In a recent legal development, a court has acquitted a Swiss man accused of assaulting a local doctor on Yamu Beach earlier this year. The lower court determined that there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations made by Dr. Thandao Chandam, who claimed she was kicked while seated near the defendant’s property on February 24.
Dr. Chandam expressed her disappointment with the verdict and announced her intention to appeal the decision. In a statement, she thanked the public for their support throughout the legal proceedings and reaffirmed her commitment to pursuing justice. Her father, Kasem Chandam, added that their family was dedicated to appealing the case for the sake of fairness.
Urs Fehr, 45, had been accused of kicking Dr. Chandam in the back during the incident. He operates an elephant camp in Phuket and had reportedly accused the doctor of trespassing. Subsequent investigations revealed that the steps leading down to the beach were built illegally and did not belong to his property.
The incident gained significant attention after a video surfaced capturing the alleged assault, prompting calls for Mr. Fehr’s deportation. Following these events, the Immigration Bureau revoked his visa, citing his behavior as a threat to social order, although he is currently appealing that decision.
Despite the court’s ruling, Mr. Fehr has maintained that he only lost his footing on the steps, which resulted in his leg appearing to kick Dr. Chandam. The case’s outcome has sparked reactions throughout the community, and further developments are anticipated as the appeal process begins.
