Visitor beaten, robbed in Phuket hotel room

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

PHUKET - A Russian man has told police he was attacked and robbed of US$700 in cash, about 20,000 baht, by another man speaking Russian in his hotel room in Phuket on Sunday night. 

The victim, whose details were not released, told police he was sleeping in a room at the hotel in tambon Karon of Muang district and was awoken about 8pm by someone knocking on the door.

He said when he answered the door a Russian-speaking foreigner forced his way into the room and punched him in the face several times, and he fell to the floor, according to Karon station chief Pol Col Khundet Na Nongkhai. 

The victim said he could not fight back because had recently had stomach surgery. The intruder asked for an amount of money, but he had not known what the money was for at first. 

The intruder then shut the victim’s mouth with tape and bound him with a wire cord, and then put him on a phone to another Russian man. The victim recognized the voice as that of a man he had a problem with involving cryptocurrency business back in Russia. 

The victim told police he was threatened with death if he did not return  120,000 cryptodollars to the Russian on the phone. 

However, he did not give up his phone’s password, so the attacker failed to access his crypto account. The intruder then stole all his cash, about  $700 in total. 

The victim told police his assailant tied him to the bathroom door and hit him on the back of the head with something hard, leaving him unconscious. When he awoke hours later he was alone in the room. 

Police investigators checked the hotel security recordings and noted that the suspect was a large man wearing a hoodie and a mask.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2933965/russian-beaten-robbed-in-phuket-hotel-room

[vinapu]

Poor Putin having such unruly subjects

[Moses]

so, no hot flattering iron on the chest and no soldering iron in the ass? well, it was friendly meeting then...

[floridarob]

😆

I'm out of likes 🤷‍♂️

[reader]

From Khaosod English

Arrest Russian Suspect in Hotel Room Attack

Thai police arrested one of two Russian suspects who allegedly broke into a fellow countryman’s hotel room, threatened to kill him, and demanded money over a cryptocurrency business dispute.

The victim, 31-year-old Russian national Mr. Zelimkhan, reported to Karon Police that on January 5 around 11:00 p.m., a foreign man forcefully entered his room at Wekata Luxury hotel in Karon, Phuket, physically assaulted him, and stole $20,000 in cash. After managing to break free from his restraints, he filed a police report at Karon Police Station at 3:20 a.m. on January 6.

Police Colonel Khundet Na Nongkhai, Superintendent of Karon Police Station, stated that investigators from Karon Police, Phuket Provincial Police, and Phuket Immigration have identified the suspects, believed to be Russians acquainted with Zelimkhan.The investigation revealed that the mastermind, identified as Andrei, had previous cryptocurrency business dealings with Zelimkhan in Russia. Andrei demanded Zelimkhan return $120,000 and threatened to have his associate kill him if he refused. The assailant attempted to force Zelimkhan to unlock his crypto wallet on his phone, but when Zelimkhan refused to provide the password, he was repeatedly punched and kicked.

Zelimkhan then directed the attacker to his suitcase, claiming there was money inside. The perpetrator searched the luggage and took approximately 60-70 $100 bills. The assailant then dragged Zelimkhan to the bathroom, tied him to the door rail, and kicked him in the chest. Zelimkhan lost consciousness after being struck in the back of the head.

Continues at

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2025/01/07/phuket-police-hunt-russian-suspects-in-hotel-room-attack-over-crypto-dispute/

[khaolakguy]

My initial assumption when people in the digital age are carrying large amounts in cash is that they were dodgy and when they are robbed of it, especially by their own nationality, I assume that it's a fallout amongst thieves.

[Moses]

36 minutes ago, reader said:

Mr. Zelimkhan

Well, it explains all. Zelimkhan is Chechen name (first name). So it is deal btw Russian and Chechen mafias.