Israeli man arrested on Samui after fleeing quarantine in Bangkok, heading to Pattaya then Chumphon
Surat Thani police on Wednesday arrested Israel national Ohad Baruch at a restaurant on Koh Samui after he escaped quarantine at a hotel in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area.
“The suspect arrived in Thailand on December 17 and tested positive for Covid-19 via the RT-PCR method,” said Metropolitan Police Bureau spokesman Maj-General Jirasan Kaewsaengaek.
“He was transported to an alternate quarantine hotel on Sukhumvit Road to wait for confirmation and treatment, but fled from the hotel the same day. Witnesses said he got in a taxi heading to a hotel in Pattaya, Chonburi.”
Officials tracked down Baruch and found that he rented a van in Chonburi and drove to the southern provinces.
CCTV cameras spotted him on December 20 in Chumphon in the morning and later in Surat Thani in the afternoon.
“Police officers then searched tourist attractions in Surat Thani for the suspect until they found him at a restaurant near Nathon Beach on Koh Samui on Wednesday afternoon,” said Jiransan.
“Baruch will be charged with violating the communicable disease control act, but for now he has been transported to a hospital for treatment.”
