Five transgender women beat German tourist in Pattaya

2026-02-24 - 10:23

PATTAYA — A German tourist was injured in a late-night altercation involving a group of Thai transgender women along Pattaya Beach Road, police said on 24 Febuary. The incident occurred opposite Soi Pattaya Beach 13 in Pattaya, causing alarm among bystanders. Parts of the incident were captured on video by witnesses and later handed to police as evidence. The footage shows about five transgender women grappling with and assaulting the foreign tourist, with both sides falling onto the road during the scuffle. The tourist sustained injuries. In the clip, voices can be heard shouting for someone to grab the foreigner’s wallet. At one point, the tourist managed to break free. One of the group was heard warning others not to record the incident before they dispersed. Authorities also found a mobile phone that had fallen into a storm drain at the scene. Firefighters were called to retrieve the device. A good Samaritan told reporters he saw the tourist being attacked and heard shouts urging others to take the man’s bag. When the tourist’s bag fell to the ground, the witness picked it up and returned it to him, angering the group. The motive behind the altercation remains unclear, the witness said. The injured tourist was later identified as Mr. Markus Santl, 55, a German national. He told police that earlier that night he had brought a transgender woman back to his hotel room, believing the person was a biological woman. After escorting the individual out, he later discovered that 35,000 baht in cash and 1,200 euros were missing from his in-room safe. Suspecting those involved, he went out to search along Pattaya Beach and recognized one of the individuals. He said he attempted to detain the person, but five to six others joined in and assaulted him. He was able to escape after bystanders intervened and later filed a complaint with investigators at Pattaya City Police Station. Incidents involving assaults and alleged theft targeting tourists have been reported repeatedly in Pattaya, particularly along the beachfront, raising concerns over the city’s image as a tourist destination. Although authorities regularly conduct patrols and crackdowns, suspects often disperse when officers are present and regroup after patrols leave the area. Police said they are collecting evidence and reviewing video footage to identify and apprehend those responsible for legal action.