PATTAYA THAILAND – A 54-year-old Sri Lankan tourist was injured on Saturday night following a confrontation with a transgender woman on Pattaya’s Beach Road, reportedly sparked by an inappropriate act and a refusal to pay for services.
Police and rescue personnel from the Sawangboribul Foundation responded to an incident on Soi 13/3 around 10:30 p.m. There, they found the tourist—identified only as Mr. Sepala—bleeding from the head. He received initial treatment at the scene before both he and the alleged assailant were taken to Muang Pattaya Police Station for questioning.
The suspect, 29-year-old Mintran Buran, admitted to striking the tourist several times with a high-heeled shoe. According to her account, the man had approached her and asked about her services. She quoted a price of 2,000 baht. When he asked to touch her genitals to confirm her gender, she agreed to let him do so once.
However, Mintran said tensions escalated when the tourist touched her again without consent or payment. “I let him touch me once, but when he touched me again without paying, I got angry,” she told police. “We argued, he grabbed my shirt, and I grabbed his. Then I hit him with my high-heeled shoe four or five times.”
Mr. Sepala stated that he only wanted to confirm her gender and decided to walk away after feeling unsure. “I cancelled the deal and turned to leave, but that person grabbed my collar and hit me with a shoe,” he said.
Police have yet to announce if formal charges will be filed as investigations continue.
