Thai bar manager allegedly shaves female customer's head over unpaid S$2,300 bill

A bar manager in Thailand was filmed shaving a female customer's head after she allegedly failed to pay a bill amounting to 60,000 baht (about S$2,306).

What happened

According to local media outlet Bangkok Post, the case was brought to light by Chalida Phalamat of the Pen Nueng Foundation.

In footage uploaded by Chalida on Aug. 27, the bar manager can be seen shaving the woman's head before taking her to a police station, where he accused her of running up a bill without paying.

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The bar alleged that the woman had used a fake identity card to enter the venue on Aug. 25 and did not have the money to settle her bill.

She was also accused of having previously avoided paying bills at other establishments.

The manager reportedly subsequently made the woman sign an agreement to sell her hair, which was to be cut from root to tip, for 3,000 baht (about S$115).

"Excessive and unlawful"

Chalida acknowledged that the bar had suffered financial losses and said she understood that the manager had a responsibility towards his employees, Bangkok Post reported.

However, she described shaving the woman's head as excessive and unlawful.

She further questioned why the bar had taken matters into its own hands instead of filing a police report.

Chalida also questioned whether the woman's agreement to have her hair cut could be considered genuine consent given the circumstances.

She further cast doubt on the bar's explanation that the woman's hair had been shaved for donation, noting that it had already been cut short before the shaving took place.

According to Chalida, the bar manager told her he will contact the woman's family to apologise and provide compensation.

She also urged Thailand's Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to check on the woman's welfare, saying there were questions over whether she was under 20 and whether she was a minor.

Chalida also said it was unclear whether the woman had any underlying mental health conditions.

The woman's mother has since disputed the bar's account of the incident.

She claimed she had offered to pay the bill in instalments, but was rejected.

The mother also alleged that her daughter had suffered physical injuries, including bruising.

She said she planned to take her daughter to file a police report at Bang Yai Khan police station on Aug. 28.