It’s almost guaranteed that Santi Wongwai, who
attacked Pattaya’s top traffic cop, won’t look so smug after a couple hours
behind bars.
Boonlua Chatree
A motorbike taxi driver ensured himself a lifetime of
tickets after being arrested for brutalizing the head of the Pattaya Traffic
Police.
Santi Wongwai, 27, was apprehended by a volunteer police
officer June 9 outside Central Center in North Pattaya. Sitting nearby was a
blood-soaked Sen. Sgt. Maj. Natthapol Dokchourung, Pattaya’s lead traffic
cop, who had been struck in the bridge of the nose with his 38-caliber
handgun.
Officers interrogating Santi claimed the Nong Plalai man
admitted to taking Natthapol’s gun and striking the officer in the face, but
claimed he didn’t realize the victim was a police officer.
Natthapol said he’d spotted Santi driving on Second Road
and believed the man was drunk, so he followed and later stopped him. The
officer said the taxi driver became angry at being stopped and refused to
believe Natthapol was actually a police officer, as he was off duty and did
not flash his badge. An argument ensued and during the scuffle Santi said he
took the gun and hit the policeman.
Natthapol was treated with 15 stitches across the nose. Santi was booked
for assault.
