PATTAYA, Thailand – Tourist Police have tracked down a transgender woman identified as Chotika Kanchana, or New, 26, after a video showing her putting her hand down her buttocks before asking a tourist to smell it went viral and sparked criticism over Pattaya’s image. Police said Chotika admitted she was the person in the video, explaining that the incident happened several months ago and was intended as a joke among friends. She said she could no longer remember the exact date and had deleted the video after it attracted widespread negative attention.
Chotika acknowledged that the behavior was inappropriate and said she regretted her actions, apologizing to Tourist Police and the public for causing negative publicity for Pattaya’s tourism industry. Tourist Police said no victim had filed a complaint at the time. Officers recorded her details and issued a warning, stressing that such behavior could damage Pattaya’s tourism image. If a victim later files a complaint, she could be summoned to acknowledge charges and face further legal proceedings.
