The incident came to public attention on Friday (Sept 1), when local news Facebook group Hot Jung Phuket (So Cruel, Phuket) posted a video of the altercation and a video of the woman who runs the bar, Itthichaiya Kamcheeram, 36, originally from Bangkok, explaining the complaint she filed with police.
Ms Itthichaiya, who runs the Inspire Bar on Wiset Rd in Rawai, said she feared for her safety and that of her staff, as the man involved in the incident claimed to be the brother of a Subdistrict Chief (Kamnan).
The incident began when the man entered the bar at about 10:30pm last Monday night (Aug 28), Ms Itthichaiya said.
The man had entered the bar with his female partner. He was a regular, and several other people had entered the bar with him, but sat at different tables.
Just five minutes before the bar was to close at 1am, the man, who Ms Itthichaiya did not name, was presented with a bill for B6,220. The man flatly refused to pay.
Ms Itthichaiya pointed out that the bill did not include paying for a broken chair. The total bill was for B7,000. Apparently, the man joked that if he paid for the chair, he would not have to pay for the rest of the bill.
An argument over the bill ensued, and escalated, with the man taking exception to a name his female partner was called, sparking his assault on Ms Itthichaiya. The man’s female partner joined the affray, grabbing at Ms Itthichaiya’s face while her head was pinned on the bar.
The man had grabbed a vodka bottle and seemed intent to hit her on the head with this. However, in the struggle, and with another person trying to hold his arm back, the man managed to hit Ms Itthichaiya on the back of the neck, luckily not heavily.
Ms Itthichaiya continued to struggle to keep her assailant at bay, but he forced her upright and pushed against the wall behind the bar and clasped his hands around her neck and started choking her.
The man was eventually subdued by other people in the bar, and police soon arrived, less than two minutes after being informed of the incident.
The entire incident was recorded on CCTV in the bar.
Police at the scene told Ms Itthichaiya to have the assault victim obtain a medical report detailing the injuries sustained in the assault and to file a formal complaint with police, which she did at Chalong Police Station the next day.
The complaint was received by Chalong Police Deputy Chief Pol Lt Col Wiriyaphong Srinuanpan.
“I’m afraid because there’s a person with influence involved, but I want to clarify that I did nothing wrong. I simply gave them the bill for what they ordered, doing my job honestly without any attempt at cheating,” Ms Itthichaiya said.
“I don’t have any evidence against them because they personally ordered various drinks and items. I didn’t manipulate the bill. I want the authorities to know that I’m an honest worker and I’m still working there, but I fear possible consequences in the future,” Ms Itthichaiya said.
Officers at Chalong Police Station today (Sept 4) declined to formally comment on the incident.
One of the officers who did speak with The Phuket News said, “There have been no charges pressed. There is no reason to.”