A Russian-Thai couple claims organized criminals are trying to intimidate them with bullets and rocks to close their South Pattaya bedding business.
Pimpree Prokasef, 33, and her husband Alexander, 27, contacted the media Feb. 13 to detail their harrowing experiences trying to run their Patex Rubber Bedding shop since August. She said the store has been attacked twice with gangsters shooting out the front window and throwing rocks.
Primpree said she and her husband opened the shop in August next door to a hotel and felt it was only going to be a matter of time before problems began.
Pimpree Prokasef and her husband Alexander say organized criminals are trying to intimidate them with bullets and rocks to close their South Pattaya bedding business.
She said the hotel had tour buses park and block the front of their shop and they weren’t able to do any business. They tried to talk things over with the hotel owners, but was told they didn’t want anyone selling products near their tour groups as it took away money from them.
The hotel offered the couple 20,000 baht to close in December, which the couple refused.
About a week later, someone drove by and shot into the front window of the shop, causing damage. They filed a report with the police, but no one was ever arrested.
On Dec. 15, a similar drive-by occurred with someone throwing rocks through the window.
Primpree said other shops nearby were facing the same problems with some already moving out. But the couple wants to continue their business without problems.
Building owner Pablaporn Mankong, 45, said she wanted to police to take up the matter as her other tenants have all decided to move out due to the intimidation.
