A 23 year old British backpacker, Joseph William Kershaw, was detained by authorities along the Ao Nang boardwalk after he stripped naked in front of other tourists while posing for a group photo. The incident took place on April 8 at Ao Nang Beach in Krabi in front of a popular sailfish sculpture.
Although the foreign tourist group, posing in front of the statue, were cheering him on, drivers-by and locals were reportedly “horrified”.
Kershaw was captured on camera by a local resident as he walked along the beach carrying his clothes before stopping in front of the Sailfish Sculpture to take a photo. Despite the presence of other tourists and a Thai tour guide, Kershaw proceeded to remove his clothes, leaving only his underwear, while his companions cheered him on.
However, the locals were not amused by Kershaw’s antics, considering it disrespectful to both the landmark sculpture and the Krabi community. Multiple complaints from locals prompted Krabi Immigration Police and Ao Nang Police Station to identify and apprehend Kershaw, who was in Thailand on a tourist visa.
He was arrested at his hostel and taken to Ao Nang Police Station, where he issued an apology, admitting to his actions and attributing them to intoxication and excitement.
Dressed in a blue t-shirt and baseball cap, Kershaw expressed remorse to the police.
“I’m very sorry… and I am thankful to you all for being helpful and very kind and I apologise. I will never do that again.”
Following his apology, Kershaw was fined and released without having to wait for a court appearance. Police considered the offense a petty one, resulting in a fine of 5,000 baht under Section 388 of the Thai Criminal Code. Police were satisfied with his explanation and apology and let him go after the obligatory photos.
“He came here with a tourist visa. He was fined because this is only considered to be a petty offence.”
