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29.09.09 Crowd batters thieves at Phuket's Roy Fest
The Roy Fest music festival on Phuket's Karon Beach attracted a crowd of at least 10,000 over two nights.
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KARON,
PHUKET: Chalong Police officers had to defend three suspected thieves
who were set upon by revelers at Phuket’s otherwise highly successful Roy Fest concert on Karon Beach. The attack took place in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Karon
village chief Winai Chitchiew said the three suspects, Wittaya
Khahapana, 30, Rachet Harun, 25, and Manusak Kobthing, 20, were all
injured in the incident.
Three of the thieves' victims – two
Thais and a female Russian tourist – told the security team earlier
that night that they had lost handbags and an expensive digital camera
in the attack.
A swift investigation by police and Karon Municipality officers resulted in the arrest of the gang.
The
three men, all from Cherng Talay, were caught in possession of a
selection of stolen hand bags, ATM cards and digital cameras, police
said.
When angry Thai and foreign members of the crowd realized
what was happening, they started kicking and punching the three
suspects.
“Some of us were hurt in the attack too because we had to defend the suspects,” Mr Winai said.
He said at least one suspect’s parents were threatening to sue those responsible for the attack.
Mr
Winai doubted the likelihood of such an action succeeding, however. “I
don’t know how they’re going to find who was responsible,” he said.
The
only other arrest during Roy Fest happened the following night, when a
Thai man was arrested for trying to steal a motorbike.
Source: Phuketgazette, 29.09.09
http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=7830
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