A British man could face jail time over a dispute with a restaurant owner in Thailand.
The Brit, identified only as Alexander, was staying in Phuket in 2022 and using the restaurant as a short cut to his condo.
The owner of an Italian restaurant banned him from doing so as he wasn’t a paying customer.
Alexander allegedly decided to take revenge by getting friends to post fake one-star reviews of the restaurant.
Over time, the restaurant’s commendable rate of 4.8 out of 5 stars plunged to just 3.1.
The owner filed a complaint and the 21-year old Brit was tracked down to his apartment in Bangkok and arrested last year.
Defamation carries a prison sentence of up to two years.
During the interrogation, he has denied the charges,” Police Major Jomparit Kaewreung of the Crime Suppression Division said.
A few years ago, an American tourist was charged under Thailand’s anti-defamation laws for posting a negative review of a Phuket hotel.
He later made a public apology and was released.