A Bangkok court has sentenced a man to 15 days in prison and fined him 5,000 baht for riding a jet ski through floodwater on a major Bangkok road, but suspended the jail term for one year.
According to Makkasan police, the man, only identified publicly as ‘Sorn’, 28, was also placed on probation for one year, required to report to authorities three times and perform 12 hours of community service.
The Court also ordered the confiscation of the jet ski used in the incident.
The ruling followed the posting of video showing the man riding the jet ski along New Phetchaburi Road, near the Ekamai Nuea intersection in Bang Kapi district, during heavy rain and flooding.
The video was widely shared on Facebook, drawing criticism over the appropriateness of using a jet ski on a flooded public road.
Police had earlier tracked down the jet-ski rider after reviewing CCTV footage along the route and at nearby locations. They also identified a second man, ‘Prao’, who filmed the incident.
Police said that, during questioning, both admitted that they appeared in the video and had carried out the acts shown.
They said they had acted out of ignorance and intended only to make people smile while Bangkok was experiencing widespread flooding.
Sorn also told police that he had studied abroad and was unfamiliar with Thai culture.
Police charged Sorn with causing annoyance or distress to others and obstructing traffic without permission. Prao was charged as an accessory to the offence.
Main photo: Still image from video shows Sorn riding a jet ski on New Phetchaburi Road near the Ekamai Nuea intersection in Bang Kapi district, with Prao filming the stunt. (Video by Nay Charoensupaya)
