The two Kiwis behind bars in Thailand likely have a difficult road ahead, according to an expert on the region.
Currently, the two men, Oscar and Hamish Day, are charged with multiple offences, some of which could land them in prison for five to 10 years.
The charges include robbery, assaulting an officer, attempted bribery and driving a motorcycle without a license.
Their legal trouble began after brothers were allegedly speeding and fled from the police officer on Saturday.
The officer was later tackled by one of the brothers and a gun was wrestled off him, causing a bullet to be fired.
It didn't hit anyone, and part of the incident was captured on video.
But as BBC South East Asia Correspondent Jonathan Head told 1News, the Kiwis allegedly committed their offences at a time where tensions around tourists are already heightened.
The public mood on tourists
Head described Thailand as a "tourist magnet" in which a scandal involving foreigners is "nothing new".
However, he said the resentment towards misbehaving foreigners which has come after the explosion of tourists visiting the country after the Covid-19 pandemic sets the case apart.
In the last few weeks, Head said a Swiss man made headlines in Thailand after he was accused of attacking a woman on the steps near his home, which "tapped into" this resentment.
"He is charged with far less of an offence than the two Kiwis... it's put pressure on Thai authorities to be tough on misbehaving foreigners."
Head explained Russians have also been visiting the country in large numbers and buying property, which has also lead to complaints from locals.
"Unfortunately for these two New Zealand lads, their incident has happened just at that time. So I think the public mood is very much about 'get tough with foreigners who don't behave properly.'"
Other factors
Head said while the courts in Thailand are "technically independent", they do tend to be influenced by other factors.
"How the two men behave, how contrite they are, what the public mood is, what the feeling of the government is will depend on how far they will push it.
"The courts themselves have a great deal of latitude in how far they decide to punish people who are found guilty of these offences."
What's next
When asked what might be the most likely outcome, Head said it will be a waiting game.
"When a story hits the headlines, and this one certainly has, there will be a lot of public expectation these guys won't be let off.
"The Thai police do not have a very good reputation in this country, among Thais they are viewed as corrupt and inept.
"There have been a number of famous cases here where well-connected people have been allowed to get off very serious crimes and there's been a big public outcry about that.
"I can't really imagine a scenario where the Thai authorities just say 'you shouldn't have done it, say you're sorry and we'll let you go', I think there will have to be a judicial process and these guys will face some time in prison."
Head said after that, the men may be able to get time off for good behaviour, or potentially meet an arrangement where they can serve time in prison in New Zealand.
"All those possibilities are there, but I will be very surprised if they don't face some kind of custodial sentence given the gravity of the charges."
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