(TAN): A resort in Thailand has sued an American tourist over a negative review on Tripadvisor, GMA News Online reported. The tourist, Wesley Barnes, could face up to two years in prison if found guilty.
Barnes had visited the Sea View Resort on the Koh Chang island, famed for its sandy beaches and turquoise waters. He wrote negative online reviews about the destination. According to the Tripadvisor review Barnes had posted in July, he encountered “unfriendly staff” who “act like they don’t want anyone here”.
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“The Sea View Resort owner filed a complaint that the defendant had posted unfair reviews on his hotel on the Tripadvisor website,” Colonel Thanapon Taemsara of Koh Chang police told AFP. He added that Barnes was accused of causing “damage to the reputation of the hotel,” and quarrelling with staff over not paying a corkage fee for alcohol brought to the hotel.
Barnes, who works in Thailand, was arrested by immigration police and returned to Koh Chang where he was briefly detained and then freed on bail. Barnes and the Sea View Resort are yet to comment on the matter.
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Thailand’s anti-defamation laws have long drawn scrutiny from human rights and press freedom groups, who say that powerful players use it as a weapon to stifle free expression. The maximum sentence is two years in prison, along with a fine of THB 200,000 (USD 6,300).
