4-9-2024 (PHUKET) The Phuket Court has acquitted a Swiss national of charges alleging he kicked a Thai doctor on a local beach, bringing a controversial case to an unexpected close.
On Tuesday, the court ruled that prosecutors failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Urs “David” Fehr had intentionally assaulted Dr Thandao Chandam, a 26-year-old physician at Dibuk Hospital, Phuket.
The incident, which allegedly occurred on 24 February, sparked widespread debate about the treatment of locals by wealthy foreign residents in the popular tourist destination. Dr Chandam claimed she was kicked in the back while sitting on steps at Yamu Beach, in front of a luxury villa rented by Fehr in Thalang district.
The case gained significant media attention when Dr Chandam went public with her allegations, citing concerns about potential interference due to claims of connections with senior Phuket police officers made by Fehr’s Thai wife during the incident.
Fehr maintained his innocence throughout, explaining that he had rushed towards Dr Chandam, mistaking her for a Chinese tourist trespassing on his property. He asserted that he had slipped, resulting in accidental contact with her back.
The court’s decision to acquit Fehr on the grounds of reasonable doubt has raised eyebrows among some observers. Celebrity lawyer Kerdphol Kaewkamnerd suggested that the police report may have been insufficiently robust to secure a conviction.
The case ignited a broader conversation about access to public beaches in Phuket, with locals alleging that affluent foreign businessmen were blocking access to supposedly public areas. This led to a crackdown on beach blockades by provincial and Interior Ministry authorities, opening up previously restricted areas to local residents.
In the wake of the initial uproar, Phuket’s governor had recommended the revocation of Fehr’s long-stay visa, which he had obtained through investment in a local elephant farm. The Phuket Immigration Office announced in March that the visa had indeed been revoked, but deportation was pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.
