Latest news with #VarakornPubthaisong
South China Morning Post
4 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Thailand to pay US$17,000 each to 2 Malaysians injured in fire attack
Thailand will compensate the two Malaysian tourists who were set on fire in Bangkok last week up to 550,000 baht (US$17,000) each for medical expenses and emotional distress, the tourism minister has confirmed. Gan Xiao Zhen, 27, and Ong Yik Leong, 26, had been sitting on the steps outside the Big C shopping centre on Thursday last week when they were attacked. Their assailant, later identified as Varakorn Pubthaisong, 30, allegedly doused them with thinner before setting them alight. He claimed that he had committed the crime out of frustration at being jobless, according to the Bangkok Post newspaper. Gan is being treated at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital for second-degree burns over 36 per cent of her body, while Ong is in the Police General Hospital's intensive care unit for second-degree burns to his upper body, according to Bernama. Natreeya Taweewong, Thailand's permanent secretary of the tourism and sports ministry, in a statement on Monday reiterated the ministry's promise to look after both of them until they were able to return home. 'The ministry will also provide assistance under the Thai government's compensation measures, including medical expenses and emotional distress compensation to both victims,' she said. Their medical expenses will be reimbursed up to a maximum of 500,000 baht each, and they will each receive 50,000 baht as compensation for emotional distress on top of that.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Two tourists set on fire outside Bangkok mall in random attack by man ‘frustrated over unemployment', police say
Two Malaysian tourists are in critical but stable condition after being doused with paint thinner and set on fire by an unemployed man outside a shopping centre in Bangkok on Thursday night. Thai police have arrested a 30-year-old suspect, identified as a former boxer named Varakorn Pubthaisong, who allegedly carried out the attack out of frustration over losing his job. The incident took place around 10pm on Thursday outside one of Bangkok's most popular shopping centres. The two victims, 26-year-old Ong Yik Leong and 27-year-old Gan Xiao Zhen, were sitting on the steps of the mall when an assailant approached them from behind and poured the paint thinner from a plastic bottle over them, according to Bangkok Post. The pair fled in shock but were chased down by the attacker, who then set them alight. Members of the public intervened and police say the suspect, Mr Varakorn, was detained at the scene. He was handed over to police and is now in custody at Lumpini Police Station. Lumpini police chief Yingyos Suwanno told repoters that Mr Varakorn had admitted to the attack during questioning. Police said he had recently been dismissed from his job as a security guard and was experiencing stress over his unemployment. The victims were rushed to hospital with serious burn injuries. Mr Ong was admitted to the intensive care unit at Police General Hospital, while Ms Gan was being treated at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Bong Yik Jui, Malaysia's acting chargé d'affaires in Thailand, said Mr Ong sustained second-degree burns across his upper body, both front and back. 'The injuries are considered serious but not life-threatening,' Mr Bong told Malaysian news agency Bernama. Ms Gan suffered second-degree burns covering 36 per cent of her body. Both are now in a critical but stable condition, according to the New Straits Times. Foreign minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said: 'Both victims are receiving treatment and are in stable condition. However, doctors have advised against their immediate return to Malaysia as burn wounds are pressure-sensitive and must be allowed to dry first.' He added that the families of both victims were expected to arrive in Bangkok on Saturday afternoon and would receive support from the Malaysian embassy and the foreign ministry's consular division. '[The suspect] is currently in Thai police custody, and the embassy is still seeking further clarification from the authorities on the next course of action,' he said about Mr Varakorn. Police say they are preparing to formally charge Mr Varakorn with assault and will be taking full statements from the victims once their medical condition permits. 'We would take statements from both victims once they are in stable condition,' Pol Col Yingyos told The Star. The attack was reportedly captured on video, though authorities have not yet confirmed whether the footage will be released.
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Two tourists set on fire outside Bangkok mall in random attack by man ‘frustrated over unemployment', police say
Two Malaysian tourists are in critical but stable condition after being doused with paint thinner and set on fire by an unemployed man outside a shopping centre in Bangkok on Thursday night. Thai police have arrested a 30-year-old suspect, identified as a former boxer named Varakorn Pubthaisong, who allegedly carried out the attack out of frustration over losing his job. The incident took place around 10pm on Thursday outside one of Bangkok 's most popular shopping centres. The two victims, 26-year-old Ong Yik Leong and 27-year-old Gan Xiao Zhen, were sitting on the steps of the mall when an assailant approached them from behind and poured the paint thinner from a plastic bottle over them, according to Bangkok Post. The pair fled in shock but were chased down by the attacker, who then set them alight. Members of the public intervened and police say the suspect, Mr Varakorn, was detained at the scene. He was handed over to police and is now in custody at Lumpini Police Station. Lumpini police chief Yingyos Suwanno told repoters that Mr Varakorn had admitted to the attack during questioning. Police said he had recently been dismissed from his job as a security guard and was experiencing stress over his unemployment. The victims were rushed to hospital with serious burn injuries. Mr Ong was admitted to the intensive care unit at Police General Hospital, while Ms Gan was being treated at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Bong Yik Jui, Malaysia 's acting chargé d'affaires in Thailand, said Mr Ong sustained second-degree burns across his upper body, both front and back. 'The injuries are considered serious but not life-threatening,' Mr Bong told Malaysian news agency Bernama. Ms Gan suffered second-degree burns covering 36 per cent of her body. Both are now in a critical but stable condition, according to the New Straits Times. Foreign minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said: 'Both victims are receiving treatment and are in stable condition. However, doctors have advised against their immediate return to Malaysia as burn wounds are pressure-sensitive and must be allowed to dry first.' He added that the families of both victims were expected to arrive in Bangkok on Saturday afternoon and would receive support from the Malaysian embassy and the foreign ministry's consular division. '[The suspect] is currently in Thai police custody, and the embassy is still seeking further clarification from the authorities on the next course of action,' he said about Mr Varakorn. Police say they are preparing to formally charge Mr Varakorn with assault and will be taking full statements from the victims once their medical condition permits. 'We would take statements from both victims once they are in stable condition,' Pol Col Yingyos told The Star.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- South China Morning Post
2 Malaysian tourists set on fire in Bangkok by ‘frustrated, jobless' suspect
Two Malaysian tourists sitting in front of the popular Big C shopping centre in Bangkok, Thailand , were set on fire on Thursday night, with a suspect later arrested by police. The pair was reportedly in critical but stable condition, according to news agency Bernama, which cited the Malaysian embassy's Chargé d'Affaires ad interim to Thailand Bong Yik Jui. Bangkok's Lumpini police chief Yingyos Suwanno told local media that the suspect, identified as Varakorn Pubthaisong, 30, acted out of frustration over unemployment. Varakorn told police he was a former boxer and later lost his job as a security guard. He was stopped by members of the public after trying to flee the crime scene. A screengrab of the suspect, later identified as Varakorn Pubthaisong, a former boxer. Photo: Handout The two Malaysian victims, Ong Yik Leong, 26 and Gan Xiao Zhen, 27, were reportedly resting on steps outside the Big C shopping centre opposite Central World mall, when Varakorn allegedly poured thinner on them from behind.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
Malaysians set on fire in Bangkok: What we know so far
KUALA LUMPUR: The Thai man who set two Malaysians on fire in Bangkok on Thursday night is a former boxer. The Bangkok Post reported that the suspect, Varakorn Pubthaisong, who also previously worked as a security guard, is believed to have acted out of frustration after losing his job. Superintendent of Lumpini Police Station, Pol Col Yingyos Suwanno, was quoted as saying that both victims, a man and a woman, are in stable condition and will be asked to provide statements to the police. The suspect is now facing charges of causing injury. Varakorn, who is currently being held at the Lumpini police station, admitted to the police that he was a former boxer. He also allegedly told authorities that the attack on the two Malaysians was random and driven by stress after being dismissed from his job as a security guard, which left him with no money. At about 10pm on Thursday, along Ratchadamri Road, the suspect suddenly poured a chemical liquid from a plastic bottle onto the back of 26-year-old Ong Yik Leong and 27-year-old Gan Xiao Zhen, who were sitting on the steps outside a shopping mall. The shocked tourists tried to flee but were chased by the suspect, who then set their bodies on fire. Yik Leong was reportedly rushed to the intensive care unit at the Police General Hospital for treatment, while Xiao Zhen was admitted to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Varakorn attempted to escape but was caught by the public at the scene. A video of the incident later went viral, showing bystanders helping the victims by dousing them with water to extinguish the flames.
