China urges probe into tourist assault at Bangkok airport

World
Europe

00:46

The Chinese Embassy in Thailand has urged the country's authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into an attack by an airport security guard on a Chinese tourist at a Bangkok airport, China News Service reported on Saturday.

The Chinese tourist, identified by his surname Mei, was manhandled by a security guard at Don Mueang International Airport on Thursday.

Footage of the incident shows Mei quarreling with a security guard, who could be seen extending his arm as he tried to punch him, reportedly because the Chinese traveler refused to pay 2,300 baht (around 71 US dollars) for the fast-track visa service, which Mei thought was unreasonable.

There are 32 immigration checkpoints in Thailand where visitors can apply for a visa on arrival at 2,000 baht, with the option of express services for an extra 200 baht.

Mei told the Chongqing Morning Post that he was forced to use the express service because he could not provide his hotel booking information as his phone could not connect to the Internet. However, Mei decided to leave the queue for the regular service after he managed to get online.

A still from the video of the quarrel between the Chinese traveler and a security guard at an airport in Bangkok.

The man was again asked to use the express channel although he had the required documents at the ready, but Mei rejected the Thai officials' demand and tried to contact ground staff at the airport for help.

An immigration official rejected Mei's entry to Thailand alleging that the traveler could not show evidence that he has enough money to support his stay in the country.

"A female staff member walked out of the visa-on-arrival application counter and told me that I cannot enter the country," Mei told the newspaper, adding "No one let me show how much money I had on me. I presented 1,000 US dollars in cash when I was told the reason."

A view of the Dong Mueang International Airport in Bangkok /‍VCG Photo

Mei bought a return ticket and flew back to China on Friday.

The man said he was first attacked by the security guard as he was escorted to go through the expulsion procedures after his entry to Thailand was denied, and assaulted again at a later time as another traveler filmed the incident.

According to the Bangkok Post, the airport's general manager Suteerawat Suwnnawat on Saturday expressed regret over the incident, extended his apologies to the Chinese tourist, and suspended the security guard in the video.

An official letter detailing what happened at the airport and a formal apology were also reportedly going to be delivered by the facility's management to the Chinese Embassy in Thailand.

(Cover photo: A view of the Dong Mueang International Airport in Bangkok /VCG Photo)