A fight that broke out between tourists and taxi drivers in Phuket has been resolved, with both sides fined.
Yesterday, August 29, Wichit Police summoned 5 foreign tourists and 3 taxi drivers for questioning, in relation to a brawl in front of the Central Festival shopping centre. A video of the confrontation was shared on social media, with the caption, “Phuket heats up, Taxi vs Tourists in front of a famous mall.”
VIDEO: YouTube/Ch7HDNews
It’s understood the fight broke out in the evening and involved foreign tourists and a group of taxi drivers. According to a social media user recounting the incident, 3 Middle Eastern women were leaning on a parked taxi and got annoyed when the driver asked them to move away from their taxis. A man who was with the women then approached the driver and a dispute broke out.
The video of the incident generated multiple comments on social media, with some netizens criticising the tourists and others berating the taxi drivers for their reaction. A number of people took aim at the visa-exemption policy, saying it’s putting “quantity over quality” when it comes to foreign tourists.
When both parties were questioned by police, it emerged that prior to the fight breaking out, the tourists were waiting for a taxi to take them back to their hotel in Patong. Some of them leaned on a parked taxi while waiting, which irritated the driver, who asked them to go away.
This then prompted an argument between both sides, which quickly escalated and became physical, with punches and bottles thrown.
Wichit Police reviewed footage of the incident and determined that both parties were equally responsible. Both sides were charged with “jointly causing a noisy quarrel in a public way or place, or acting in any way to disturb the peace in a public way or place, punishable by a fine not exceeding 5,000 baht.”
Khaosod English reports that both parties decided they didn’t want to take the matter any further, paid their fines, and went their separate ways.
SOURCE: Khaosod English
