Phuket Kwaeng Court on Tuesday ruled a Swiss man not guilty of kicking a woman doctor sitting on steps leading down to the beach outside his villa in February.

No further details of the ruling were available.

Urs Fehr, 45, was accused of kicking Dr Thandao Chandam, 26, in the back while she and a friend were watching the full moon while sitting on steps at Yamu beach, next to his rented seaside villa, in Thalang district on Feb 24.

Shortly after the incident, the Swiss man and his Thai wife apologised. The couple said they thought the doctor was trespassing on their property, and as they approached the doctor Mr Fehr had slipped on the steps and accidentally dealt her a blow.

It was found out later that the steps to the beach were not part of the rented villa, and were in fact built illegally. The steps were then demolished.

The incident caused an uproar. Local residents demanded Mr Fehr's expulsion and immigration police revoked his visa.

He was also fined over a road rage incident with an ambulance driver, and his elephant foundation's licence was investigated.