Thailand’s first Tourist Court opens in Pattaya
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports announced that Thailand’s first Tourist Court will be opened tomorrow in Pattaya to shorten the hearing process in cases involving touists.
Theft, physical violence and rape are the top three crimes in Pattaya. These cases, normally requiring a month to proceed the hearing, will only take two weeks. For minor cases, the process could end in one day. The first case on the court’s agenda will rule an accident off Pattaya’s Lan Island when a speedboat rammed another tourist boat at anchor leaving two Chinese men dead and several other tourists injured including a Korean tourist who lost his leg. Most of the accidents are caused by boat drivers, who lack experience, or are over confident and drive recklessly according to Pattaya Mayor, Itthiphol Kunplome. The court will reduce the time lag between accidents and a court hearing “international tourists who stay in Thailand for just a short period will receive the benefit of justice before they leave the country and will not have the additional expense of returning for a court hearing”, he explained.
Other priority tourism courts will open in Bangkok, Phuket, Samui and Chiang Mai, using district court premises, but hearings will be held in the evenings.
