Foreigners arrested for violating curfew rules in Thailand's popular tourist island of Pha Ngan

BANGKOK: Thai police said on Saturday (April 18) that it had detained 18 foreign tourists for defying the social distancing guidelines stipulated under the emergency decree and for partying at a rented house on Pha-ngan Island, home to the popular full-moon parties in southern Thailand.

Police from Koh Pha-ngan police station in Thailand's Surat Thani province, raided the house after a tip-off from the village head, saying that many foreign tourists were regularly gathering there for drinks and parties.

Arriving at the scene, police found 17 motorcycles parked in front of the house and heard loud music coming from inside the residence.

Police then entered the house and found bottles of liquor, a computer notebook and a sound system on the second floor.

No illegal items were found.

The Russian tenant of the house claimed that he had merely invited some friends round for a drink and chat.

Police later escorted the foreigners, including the tenant, to the police station to be charged with violating the ban on social gatherings.

Violators are liable to a jail term of up to two years and/or a fine of up to 40,000 baht (US$1,230). Xinhua/Asian News Network