Chinese tourists accused of leaving a restaurant in Udon Thani without paying a bill of 9,480 baht have denied any wrongdoing, attributing the incident to a misunderstanding.
The manager of a South Korean restaurant in the northeastern Thai province reported the incident to Mueang Udon Thani Police Station on January 27. According to the complaint, 12 Chinese nationals, including both adults and children, dined at the establishment on the evening of January 26. The group reportedly ordered premium dishes such as beef loin, tenderloin, imported Japanese beef, and beer.
Restaurant staff noticed that the diners gradually left their seats, with employees assuming they were heading to the restroom. However, when they did not return, a review of CCTV footage confirmed that they had already exited the premises.
The manager alleged that the group deliberately avoided payment, noting that one individual appeared to check for security cameras before quickly leaving. Concerned about the financial impact, the manager urged them to return and settle the bill, explaining that the amount was equivalent to an entire month’s salary.
Authorities later traced the group to a hotel in Udon Thani. Following police intervention, the tourists agreed to pay the bill on January 27. One member of the group stated that the failure to pay was unintentional, as they had arrived at the restaurant in two separate groups, each believing the other had already covered the cost.
The incident was reported by The Thaiger.
