A Patong restaurant owner is disputing the story told by a Canadian tourist who claims he was attacked and robbed. According to a Phuket Express report, 28 year old William Lamarche-Saint-Louis told Patong Police that while walking on Friday night, he was approached by 5 men who demanded he hand over his watch, which he says cost 50,000 baht.
Afraid to resist, the tourist says he gave them the watch, but the men then wanted his bag, which contained 5,000 baht in cash. When he refused to give them the bag, he claims they attacked him before fleeing. He was subsequently treated at hospital for a broken nose.
Yesterday, Patong Police confirmed that a Patong restaurant owner, named as Mrs Tuenjai, and three of her employees, met with officers over the event. They claim Mr Lamarche-Saint-Louis ate at their restaurant and then refused to pay his bill. Tuenjai says the man was very drunk and shoved her staff, challenging them to a fight.
Tuenjai says this is when he was attacked, adding that other workers tried to stop the fight. The restaurant owner says the staff involved in the fight were all teenagers and not grown men as claimed by the Canadian. She adds that none of them stole his watch or money.
According to police, the man has yet to file a formal complaint, but officers wish to speak to him to get his version of events. However, the tourist is believed to have left Phuket and travelled to Koh Phi Phi.
Officers are continuing their efforts to contact him, saying they will not make any assumptions as to which version of events is correct. They add that they plan to check CCTV footage as part of their investigation into the incident.
SOURCE: The Phuket Express
