An Israeli couple arrested in Koh Phangan, Thailand faces criminal charges after being caught engaging in sexual activity at the popular Wang Sai waterfall tourist site in broad daylight Wednesday.
The incident occurred Tuesday, when the couple was seen performing sexual activity in daylight, showing no consideration for the presence of other tourists. Some shocked visitors filmed the act and shared it online, sparking widespread public outrage and concerns about Thailand's tourism image.
The Koh Phangan district chief ordered an immediate investigation to identify and track down the couple. Authorities discovered the pair had been staying at a hotel in a village in the district. Wednesday, district and immigration officers, including the deputy police commander, arrested the man and woman at their hotel and took them to the Koh Phangan immigration office for questioning.
According to authorities, the two admitted they were the couple appearing in the sexual clip circulated online, and acknowledged they had engaged in sexual intercourse at the waterfall around midday on November 4. Following their confession, police charged the tourists with "committing an obscene act in public by exposing their bodies or offensive sexual behavior." The couple was transferred to Koh Phangan police station, where legal proceedings began.
Police stated that such behavior not only violates Thai law but also offends local customs and tarnishes the image of a popular nature site. Tourism authorities have long warned that visitors must respect Thai cultural norms, especially at public or sacred sites. This case serves as a reminder that Thailand welcomes tourists but expects them to behave with basic respect.
