Phuket’s Tourist Police have arrested the owners of 6 Restaurants in Patong after being tipped off by reports of overcharging from more than 19 Chinese tourists and a mission run by a team of undercover officers.
Photos of the restaurant’s overpriced garlic prawn dish went viral on Chinese social media, which drew attention for its price tag of 300 baht (US$9.57) per 100g (or 3,000 baht/kg).
According to a report, prices on the prawn menu went as high as 1,000 Yuan (US$158) and that customers who refused to pay the bill “would be threatened by the restaurant’s staff”, reported the Phuket Gazette.
An undercover team from the Phuket Tourist Police and Phuket Provincial Commercial Office, Ministry of Commerce was sent to order the ‘Garlic Prawn’ menu from the 6 Restaurant located on Taweewong Road.
They were charged 2,700 baht for 10 prawns according to the menu’s 300baht/g price tag, but were instead served 500g of prawns instead of the rightful 900g.
Kanyanat Chukeaw from ‘6 Restaurant’ has been charged for defrauding consumers and was taken to Kathu Police Station for questioning.
The restaurant was reported for failing to put price tags on its menu last October and officials have also been sent to issue warnings, said Yaowapa Ponkeha, from Phuket Provincial Commercial Office Ministry of Commerce.