Thailand: German man arrested after 40 "Save Gaza" tags on Koh Phangan

A German man was arrested on February 4 for tagging messages about Gaza in more than 40 public places in Koh Phangan , southern Thailand.

After viral images of a foreigner vandalizing public property in Koh Phangan circulated online, the Immigration Bureau obtained an arrest warrant from the Koh Samui Provincial Court for the offender.

The suspect, identified as Tom H., 58, has been nicknamed "Mr. Spray" by the island's residents.

Immigration Bureau Division 2 officers found him in a hotel in the Sao Chingcha district of Bangkok , where he was arrested.

He is accused of damaging public property and illegally tagging messages on walls, utility poles, and public structures.

Police said the suspect was then transferred to Koh Phangan police station for trial.

A wave of political graffiti across the island

Tag “Save Gaza” on the back of a road sign.

The case sparked a wave of outrage on the internet after images surfaced showing graffiti in English spray-painted across the island.

These include messages such as "SAVE GAZA" on road information signs and "FREE" on electricity poles.

Other inscriptions have appeared on roads, garbage cans, traffic signs and kilometer markers, many of which are public property.

The suspect justifies his actions and apologizes

A German tourist, known by the pseudonym "Mr Spray", was arrested on February 4 for tagging "Save Gaza" in more than 40 different locations on the island of Koh Phangan.

Earlier on Wednesday, before his arrest, the man contacted Khaosod English to explain his actions.

He stated that he loved Thailand, that he had been visiting frequently since his first visit in 2001, and that he had always been well treated by the Thai people.

He added that he was shocked by the changes he had observed in Koh Phangan, particularly the increasing number of Israeli nationals living on the island.

See : Thailand: tensions between locals and Israelis on the island of Koh Phangan

He claimed that he believed some "war criminals" resided in Thailand, which made him deeply uncomfortable and prompted him to act.

"My intention was to remind Israelis of their history and to call for a debate on war criminals," he said.

The man apologized for his actions, stating:

"I am sorry for the damage I have caused to private property. I am sorry for upsetting the local community of Phangan."

Thai authorities are tightening regulations in response to excesses by foreign tourists

Logo of the Royal Thai Police Immigration Bureau.

In response to this case, the Immigration Bureau issued operational guidelines for incidents involving foreign visitors.

Immigration offices located in tourist hotspots such as Koh Phangan, Samui and Phuket will work with local authorities and community representatives to receive and process complaints regarding the behavior of foreign tourists.

The information will be reviewed to determine appropriate measures, which may include visa revocation.

Authorities plan to review Tom H.'s case on Friday.

See also:

Thailand: Foreigners wanted for tagging a temple in Chiang Mai

Tourists accused of vandalizing an ancient wall in Chiang Mai, Thailand will not go to prison

Source: Khaosod English