Starfish selfies land tourists in trouble
published : 26 Jun 2023 at 09:03
writer: Gary Boyle
ORIGINAL SOURCE/WRITER: Achadthaya Chuenniran
Two Chinese tourists have reported to police after pictures surfaced of them holding up starfish to take selfies and stepping on coral reefs during a diving trip off Phuket.
A representative of the tour company Jinyang Holiday Group took two customers to meet investigators at the Chalong station, police said on Saturday.
They were among three Chinese visitors accused of holding up starfish and climbing on coral reefs to take selfies during their diving trip at Ao La off Koh Racha Yai on Thursday.
On Friday, marine protection officials filed a police complaint after photos and videos of their activities were posted on social media.
During questioning, the two tourists confessed.
Police are tracking down the other tourist wanted for the same offence.
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Vocabulary
- accuse: to say that someone has done something wrong or committed a crime - กล่าวหา
- complaint: when someone says that something is wrong or not satisfactory - การร้องเรียน
- confessed (verb): admitted to having committed a crime - สารภาพผิด
- coral reef: an area of coral, the top of which can sometimes be seen just above the sea - แนวปะการัง
- investigators (noun): people whose jobs are to officially find out the facts about something - ผู้สอบสวน, ผู้สำรวจ, ผู้ตรวจสอบ
- marine: relating to the sea and creatures that live in it - เกี่ยวกับทะเล
- offence: a crime or illegal activity for which there is a punishment - การกระทำผิดกฎหมาย
- protection: the act of protecting somebody/something; the state of being protected - การอารักขา, การปกป้อง
- representative: someone who has been chosen or elected by a person or group to vote, give opinions, or make decisions for them - ผู้แทน
