Ice Cream Vendor Arrested After Assault on Ukrainian Tourist Near Kata Beach

A Thai ice cream vendor has been arrested after allegedly assaulting a Ukrainian tourist near Kata Beach in Phuket. Police later reported that the suspect tested positive for illegal drugs following his detention.

The incident occurred on the morning of July 29 along a roadside in Karon, Mueang Phuket district. It first came to public attention after the Newshawk Phuket Facebook page published details at around 11:20 a.m.

Footage widely shared on Thai social media shows a man wearing a black long-sleeved shirt repeatedly punching a foreign tourist dressed in a black tank top and shorts. The victim was knocked to the ground before managing to escape, while the attacker then moved out of the camera’s view.

Although the suspect appeared to be holding a knife during the confrontation, it remains unclear whether the weapon was used. Police said there were no visible injuries consistent with a knife attack.

Officers from Karon Police Station responded to the scene and found two Ukrainian nationals identified as Dmitrii and Dmytroy. One of the men had sustained injuries and was transported to Vajira Phuket Hospital for medical treatment.

Police later identified the suspect as 33-year-old Parinya, originally from Chachoengsao Province, who had relocated to Phuket and was working as an ice cream vendor.

According to investigators, Parinya was still behaving aggressively when officers arrived. He was taken into custody and underwent a urine drug screening, which police said returned a positive result.

Authorities have charged him with assault, although police have not disclosed the specific charge or the penalties he may face.

Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the confrontation, and no further information has been released regarding the condition of the injured Ukrainian tourist.

The incident follows another assault reported in Phuket last week, when a foreign man allegedly attacked a Thai woman after accusing her of stealing his Thai girlfriend’s bag. The woman denied the accusation, and CCTV footage later reportedly supported her account. She has since initiated legal proceedings against the suspect, whose arrest has not yet been reported.