loss of one tooth and requiring surgery for another that was pushed into her gum.

According to South Korean media reports, the scooter rider and his companion allegedly left the scene without stopping to help the girl. The scooter was described as purple with a smiley sticker. The Thai man's father posted about the incident on an online community in an attempt to identify the pair. Police identified the rider as the 36-year-old Thai man, who was detained at Mokpo Police Station on September 28 on a drug-related charge.

The court ordered his detention on October 1. The man initially denied involvement in the hit-and-run during police questioning but later confessed. He was also found to have overstayed his visa and was riding the scooter without a license. The man claimed he left the scene to avoid being caught for other legal offenses. The woman traveling with him reportedly contacted the police and planned to surrender to officers.

The case has sparked disagreement among Thai online users, with some disputing the man's involvement in the accident and claiming he stopped to help the girl. The Facebook page that gathered information from South Korean media sources stands by its report, citing credible sources and asking those who dispute the account to provide official documents or other evidence.