UPDATE: Phuket hotel trainee files police complaint over alleged chef assault

A 20-year-old university student identified only as Bee has filed a complaint with Patong Police Station, alleging that a chef assaulted her while she was completing an internship at a hotel in Phuket.

Bee said she began the placement on July 1 with two classmates and that the chef was her workplace supervisor. She told reporters that, on July 18, she was completing another task when the chef became upset over a delay in serving rice.

According to Bee, the chef struck her arm with a spatula and slapped her twice, leaving her feeling dizzy. She said the incident was recorded on CCTV and witnessed by several hotel workers, and that she shared the footage with several news outlets.

The original report described the chef as slapping the student and throwing a ladle at her. The newer account describes a spatula being used to strike her arm. The difference in the descriptions has not been independently clarified.

Bee also alleged that the incident was not the first during her internship. She said the chef had previously criticised her over undercooked rice and forced her to eat it, despite colleagues attempting to intervene.

The student said her university ended its internship programme with the hotel following the alleged assault, and that she and the two other students left the placement. According to Channel 8, police have charged the chef in connection with the alleged physical assault and are considering whether further charges may be appropriate over the allegation involving the undercooked rice.

The chef has not been publicly identified. The hotel had not issued a public statement on the allegations at the time of the report. The claims have not been independently verified.