A motorbike taxi driver has been fined 2,500 baht and ordered to attend behaviour training after becoming abusive and threatening a woman. The incident happened around 4am yesterday, May 10, on Rat U-Thit 200 Pee Road in Patong (second road back from the beach) according to a Phuket News report.
The motorbike driver, named as 37 year old Prasertchai Phothavorn from the southern province of Nakhon Sri Thammarat, is accused of threatening the woman and using foul language after she refused his taxi service.
Prasertchai was arrested late yesterday, May 10, after video footage of his verbal aggression went viral on social media. In the clip, the driver can be seen repeatedly insulting the woman, named only as 32 year old Wilaiwan.
The woman spoke to the media to say Prasertchai had stopped to offer her his taxi service, but she refused as the fare was too high. According to Wilaiwan, the driver had quoted a fare of 70 baht, which she declined as she knew the price should be 50 baht.
He then reduced the fare to 60 baht, but Wilaiwan continued to refuse, at which point he became verbally aggressive and threatened her.
“At that time, I was very scared. It was 4am. There were only a few people around, a couple of foreigners passed by. It was very scary. I want the police to check more strictly. because it’s scary. Personally, I don’t know when I will see him again – because he made a lot of threats.”
According to Phum Semawanon, deputy chief of Patong Police, officers checked CCTV footage after Wilaiwan filed a complaint. They were able to identify the licence plate of the bike and track Prasertchai to his home, not far from Patong Police Station.
“The accused is a native of Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province who has 3 children. He came to work in Phuket.”
Phum says Prasertchai has admitted the charges, for which he was fined 2,500 baht and ordered to attend 8 hours of mandatory behaviour training provided by the Phuket Land Transport Office.
He was also charged with using a private motorbike to offer a taxi service, operating a vehicle with an expired driving licence, operating a vehicle with expired road tax, and not wearing a helmet while driving a motorbike.
Meanwhile, Wilaiwan has expressed sympathy for the driver.
“I don’t want to do this to anyone. ”
SOURCE: The Phuket News
