Thai guard charged after video of him slapping foreigner over water bottle goes viral

A security guard at a nightclub in Bangkok's Phra Nakhon district in Thailand has been charged with assault after a video of him slapping a handcuffed foreign tourist went viral on social media.

Thai police have detained and charged the security guard, identified as Thongchai, with bodily assault. The incident occurred on 25 February when The Club Khaosan attendant told Thongchai that a foreigner had stolen a bottle of water. Thinking the bottle ws free, the man – who happens to be a famous YouTuber – admitted to taking the bottle when confronted by Thonchai.

An argument ensued between the two, and in the heat of the moment, Thongchai handcuffed the foreigner and slapped him twice in the face.

After the incident, the management of the nightclub has issued a public apology, saying a police complaint has been filed against the security guard, who has since been sacked for a serious breach of the company's regulations. It also promised to compensate the victim.

The management also said that it will provide additional training for their staff to improve the quality of their service.

Following the incident, the superintendent of Chana Songkram Police Station reminded all the bouncers in the area not to use violence in the conduct of their duty, saying that kind of behaviour will make tourists feel unsafe and put them off coming to Thailand.

Netizens criticised the pub for allegedly tarnishing Thailand’s reputation as a popular tourist destination, with some even advocating for harsher penalties to protect tourists from abusive behaviour such as this.

Marvin Joseph Ang is a news and lifestyle writer who focuses on politics, the economy, and pop culture. Follow him on Twitter at @marvs30ang for latest news and updates.

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