THIS is the shocking moment a Brit was arrested after allegedly leaving a series of bad reviews at an Italian restaurant.
The 21-year-old has been accused of giving the eatery in Phuket, Thailand, a one-star rating on Google in a bid to slander the owner.
He was apprehended in Bangkok last night after a warrant had been issued for him in August 2023.
According to investigation, the suspect had quarrelled with the restaurant’s owner over the access to his flat in mid-2022.
He allegedly used the shortcut through the eatery to get to his apartment in Phuket.
The convenient route incurred costs for the business and was designated for customers only.
After the Brit was asked to stop, the owner claimed that the eatery’s Google rating drastically dropped from a lofty 4.9 to 3.1 stars.
He noticed that the restaurant had been flooded with multiple one-star reviews which contained false information.
The suspect and his friends are said to have plotted to bombard the eatery with negative comments over short period of time.
The owner then claimed that the low rating slated his restaurant in an apparent bid to deter customers.
He filed a complaint with the Sakhu Police Station, claiming that the restaurant had suffered damage to its reputation and profits because of the malicious act.
The investigators requested an arrest warrant from the Phuket Provincial Court but by that time, the Brit had left the island.
He was taken into custody eight months later at his new apartment in Bangkok on May 9.
He maintains his innocence as he faces accusations of “entering false computer data likely to cause damage to the general public”.
If charged, he will be punished for up to two years in prison for defamation.
Police Major Jomparit Kaewreung of the Crime Suppression Division said: “The suspect was handed over to the inquiry officer of Sakhu Police Station for further legal action. During the interrogation, he has denied the charges.”
The Brit has been sent back to Sakhu Police Station in Phuket as he awaits the prosecution.
