A Phuket appeals court sentenced Swiss national Urs Fehr to one month in jail on May 23, 2025, for assaulting a Thai doctor near his villa in February 2024, reversing an earlier acquittal.
The conviction follows an incident on February 24, 2024, when Dr. Tharndao Chandumm, also known as Dr. Pai, was kicked in the back and verbally abused by Fehr while sitting on public steps near Yamu Beach in Phuket’s Thalang district. The incident, which occurred on Makha Bucha Day, drew national attention and debate over foreign residents’ conduct in Thailand.
Fehr, 45, reportedly confronted Dr. Chandumm and her companion before the physical assault. Though he denied the allegations, mobile phone footage—including clips recorded by the defendant—showed him angrily approaching the women and shouting. While the moment of contact was not clearly visible, supporting evidence included his own admission during a confrontation with the plaintiff’s boyfriend, as well as medical and psychological evaluations indicating physical bruising and symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
The Phuket Provincial Court initially dismissed the case in September 2024 due to reasonable doubt. However, the 8th Regional Appeals Court found the evidence sufficient to convict and sentenced Fehr in absentia after he failed to appear in court. An arrest warrant has been issued.
Lawyer Nipit Intarasombat, who represented the plaintiff during the appeal, took on the case pro bono, citing strong public sentiment and the perceived injustice of the initial ruling. He said the punishment, though not severe, reflected the seriousness of the matter and the public’s demand for accountability.
The case also reignited discourse on cultural tensions, particularly after a widely circulated quote attributed to Fehr’s Thai spouse suggested that Thai people should apologize to foreigners, but not vice versa. Fehr had held a press event in March 2024 to apologize but maintained his actions were accidental.
The final ruling, delivered more than a year after the incident, was welcomed by Dr. Chandumm, who expressed relief and said she pursued the case to stand up for her rights.
