Chinese dine-and-dash group hits restaurants in eastern Thailand
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A group of Chinese diners recently fled a barbecue restaurant in Thailand without paying their $43 bill.
PHOTOS: SCREENGRAB FROM THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
A group of Chinese diners has been causing trouble for restaurant owners in eastern Thailand, with their latest target a pork barbecue restaurant where they fled without paying their bill.
Mr Yuthanan Panphrom, the owner of the barbecue restaurant in the Bo Win area of Chonburi’s Si Racha district, told reporters that the four Chinese men visited his restaurant on the evening of March 8.
The first three arrived at around 7.30pm local time, before being joined by a fourth man 30 minutes later, who arrived in a white car.
The group enjoyed their meal until 8.27pm and were presented with their bill for 1,082 baht (S$43).
Mr Yuthanan said the group crumpled the bill up and dropped it under the table while the staff were busy.
When the men were reminded by staff to settle their payment, they said they would pay later, only to flee the restaurant moments later in their vehicle.
Mr Yuthanan said that while he has encountered customers who mistakenly left without paying, they usually contact the restaurant after seeing social media posts about their blunder. But he noted that this group showed no intention of paying.
The restaurant owner pointed out that other restaurant owners in the area have encountered similar dine-and-dash cases.
While he urged fellow business operators to remain cautious when dealing with Chinese customers, he emphasised that many Chinese patrons are honest.
Mr Yuthanan said he will file a complaint with the police to take legal action against the group. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK


