Beach sex

BANGKOK - THAI police fined an Iranian couple about US$15 (S$21.58) for having drunken sex on a popular tourist beach in front of a crowd of excited onlookers on Friday, officials said.

The 28-year-old man and the woman, 25, from the strict Islamic republic were caught in the act just before dawn by a policeman in the coastal resort of Pattaya.

'While I was on a motorcycle patrol I saw some 20 people including tourists gathered at the beach. I went to examine and found the two Iranians were naked and having sex,' said Captain Jamras Thongjinda of Pattaya city police station.

Police charged the pair with committing an indecent act in a public place and in front of the public.

The couple said they were drunk after finishing a bottle of vodka between them and police fined them 500 baht before freeing them, Jamras said.

Pattaya has a reputation for drunken excess, sleazy bars and explicit sex shows. -- AFP