Thai Police File Charges Against Men for Riding Jet Ski on Flooded Bangkok Street
Thai authorities in Bangkok have filed charges against two young men following a severe public backlash over a viral video depicting one of them riding a jet ski through floodwaters on a major street in the capital of Thailand. The incident, which drew sharp criticism across social media platforms, unfolded on New Phetchaburi Road near the Ekkamai Nua intersection in Bangkok's Bang Kapi district during a period of heavy urban flooding.
Following widespread condemnation of the stunt, officers from Makkasan Police Station initiated an investigation, meticulously reviewing closed-circuit television footage from the surrounding thoroughfares to trace the individuals involved. Investigators successfully identified and located the two suspects, a 28-year-old man named Sorn who operated the watercraft, and another individual identified as Prow who recorded the footage.
During preliminary interrogations by law enforcement in Bangkok, both suspects admitted their involvement in producing and starring in the video. The defendants maintained that their actions stemmed from a lack of judgment and claimed their primary motivation was to bring humor to the public amid the hardships of the severe flooding plaguing the city. Sorn further offered an excuse to the authorities, stating that because he had pursued his education abroad, he was unfamiliar with local Thai cultural norms.
Despite their explanations, Thai police formally charged Sorn with engaging in behavior that causes public embarrassment or nuisance, alongside violating traffic regulations by obstructing vehicle movement without explicit authorization from the traffic chief. Meanwhile, Prow has been implicated as an accomplice in the incident.
Police confirmed that the legal proceedings are advancing rapidly and the case file is scheduled to be submitted to the court. Additionally, law enforcement officials stated they will formally petition the court to issue an order confiscating the jet ski used in the prohibited street navigation.
