Frenchman files counter complaint after his arrest for assaulting Phuket man

A French national filed a counter complaint after being arrested on April 21 for allegedly assaulting a Thai man during Songkran celebrations in Phuket on April 12. The incident, which occurred outside Marine Plaza in Patong, drew public attention after the wife of 38-year-old Weerasak Madlee accused police online of failing to act on their initial complaint.

Dispute Over Sequence of Events

The Frenchman, detained by Patong police after social media footage surfaced, claimed Weerasak started the altercation. CCTV video shared online appears to show Weerasak throwing the first punch before the confrontation escalated.

The foreign national faces charges under Section 295 of the Criminal Law for physical assault, police said. Officers stated they are conducting a detailed investigation and will ensure both parties receive fair treatment.

Injury, Public Reaction, and Police Response

Weerasak’s wife reported that her husband was struck on the head three to four times with a water gun and required emergency surgery, spending two days in hospital recovering. She alleged on the Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต that a group of French nationals attacked her husband after he objected to being splashed with water.

Social media commentary has been divided, with some Thai users expressing support for Weerasak, arguing his reaction followed provocation. The Facebook page also criticized perceived disparities in police response to Thai and foreign victims.

Source: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/frenchman-arrested-for-assaulting-thai-man-in-phuket-songkran