Pol Lt Piyanut Khunthong, the investigating officer handling the case, confirmed that the suspect, named by police as ‘Mr Damien Williamson’, as of Monday (July 13) was being detained at Kwang Court after being transferred from Bangkok to Phuket.
“He is now detained while prosecutors prepare assault charges,” Lt Piyanut said. “His visa will also be revoked before he is deported from Thailand.”
The officer said he expected the legal process to move ahead this week, but could not confirm exactly when the visa revocation or deportation would take place.
Mr Williamson was arrested by Immigration Bureau officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport on July 8 before boarding Philippine Airlines flight PR733 from Bangkok to Manila. He was transferred back to Patong Police Station on the evening of July 9 before later being remanded in custody.
The Immigration Bureau said officers arrested the 24-year-old American after identifying him at the airport immigration checkpoint while he was checking in for his scheduled flight.
Patong Police had initially stated that Mr Williamson was attempting to flee Thailand following the alleged assault.
However, the Immigration Bureau’s own account merely states that officers acted after learning he was booked on a flight to Manila. It did not describe the departure as an attempted escape from justice.
The case stems from an incident on Patong Beach on July 7 after Mr Williamson rented a jet-ski that was allegedly involved in a collision with another rented jet-ski.
Jet-ski operator Nattawut Decheiam alleges he asked the tourist to pay for damage to the two watercraft before the American walked away. Mr Nattawut followed him along the beach and towards Bangla Rd, where an argument escalated in Soi Sea Dragon.
Mr Nattawut alleges the tourist threw him to the ground and repeatedly punched him in the face, leaving him with bruising, facial swelling and a fractured cheekbone.
Police said the victim did not retaliate and later sought medical treatment before filing a complaint.
Video recorded by Mr Nattawut before the alleged assault shows him following the tourist while repeatedly demanding payment. The tourist is heard denying that he had crashed the jet-ski and saying he had already paid B3,500 for the rental. The recording ends before any physical confrontation takes place.
Despite the allegation that the dispute centred on damage to the jet-skis, police acknowledged they do not possess photographs confirming fresh damage to either watercraft.
Instead, investigators said their understanding of the alleged damage is based on statements from local witnesses, other jet-ski operators and people present at the beach at the time.
Asked whether investigators accepted Mr Nattawut’s version of events, Lt Piyanut said both parties had been given the opportunity to explain what happened. However, he said Mr Williamson declined to make a statement or offer compensation.
At last report, the only criminal charge being pursued was assault causing injury and police had not publicly released any statement from Mr Williamson regarding the incident.