BANGKOK, Thailand – A dispute between a Thai passenger and a group of Italian students over their behavior on Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain has been formally resolved after the students apologized in person and reached a settlement with the victim at Samre Police Station. Late on July 25, the Thai victim, known as “Sugas,” filed a complaint against five Italian students and one supervisor following a widely shared video showing an argument aboard the BTS. Police later invited all six individuals, together with an interpreter, to meet the complainant for mediation.
After more than an hour of discussions, the students and their supervisor expressed sincere remorse, apologized to the victim, and admitted their behavior had been inappropriate. Both parties agreed to end the dispute, withdraw further legal action, and delete videos of the incident from their mobile phones. The group’s supervisor apologized to the victim, the Thai public, the students’ parents, and the students themselves, stressing that the group respects Thai culture and traditions. The supervisor said the incident would serve as an important lesson and that the students genuinely regretted their actions.
The victim said the apology appeared sincere and believed those who acknowledge their mistakes deserve a second chance. The complaint, the victim explained, was intended to protect personal rights and dignity while reminding visitors to Thailand to respect local culture, customs, and social etiquette. The victim’s father also spoke with the group, explaining Thai cultural values and manners. The family thanked the public for its support but urged people to stop harassing or attacking the Italian students online, noting that they had accepted responsibility and still have several days remaining on their educational visit to Thailand.
Police charged all six individuals with insulting another person face-to-face, imposing fines of 1,000 baht each. The student seen making an obscene middle-finger gesture in the video was additionally charged with committing an indecent act in public, receiving an extra 2,000-baht fine. The case has now been officially concluded. (TNA)
