Nineteen French tourists were arrested after allegedly having an illegal party during the coronavirus lockdown on a Thai island.<br /><br />The holidaymakers were gathered in a beach bar named 'Bohemia' while drinking and listening music in Koh Samui, southern Thailand.<br /><br />Furious residents called police to report the group for allegedly breaking a curfew and ban on social gatherings because of the Covid-19 pandemic.<br /><br />Officers arrived on Sunday night (May 10) where they allegedly found a party going on and people ignoring social distancing guidelines.<br /><br />They arrested 19 French tourists, three Thais, one Burmese waiter Aung Thin, 24, and a French manager Quentin Thiollet,24.<br /><br />One of the partygoers reportedly told the police that they did not know about the state of emergency act, which came into force in March.<br /><br />He said: "Me and my friends travelled to Thailand for leisure but we were stuck here due to the Covid-19 pandemic.<br /><br />''Then we just came here for dinner and we ordered drinks as usual because we did not know that it is illegal to party now."<br /><br />Police took all 24 people back to the station and held them in custody while the charges were processed. <br /><br />Police Colonel Yuthana Borphud said: "All of them were charged with together violating the state of emergency act.<br /><br />"However, the French manager will face an additionally charge for illegally open a nighttime venue.''<br /><br />Violators of the state of emergency act face up to two years in prison and fines of100,000THB (2,473GBP) each.
