Brit ‘who caused his friends to flood the restaurant with fake one-star reviews after a dispute with the owner’ is arrested in Thailand
A British man was arrested for allegedly arranging his friends to flood a restaurant in Thailand with fake one-star reviews after a dispute with the owner.
The British national, identified only as Alexander, 21, reportedly wanted to use the Italian restaurant as a convenient shortcut to his Phuket accommodation in 2022.
However, the owner forbade him from doing so because he was not a paying customer.
In revenge, Alexander allegedly enlisted the help of his friends to flood the restaurant with negative reviews, causing the rating to drop from 4.8 to 3.1 out of 5 stars.
The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Alexander at his new apartment in Bangkok on May 9, after the owner filed a complaint with Sakhu Police Station, alleging that the fake reviews had caused damage to the restaurant’s finances and reputation.
The British national, identified only as Alexander, 21, (right) reportedly wanted to use the Italian restaurant as a convenient shortcut to his Phuket accommodation in 2022
The arrest warrant was issued for Alexander in August 2023 for “entering false computer data likely to cause harm to the general public.”
Police Major Jomparit Kaewreung from the Crime Control Department said: “The suspect was handed over to the Investigating Officer of Sakhu Police Station for further legal action. During interrogation he denied the allegations.”
Alexander was taken back to Sakhu Police Station in Phuket for prosecution.
In October 2020, an American tourist was arrested for a negative hotel review he posted on TripAdvisor.
He accused the Sea View Resort in Phuket of ‘modern slavery’. He was subsequently detained and charged under Thailand’s strict anti-defamation laws, before apologizing and being released.
Despite being one of the richest countries in the world, Thailand has resisted attempts at modernization and continues to enforce archaic laws banning freedom of expression.