Top National Thailand Stories From the Past Week: Chinese Fugitives Arrested for Alleged Kidnapping, Torture, and Violent Debt, and More

Here is a look at the top NATIONAL Thailand stories, chosen by our Pattaya News/TPN National team, from last week, Monday, May 25th to Sunday, May 31st.

They are not in any particular level of importance but are listed in the order of date of publication.

  1. Thai Metropolitan Police officers located and interviewed former Formula 1 driver Mika Juhani Salo on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 26th, at his hotel in the Sukhumvit area as part of the investigation into an incident that left the 59-year-old Finn with a deep leg wound.

Thai Police Interview Former F1 Driver Mika Salo After Leg Injury in Bangkok, Investigate Cause

2. Thailand’s National Communicable Disease Committee has approved strict new legal measures to prevent the spread of Ebola, requiring all travelers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda to undergo at least 21 days of quarantine or isolation.

Mandatory 21-Day Quarantine for Travelers to Thailand from Congo and Uganda Now in Effect Due to Ebola Concerns

3.  The body of a man believed to be a South Korean tourist was discovered floating face-down in the sea north of Koh Sak, near Koh Larn, approximately 6 nautical miles off the Pattaya coast this morning.

South Korean Tourist’s Body Found Floating in Pattaya Sea; Police Investigate Cause of Death

4. A 22-year-old Chinese man is wanted by Pattaya police after allegedly savagely beating a 25-year-old transgender woman inside a Pattaya hotel room, leaving her bloodied and requiring nearly 30 stitches before immediately fleeing the country back to China.

Chinese Tourist Flees Thailand After Brutal Assault on Transgender Woman in Pattaya Hotel, Thai Police Expand Investigation

5. A violent altercation involving three Thai men and a single foreign tourist was captured on a viral video seen here on our X social channel in the middle of Pattaya’s famous Walking Street early yesterday morning, sparking widespread attention after the footage was shared online.

3-on-1 Brawl Erupts on Pattaya’s Walking Street as Thai Men Attack Foreign Tourist

6. Thai authorities have arrested four Chinese nationals wanted in China for allegedly defrauding Wuhan authorities of nearly 87 million baht (approximately 18 million yuan) in land expropriation compensation through document forgery.

Four Wanted Chinese Fugitives Arrested in Pattaya and Bangkok Over Alleged Fraud in China for Roughly 87 Million Baht

7. A violent altercation between a group of foreigners and Thai nationals at the Lam Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya escalated dramatically when a dark-colored sedan reversed and pinned a woman underneath, lifting the vehicle’s wheels off the ground. The shocking incident went viral on social media and is now being investigated by Pattaya Police.

Pattaya Police Investigate Wild Brawl Involving Foreigners and Thais at Bali Hai Pier, Woman Appears to be Deliberately Run Over by Car

8. Thai police conducted a joint raid on luxury housing estates near Pattaya on May 30th, 2026, arresting four Chinese nationals, three who were on overstay and one with Thai criminal charges, wanted in China for allegedly operating an illegal loan sharking network involving extortionate interest rates, kidnapping, torture, and violent debt collection.

Four Chinese Fugitives Arrested Near Pattaya for Alleged Kidnapping, Torture, and Violent Debt Collection in China

9. Police have arrested a 33‑year‑old Indian national after videos surfaced online showing him firing both handguns and rifles. The suspect, identified only as Mr. Shabeel, was apprehended on Phangan Island, following a coordinated operation targeting foreign nationals involved in illegal activities.

Overstaying Indian Man Arrested on Koh Phangan with Drugs after Showing Off Firearms Online

10. Police on Koh Phangan have formally detained a 51-year-old British national, Mr. Wilcock, following a serious hit-and-run incident that left a beloved Thai medical professor critically injured. 

UPDATE: British Man Faces Seven Charges After Alleged Under the Influence Hit-and-Run on Doctor on Koh Phangan, Bail Opposed

11. Relatives of 31-year-old taxi driver Mr. Sikhirin Phromcharoen filed a petition for justice after he was brutally attacked and shot dead by a group according to them of so-called “black-plate taxi mafia” operating in Koh Samui, Surat Thani.

Volunteer Taxi Driver Brutally Killed on Koh Samui, Police Deny any Taxi Mafia, Promise Transparent Investigation

12. Phuket International Airport has issued a statement addressing recent concerns circulating on social media regarding long queues at immigration checkpoints and allegations of unofficial service fees for expedited clearance.

Phuket Airport Confirms Equal Immigration Service

That’s all for this week, as always thanks for your support.

For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.

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Adam Judd
Mr. Adam Judd is the Chief of Content of TPN media, English language, since December 2017. He is originally from Washington D.C., America. His background is in HR and Operations and has written about news and Thailand for a decade now. He has lived in Pattaya for about ten years as a full-time resident, is well known locally and been visiting the country as a regular visitor for over 15 years. His full contact information, including office contact information, can be found on our Contact Us page below. Stories please e-mail Editor@ThePattayanews.com About Us: https://thephuketexpress.com/about-us/ Contact Us: https://thephuketexpress.com/contact-us/