Birthday horror in Bangkok as Japanese teacher Yuki, 43, is robbed and battered near Makkasan station. Youths hit him three times with a fist-sized rock before he fled, bleeding. Seven juveniles later faced court, with police not opposing bail before a juvenile court.
Seven youths have appeared in court charged over a vicious attack on a Japanese teacher in a well-known central Bangkok area. Police say the group had repeatedly approached people for money before the Makkasan attack, suggesting an established pattern rather than a chance encounter. Yuki, 43, was surrounded after refusing demands for cash, struck three times with a fist-sized rock and robbed. Seven juveniles later admitted involvement, according to police, yet investigators did not oppose bail.
Seven juveniles faced court on Saturday after a Japanese tourist was robbed and battered near Bangkok’s Makkasan Airport Rail Link station. The 43-year-old teacher was struck three times with a fist-sized rock and punched in the mouth. One credit card also disappeared during the attack. Police later said the seven admitted robbing and assaulting him. Yet investigators did not oppose bail applications by their families.
At 9.25 am on Saturday, August 15, investigators brought the juveniles from Makkasan Police Station to the Central Juvenile and Family Court. Officers requested remand orders on charges of jointly committing robbery at night. Meanwhile, parents and guardians travelled to court and prepared bail applications. Their children had spent the previous night at home after police completed questioning.
The case centres on Japanese national Yuki, 43, who teaches in Japan. He had travelled to Thailand ahead of his birthday on August 16. Mr Yuki planned to celebrate with his Thai girlfriend. Instead, a wrong turn near Makkasan station ended with him bleeding and running for help.
Japanese teacher lost near Makkasan station before youths demanded cash and launched violent attack
The drama began at about 8.30 pm on Wednesday, August 12. Mr Yuki was heading towards the Airport Rail Link at Makkasan station. However, he mistakenly wandered into dense, wooded land behind the transport hub. He then became lost while attempting to return towards the main road.
At that point, a group of young people approached on two motorcycles. Initial accounts described six youths, with three travelling on each motorcycle. They came from the entrance to Soi Asoke-Din Daeng 30. Suddenly, the group began demanding cash from the Japanese visitor.
“Money! Money!” the youths repeatedly told him.
Mr Yuki refused. “No, no,” he repeatedly answered.
Then the confrontation turned violent. The attackers restrained the Japanese man before beating him. Notably, somebody struck the back of his head three times with a fist-sized rock. He was also punched once in the mouth.
Despite the blows, Mr Yuki managed to break free. He ran from the wooded area while bleeding and searching for help. Subsequently, a check showed one of his credit cards was missing.
Bleeding Japanese tourist escapes wooded area as two motorcycles speed away towards Makkasan Lake
Nearby, Arthit, 44, was waiting in his car near Makkasan Airport Rail Link station. His surname was withheld in the original account. Mr Arthit had parked there at about 8 pm while waiting for passengers. Soon afterwards, he heard children shouting and yelling inside the nearby area.
Moments later, two motorcycles came out of the bushes. Mr Arthit could not clearly determine how many people were aboard. However, he said the riders appeared extremely young. None looked older than 15, according to his account.
The motorcycles then headed towards the road beside Makkasan Lake. Shortly afterwards, another figure emerged from the same wooded area. This time, it was the injured Japanese tourist.
Mr Yuki ran towards Mr Arthit seeking assistance. Blood surrounded his mouth, while other injuries indicated he had been attacked. In response, Mr Arthit immediately drove him to hospital.
During their conversation, Mr Yuki described becoming lost behind the Airport Rail Link station. He said the youths approached as he tried to retreat. Initially, he attempted to explain that he was a foreigner.
“I’m not Thai,” Mr Yuki told the group, according to Mr Arthit.
“He’s not Thai,” one of the youths replied.
Japanese teacher tells youths he is not Thai before attack as details spread online and police close in
Even so, the demands for money continued. Mr Yuki kept refusing before the attack began. He was then restrained, struck with the rock and punched.
Separately, Mr Arthit learned why the Japanese teacher was visiting Thailand. Mr Yuki had come to celebrate his birthday with his Thai girlfriend. His birthday was due on Sunday, August 16.
Instead, the holiday took a violent turn four days earlier. The Japanese visitor required hospital treatment after escaping from the group. Later, he contacted Mr Arthit and thanked him for providing assistance.
According to Mr Arthit, Mr Yuki remained shocked and frightened following the attack. Nevertheless, he had escaped the isolated area despite suffering several blows.
In parallel, details of the assault began circulating online. A Facebook user posted information in the “Grab Car Driver club Thailand” group. The post described a Japanese tourist running for help after teenagers robbed and assaulted him.
Police then began tracing those suspected of involvement. Early reports referred to six youths travelling on two motorcycles. However, investigators ultimately questioned seven juveniles over the attack.
Seven juveniles admit robbing and assaulting Japanese tourist before police seek remand orders in court
As part of this, officers followed procedures required when dealing with juvenile suspects. A multidisciplinary team participated in the questioning process. Pol Col Uramphon Khundechsamrit later confirmed that all seven admitted their involvement.
Pol Col Uramphon is Superintendent of Makkasan Police Station. According to him, the group confirmed the central facts surrounding the case. Specifically, they admitted robbing and physically assaulting the Japanese tourist.
Consequently, investigators charged the seven with jointly committing robbery at night. Police completed their initial questioning on Friday, August 14. Afterwards, however, the suspects were not kept at the police station overnight.
Instead, officers released the juveniles into the care of their families. They were ordered to return to Makkasan Police Station on Saturday morning. Their parents and guardians subsequently brought them back as instructed.
By Saturday morning, police were ready to move the case into court. Investigators took the seven juveniles before the Central Juvenile and Family Court at 9.25 am. There, officers sought remand orders covering the group.
At the same time, their families prepared to seek bail. Police made clear that investigators would not object to those applications. Pol Col Uramphon said parents could apply for their children’s release.
Police leave bail decision to court as questions emerge over juvenile claims and railway-owned land
Nonetheless, police support did not determine the outcome. The superintendent stressed that granting bail remained entirely at the court’s discretion.
On another front, police faced questions about events immediately before the robbery. The bulletin referred to claims involving alleged indecent conduct before the attack. However, investigators declined to release details concerning that part of the case.
Pol Col Uramphon said the information could not be disclosed because the suspects were juveniles. Furthermore, the questioning had involved a multidisciplinary team. Accordingly, that element of the investigation remained confidential.
Attention also shifted towards the wooded land surrounding the scene. The vacant site lies close to one of Bangkok’s important airport rail connections. However, the attack occurred on nearby land rather than inside Makkasan station.
Reporters asked whether the location had become a gathering place for illicit nighttime activity. In reply, Pol Col Uramphon pointed to ownership of the property. The State Railway of Thailand owns the land.
Therefore, he said questions about the location should be directed to the railway agency.
Good Samaritan recalls earlier trouble near Makkasan as police trace seven juveniles after tourist attack
Mr Arthit had already described previous trouble involving young people around the same area. Earlier, youths of a similar age had targeted him while he waited nearby. Someone threw a paint can at him during that incident.
At the time, Mr Arthit did not press charges. He considered the episode youthful recklessness. Yet Wednesday’s encounter involved a foreign visitor suffering repeated blows and losing a credit card.
Moreover, Mr Arthit said the surrounding area was regularly used for evening exercise. Men, women and children came there to jog, according to his account.
The latest case unfolded rapidly after Mr Yuki reached hospital. Investigators started tracing those believed to have participated in the attack. Eventually, seven juveniles were brought into the investigation.
Crucially, Pol Col Uramphon said they later admitted to the robbery and physical assault. Their admissions came during questioning conducted with the multidisciplinary team present.
The sequence began with what should have been an ordinary journey to Makkasan Airport Rail Link station. Mr Yuki accidentally entered the wooded area while trying to reach the train.
Japanese tourist struck with fist-sized rock before escaping as police later question seven juveniles
From there, events moved quickly. Two motorcycles approached from the direction of Soi Asoke-Din Daeng 30. The youths demanded money from the Japanese visitor.
When Mr Yuki refused, the confrontation became physical. He was restrained before receiving three blows to the back of his head. A fist-sized rock was used in those strikes.
Additionally, somebody punched him once in the mouth. Mr Yuki still managed to escape and run towards the station area. There, he found Mr Arthit and received immediate assistance.
The timing added another detail to the case. Mr Yuki had arrived in Thailand to celebrate his August 16 birthday. Instead, he was hospitalised four days before that celebration after becoming lost near the rail station.
Following the attack, the missing credit card added a robbery element to the investigation. Police then tracked down the young suspects and questioned them.
By Friday, the initial police questioning had concluded. Even after their admissions, the seven were allowed to return home. Their families then brought them back to Makkasan Police Station the next morning.
Seven juveniles return with families for court remand as police decline to oppose applications for bail
Saturday’s court appearance marked the next stage. Investigators formally sought remand orders on the nighttime robbery charge. Meanwhile, parents and guardians prepared their applications for bail.
For now, all seven juveniles face the same robbery charge. Details surrounding the separate claims before the assault remain restricted under the juvenile process.
The location itself is also under scrutiny following questions about nighttime activity there. Pol Col Uramphon said the State Railway of Thailand owns the property.
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Meanwhile, Mr Yuki survived the attack and received hospital treatment after Mr Arthit drove him there. He later thanked the 44-year-old for coming to his aid.
The Japanese teacher had arrived expecting a birthday celebration with his girlfriend. Instead, he was robbed and beaten after one wrong turn near Makkasan station. Significantly, the incident happened in the centre of Bangkok in an area known to most foreign tourists.
Now, seven juveniles are before the Central Juvenile and Family Court over that attack. Police have sought their remand but will not oppose bail. Ultimately, their families can seek their release while proceedings continue. Whether they leave custody remains a decision for the juvenile court.
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