Three tuk tuk drivers assaulted a tourist who refused to pay a high fare in Phuket, southern Thailand.
The three tuk-tuk drivers were filmed during the attack outside a Phuket hotel on Sunday, October 8.
The police identified and arrested them on Monday, October 9.
Patong police have launched an investigation after a video emerged on social media showing a group of tuk-tuk drivers attacking a Saudi tourist at the Amata Hotel on Rat Uthit 200 Years Road in Patong on Sunday.
Image from a video of the attack on the Saudi tourist by tuk tuk drivers in Phuket. Photo: Facebook/ ศูนย์ข้อมูลภูเก็ต Phuket Info Center
Following the post, Thai netizens flooded the comments section with complaints against the three tuk tuk drivers, suggesting that the drivers were trying to scam the tourist.
They also urged police to arrest and punish drivers for their violent actions.
After reviewing security camera footage from the area, police arrested three men, Anusorn, 29, Apisit, 26, and Nusrulloh, 28, all tuk-tuk drivers in the Patong area.
Their full names have not been revealed.
Police said that at around 6:15 a.m. on Sunday, Mr. Anusorn took the tourist from the mouth of Soi Saen Sabai on Rat Uthit 200 Road to the 7Q Patong Beach Hotel.
The agreed rate was 200 baht (5.12 euros).
When the tuk-tuk arrived at the hotel, the passenger said that was not where he was staying.
He asked Mr. Anusorn to take him further to the Amata Hotel, also located on Rat Uthit 200 Years Road.
Upon arrival, the tuk-tuk driver demanded 400 baht, double the agreed price.
The Saudi refused to pay the full amount and the two men argued, police said.
Mr. Anusorn then allegedly called Apisit and Nusrulloh on his phone, asking for help.
When the two men arrived, the two sides had still not been able to resolve the dispute, leading to the Saudi tourist being assaulted by the three men, according to police.
The three tuk tuk drivers were charged with assault by the Phuket court.
The three tuk-tuk drivers at Patong Police Station in Phuket after being arrested for assaulting a Saudi tourist. Photo: Patong Police Station
Police said they would also ask the Phuket Transport Office to suspend their operating licenses.
After the shooting in Bangkok, which had a negative impact on the Chinese market , this new case is likely to have an impact on Saudi tourists, another important market for Thailand, which brings wealthy tourists to the country.
See: Thailand wants to attract wealthy Saudi tourists
Source: Bangkok Post
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2 comments
A few more attacks or other acts of violence or scams against Russians, Indians, Europeans... and the entire network of tourists attracted by holidays in Thailand will fall by 50%!!!
Come on guys, taxi drivers, tuk-tuk drivers, fake tour drivers and other scammers of all kinds...
With a little more effort, you'll soon have no one to scam!
Very, very clever, really... you are great champions!!!
Yeah, what I'm saying is that tuk-tuks are always ready to rip off tourists.
1 km by tuk-tuk costs 180 baht.
1 km by taxi costs about 70 baht, including air conditioning!
When tourists understand that, maybe these drivers will calm down.