Two New Zealander brothers, identified as 36 year old Hamish and 38 year old Oscar Mattson Day, have been arrested in Chalong, Phuket, following a violent incident involving a local Chalong police officer.
The incident occurred when the Days were initially pulled over for speeding in Chalong on Saturday afternoon around 4pm.
According to local media reports, Lieutenant Somsak Noo-iad, who tried to stop the motorbikes of the two brothers, stated that the Days initially attempted to flee after being signalled to stop.
Video shows that Oscar Day then tried to grab the officer’s smart mobile phone as he was trying to record the confrontation, resulting in a scuffle. The officer was then pushed to the ground.
Then, according to the video, Hamish allegedly tried to snatch the policeman’s pistol, causing it to fire once (“gunshots” were referred to by one witness). The bullet didn’t hit anyone. Hamish then, allegedly, grabbed the gun from his compatriot.
The video footage shows a woman shouting at the men to stop, warning them about the officer’s gun. A voice with a New Zealand accent claimed that the policeman was attempting to attack them.
Following the altercation, the Day brothers were charged with multiple offenses, including robbery, obstruction of police duty, physically attacking a police officer, driving without a license, and bribery. Thai media reported that the pair also attempted to bribe the police officer, but their offer was refused.
Consular officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade are reportedly responding to the situation. The Days’ arrest has drawn plenty of media coverage in New Zealand where it is reported that the pair are part of an ‘influential’ and ‘wealthy’ New Zealand family.
Thai PBS World this morning reports that the pair will have “their tourist visas revoked and will be blacklisted from revisiting Thailand”. At the time of publication the two brothers had not been officially charged.
