Dutchman knocked unconscious in Chiang Mai karaoke bar
A 38-year-old Dutchman was knocked unconscious in a karaoke bar in Chiang Mai on Christmas Day after a discussion about a bill of more than 30.000 baht.
High bill
The Dutchman, who has only been revealed as Rob, visited an unnamed karaoke bar in Chiang Mai over Christmas. At the checkout he was "surprised" with a bill of 30.000 Baht for "some food and a few beers". He protested to the owner, who after a fierce discussion proposed to pay only 10.000 Baht. Rob did not agree with this either and suggested calling in the police. The staff and “security” had a better solution. He was beaten and kicked by at least 6 men and then thrown unconscious into the street.
Karaoke bars in Chiang Mai
The message reached the national press and various social media, after which the discussion about cheating in Chiang Mai karaoke bars erupted. The commentary on StickBoy Bangkok's website said the beaten Dutchman could be added to a long list of foreigners getting into trouble over an inflated bill at Chiang Mai karaoke bars. That bill not only includes the victim's drinks, but also extra high costs for lady drinks that have not been ordered.
In a response, a foreigner says that incidents like this are commonplace in Chiang Mai. He adds that it probably happened in one of the hangouts on Changlarm Road, where about eight of these obscure karaoke bars are located. All bars are said to be owned by a high-ranking police official, so there is usually no question of assistance or prosecution. Due to the extra media attention in this case, things could turn out differently.
Postscript Gringo
First of all, I don't understand what foreigners are doing in typical Thai karaoke bars. Usually only Thai music is offered for the karaoke and you can often feel that it is not right.
My advice is, only go to Thai karaoke bars in the company of locally known Thais. Check the bill after each (new) order or, better still, pay for each order immediately.
We wish Rob a speedy recovery.
If he reads this story and wants to tell his own story on thailandblog.nl, he can contact the editors at [email protected]
As long as the corrupt police in Chiangmai here
don't want to change anything, is the only medicine
for these bastards…BOYCOTT these criminals.
No more visits to Thai karaoke,
bars etc… so as not to become unconscious or worse
beaten!
With us in Khon Kaen, the Thai inhabitants speak
about the thai police…THAI MAFIA!!!
Can you imagine how the Thai police did it
in his own people.
These karaoke bars exist by the "grace" of the Thai police. Drugs and other illegal activities are being committed here (where will that money go anyway?). Even if it's your first time here in Thailand you can see that it doesn't look right, in general it looks dirty and unkempt. But yes if you look it up yes ... then the turnips are quickly cooked. These are bars where Thai men let themselves fill up and then take a female with them, that is their right, but entering here as a farang is in many cases asking for trouble. I have sailed for years and when you are in a harbor you can also look it up, that is not difficult and I have the idea that the farang who goes to such bars is looking for something because you do get a certain feeling in your gut when you go there enters ????hope he gets over it soon and has learned his lesson and next time to a bar where the prices are marked,
Not only in Chang Mai, but in many places this can happen to you. That's why I never enter a bar where the doors open. There are plenty of places in Thailand.
But maybe he was invited by a local beauty.
Bad luck for him.
Regards Phillip
Have had the same. Karaoke: Bunny Girls. Policeman stood by and watched.
Gringo,
Perhaps this man was for the first time in Thailand and not very familiar with that species
karaoke bars. And then again with 6 men……..what heroes.
I wish Rob all the best and a healthy and happy 2015!
Common knowledge that the Thai Police is the Mafia of Thailand.
Heroes, six against one. Annoying that we farang are scammed in many places in Thailand. I was in a seafood restaurant last week and the bill was wrong again. Now the prices of the beer were different, 1 Singha beer was 100 baht and the next one was 180 baht, if you point out this mistake then no apologies will be offered either, but you will get a look of “what is that farang nagging about that few bahts”. Then to a bar again 200 baht too little change was given. I personally get very tired of it. If they continue like this in the tourist industry, it will be even quieter next year.
Moderator: Please don't generalize.
Avoid these Karaoke bars in particular as they are a haven for farang crime. Dozens of examples last year with drugs, shootings and scams. Only go to Karaoke Bars in a hotel, because there is a huge risk that you will be the next victim.
I also went to a karaoke bar in Chiang Mai last year. it was in September. I was there for about an hour and fifteen minutes in the company of three Thai ladies. We had some drinks and some snacks and the ladies sang some songs. Afterwards I was given a bill of 13000 Baht. I then paid to avoid being beaten up. I talked to my Thai tailor about it and told him I wanted to complain to the police but he told me it was pointless. I had a very bad feeling about it because this is of course pure extortion and lawlessness because there is nothing that can be done about it...
Unfortunately, it doesn't just happen in Thailand, it happens all over the world.
Just a matter of paying attention.
Experienced such things in Turkey, Hungary and Spain and even in Amsterdam.
So don't say it's okay, no definitely not. but not all in Thailand.
In certain places you just have to be extra careful.
And for Rob strength and get well soon.
First of all, good luck to Rob!
I just got back from Chiang Mai 2 days ago. I've been to several bars and cafes. I keep a close eye on my bills and also show this very demonstratively that I check it every time one puts such a bill in your cup.
But even then, I've had erroneous bills on several occasions. Either you make an addition error when you add up the receipts (always to your disadvantage) or you give too little back. If you notice the mistake, they always fix it, but almost always without apology.
So if you let yourself go completely in such a bar and only ask for your bill at the end of the evening, then I fear for a hefty bill. It is a pity that this is evolving in Thailand.
It is not always neat in restaurants either. My wife (a Thai) had ordered a typical Thai dish (quite spicy). When our dishes came hers was anything but what she asked for. Way too sweet and not spicy at all. She simply returned this dish. The garcon's explanation was: Sorry, but apparently people in the kitchen didn't understand. They cannot read Thai because in the kitchen they are all people from Burma. They are used to adapting these dishes to the tourist and therefore prepare it too sweet because they do not actually know these dishes. The garcon could not offer us any compensation because the owner was not present and she had no authorization to do anything commercial herself (eg give a discount or offer a coffee), nothing, nada, zero. Just pay the bill in full. However, this was one of the better places in Chiang Mai; Teak House Restaurant.
I don't know how and why this man ended up in such a bar, but, as a tourist, not speaking Thai, I do wonder what you can do in a bar with only Thai people. A sensible person or an expat will never do that. That is pure misery, you don't go to a bar or cafe in your own country where only strangers come together. After all, there are more than enough bars where farangs come. If you "coincidentally" end up in such a Thai bar, you, as a sensible person, will immediately see that it is not safe, drink your drink quickly and get out of there. Unless, of course, you want to take risks yourself.
lung addie