Swiss citizen has his visa revoked

Move follows beach assault allegations

The Immigration Bureau has revoked the visa of the Swiss man who allegedly kicked a Thai woman relaxing on a beach near his villa in Phuket, deeming him a threat to society.

Pol Maj Gen Songprote Sirisukha, commander of Immigration Division 6, which supervises the South, signed the order revoking Urs Fehr’s visa on Wednesday night, Pol Col Parinya Klinkaysorn, deputy spokesman of the bureau, said yesterday.

It followed a recommendation to do so from Provincial Hall and the immigration office in Phuket, he said.

Mr Fehr’s behaviour, according to the Phuket governor and the commander of the Phuket immigration police, was deemed a threat to social peace, Pol Col Parinya said.

Phuket immigration police will detain him, but he may seek bail to defend himself in the assault case, said the spokesman.

Mr Fehr, a 45-year-old managing director of Elephant Sanctuary Park Co, allegedly kicked Dr Thandao Chandam, a 26-year-old doctor at Dibuk Hospital, in the back. The incident occurred while she was sitting with a friend on steps at Yamu beach to watch the full moon near his villa in Thalang district on Feb 24.

It was reported that Mr Fehr and his Thai wife mistakenly thought the pair were trespassing on their property. However, officials later confirmed that the steps to the beach were illegally built on public land.

Mr Fehr and his wife later apologised, but the Swiss national said he did not kick the doctor but slipped while approaching her.

Phuket police chief Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum said on Wednesday that Mr Fehr was charged with physical and mental assault, and police were interviewing witnesses. The case should reach Phuket prosecutors within the week, he said.

Mr Fehr was also fined yesterday in connection with a road rage case involving an ambulance in December last year.

The incident happened on Thepkasattri Road in Thalang district on Christmas Day when Mr Fehr reportedly cut in front of the ambulance and refused to let it pass.

He later lowered his window to make a rude gesture with his middle finger and cursed the driver.

The ambulance driver posted a video clip of the incident online, and on Dec 29, he learned that Mr Fehr had filed a computer crime complaint against the driver, which was recently withdrawn.

Mr Fehr was yesterday fined 1,000 baht for defamation and another 4,000 baht for reckless driving at Thalang police station. After being fined, Mr Fehr was taken by immigration police to undergo the process to revoke his business visa which was set to expire on March 13.

Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Gen Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai said yesterday that Mr Fehr could file an appeal against the revocation but had to do so within 48 hours.

Deportation would depend on the outcome of his criminal cases, the commissioner said.

Meanwhile, Suthas Niyomthai, the livestock development chief of Phuket, said 14 elephants at Mr Fehr’s sanctuary were healthy and were registered.