A British man identified only as Alexander faces up to two years behind bars after being arrested for allegedly writing fake one-star reviews for an Italian restaurant in Thailand.
Alexander was arrested at his Bangkok residence earlier this month following a reported disagreement with the owners of an Italian restaurant on the island of Phuket. The conflict allegedly began in 2022 when Alexander sought to use the restaurant as a shortcut to his nearby condominium. The restaurant owner refused, citing that Alexander was not a paying customer.
In retaliation, Alexander is accused of enlisting his friends to flood the restaurant’s online listings with negative reviews, dropping its rating from 4.8 to 3.1 out of 5 stars. The restaurant owner subsequently filed a complaint with the Sakhu Police Station, claiming that the fake reviews had severely damaged the establishment’s finances and reputation.
On May 9, officers from Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau arrested Alexander at his new apartment in Bangkok. The arrest warrant, issued in August 2023, states that he is suspected of “entering false computer data likely to cause damage to the general public,”
Defamation is considered a criminal offence in Thailand and carries a punishment of up to two years in prison.
Police Major Jomparit Kaewreung of the Crime Suppression Division commented on the case, stating, “The suspect was handed over to the inquiry officer of Sakhu Police Station for further legal action. During the interrogation, he has denied the charges.”
Alexander has since been taken back to the Sakhu Police Station in Phuket, where he awaits further legal proceedings.
This case highlights the serious consequences of online defamation in Thailand, where strict laws protect businesses from damaging false claims. Alexander’s trial will likely set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
