Five Italian students and their supervisor formally apologized to a Thai woman known as Sugus at the Samrae Metropolitan Police Station after a dispute regarding their disruptive behavior aboard a BTS train in Thailand. According to police reports, officers fined five members of the group following an investigation into loud conduct and offensive gestures, while both parties agreed to drop further legal action.
Train Incident and Police Investigation at Samrae Station
The confrontation originated on a BTS train in Thailand, where the group of Italian visitors spoke loudly and behaved inappropriately. When Sugus intervened politely, members of the group responded with rude language, hand gestures, and a raised middle finger, accompanied by the remark: “Sorry that we brought money to your country.” The exchange sparked widespread public anger across Thai social media platforms, prompting Sugus to file a formal complaint. Police subsequently summoned all six members of the group to the Samrae Metropolitan Police Station, where an interpreter assisted with talks that lasted over an hour.
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Public Apology and Legal Resolution
During the station meeting, the students and their supervisor expressed sincere regret and acknowledged that their conduct was inappropriate. Sugus later published a video on her TikTok account, 1234aaawry, depicting the six individuals raising their hands in a traditional wai gesture while issuing apologies. When Sugus asked if they were addressing her directly, the woman in red replied, according to the video record, “I apologise to you, to all Thai people and to your family.” As part of the settlement terms, both sides agreed to delete stored photographs and video clips from their devices and social media accounts. Sugus stated she would remove images of the Italian group to comply with the agreement, which also barred the visitors from launching future legal claims regarding her defense efforts.
Penalties and Fines Levied by Authorities
Law enforcement officials charged five of the six individuals with insulting another person in their presence, issuing a fine of 1,000 baht (S$38) to each. The individual identified in the video making the middle-finger gesture faced an additional charge for committing an indecent act in public, bringing their total penalties to two charges and 2,000 baht in fines. Sugus noted that police recommended the 1,000-baht baseline to conclude the matter swiftly, well below the statutory maximum of 10,000 baht. While she felt the financial penalty might not fully reflect the severity of the offense, she chose to respect the officers’ discretion.
Pro Tip for Travelers
Maintaining awareness of local cultural etiquette and public transport norms helps prevent misunderstandings when traveling abroad. Respecting community standards protects both visitors and local residents.
Community Reaction and Ongoing Harassment
Sugus emphasized that she pursued the complaint to protect her personal dignity and rights, hoping to remind international visitors to respect Thai culture and social etiquette. Following the resolution, she shared a photograph embracing the Italian woman who had apologized. However, Sugus also reported that the woman was being heavily harassed, including through insults, threats and messages telling her to die, treatment similar to what Sugus herself had experienced. She urged the public to halt the harassment on both sides, stating that her goal was never to generate hatred toward any nationality. The Italian students were scheduled to continue their study-visit activities in Thailand for several additional days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What started the dispute on the BTS train?
The conflict began when a group of Italian students spoke loudly and behaved inappropriately on a BTS train. When a local resident politely intervened, the visitors responded with rude language, offensive gestures, and disparaging remarks about bringing money to the country.
How did authorities resolve the case?
Samrae Metropolitan Police mediated a meeting between the parties where the students apologized. Police charged five individuals with insulting another person, issuing 1,000-baht fines, while an additional public indecency charge brought another 1,000 baht for the person who made the middle-finger gesture.
Did the visitors apologize publicly?
Yes. The visitors expressed remorse during the police station meeting and appeared in a TikTok video raising their hands in a wai gesture to apologize to Sugus, her family, and all Thai people.
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