The Minister of Tourism and Sports sent a Japanese interpreter team to assist a tourist assaulted and robbed by a youth gang in the Makkasan area. Police have arrested all suspects involved in the gang.
On 14 August 2026, Mr. Surasak Pancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, urgently ordered the Tourist Police Division to assist and provide support to Mr. Yuki Kanehara, a 43-year-old Japanese tourist, who was assaulted by a group of youths near Asoke-Din Daeng alley close to the Makkasan Airport Rail Link station on the night of 12 August.
The Minister stated that to care for the victim, the ministry sent a Japanese interpreter team to Makkasan Police Station to facilitate communication, provide comfort, and assist throughout the interrogation and complaint filing process. The victim had lost his way and entered the incident area, where a group of youths on motorcycles surrounded and assaulted him to rob him, causing injuries and loss of belongings during his escape. The victim insists on pursuing full legal action. Police have now arrested all seven suspects, identified as juveniles.
Mr. Surasak emphasized that the ministry prioritizes the safety of tourists above all and will not tolerate actions that damage the country's image, aiming to build confidence among foreign visitors to Thailand.