Police in Patong have arrested a British national who allegedly punched a tuk-tuk driver following a collision. It appears the British man was not even involved in the initial collision.
The Phuket Express reports that a tuk-tuk driver, named as Armin Longklang filed a complaint after the incident, which happened on Tuesday night, May 9.
Armin claims the British man was part of a group of “aggressive” foreign motorbike riders, none of whom were wearing helmets. According to the tuk-tuk driver, a verbal altercation ensued when he requested compensation for the damage to his vehicle.
Armin’s testimony is backed up by CCTV footage of the verbal dispute, followed by footage of one bike rider in a black t-shirt, getting off his bike and punching Armin in the side of the head twice. The man and his friends can then be seen getting back on their bikes and fleeing the scene, despite several witnesses trying to stop them.
The report goes on to say that Patong Police tracked the British tourist, named as Mr. Jack Mark Paul Hoban, from Manchester in the UK, to his hotel in Kata. Mr. Hoban was found in front of the hotel and it’s understood he initially tried to flee from officers, before being captured. The tourist then agreed to go to Patong Police Station, where Armin formally identified him as the man who had attacked him.
Hoban remains in custody and is facing several charges, including assault, and resisting arrest.
This latest incident follows one in Kamala earlier this week, when another foreign motorbike rider was involved in a road rage incident with a taxi driver. In that incident, the foreigner gestured at the taxi driver with his middle finger, before punching the taxi with his fist and ramming the vehicle with his bike, damaging the door.
SOURCE: The Phuket Express
