The incident occurred on Saturday evening (June 14) at Layi Beach, just south of the main Kamala Beach. A video clip shared online by officials showed officers from Kamala Police Station helping to free the white jeep, registered in Phuket, which had become stranded in the sand.
The post quickly drew a flood of online comments, with many netizens criticizing the driver and questioning why police helped recover the vehicle. Some users suggested that the driver should have been left to deal with the situation himself, while others called for stricter penalties.
Kamala Police later confirmed that after receiving a report from local residents, officers arrived at the scene and used a water truck to tow the vehicle back onto the road. The driver, identified as Mohamed Alsuwaidi, was then taken to Kamala Police Station for questioning.
Mr Alsuwaidi was charged with causing a public nuisance and fined B5,000. Police also impounded the vehicle following the incident.
Kamala Police continued to remind tourists and residents to respect local rules and avoid driving on beaches, which can damage the environment and create hazards.