2 foreigners assaulted in Phuket

• Online news:

Two Dutch tourists were reported to have been assaulted by minibus drivers after they refused to pay 1,000 baht in damages after one of them walked into a parked, small minibus at Patong beach in Phuket province early on Monday morning.

Unubovd Alcawbimel, 19, and Bootaman Frans  Jelle, 20, were attacked about 2.45 am shortly after they left  Soi Bang La, a popular nightspot venue on Patong beach, the report said.
While walking back to their accommodation the two young men were fooling around and Mr  Alcawabimel accidentally walked into a parked minibus, the report said. The minibus was slightly dented.
 The driver demanded 1,000 baht for damage, but the two men refused to pay.

The two tourists said the damages claim was exaggerated.  This annoyed the minibus driver and his friends. As the two tourists walked away, the disgruntled drivers physically assaulted them, the report said.
A police officer passing by  saw the incident and tried to intervene, but he was forcefully kept away  by the assailants. The policeman fired a warning shot into the air.
The two tourists were later admitted to a nearby hospital. Mr Alcawbimel needed 10 stitches in  his left eyebrow, while Mr Jelle sustained bruising to his body, the report said.
After the incident,  the drivers blocked the road in front of Soi Bang La with at least 10 mini buses.
Pol  Col Arayaphan Pukbuakhao, chief of Kathu district police, went to the scene to negotiate with the protesting drivers.  After more than one hour of talks, the drivers agreed to disperse.
Pol Lt Col Kittipong Khlaikaew, deputy chief of Kathu police , said police will linvestigate the assault  and examine  footage from closed-circuit cameras before charges are laid against those involved in the attack, the report said.