PATTAYA, Thailand – A group of Kuwaiti tourists aged around 20–30 have raised concerns after claiming they were repeatedly stopped by uniformed police officers during their one-month holiday in Pattaya and asked to pay traffic fines in cash. The tourists told reporters that they accepted responsibility for traffic violations and had no objection to being fined. However, they became suspicious after showing receipts they said were issued by previous officers, only to be told the documents were not official police receipts and were allegedly “fake.”
The group claimed they were stopped several times and repeatedly received similar receipts, while officers allegedly insisted on receiving cash payments rather than allowing them to pay fines at the police station. They also questioned why some fine payments were allegedly carried out in quiet, isolated locations away from public view instead of at the station. The tourists provided video clips recorded during some encounters and copies of the receipts as evidence for reporters.
The visitors said they had travelled to Thailand, especially Pattaya, many times and always considered the city a safe destination with effective efforts against crime. However, they said their experience this year had left them disappointed and concerned. “We have always felt safe coming to Pattaya, but after meeting these officers, we feel more afraid of the police than criminals,” the tourists said. Visitors and local businesses hope the matter will be reviewed and investigated to ensure confidence in Pattaya’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination.
