Bang Tao taxi thugs charged
Cherng Talay Police have confirmed the arrests of two taxi drivers wanted for the assault on a Grab driver in Bang Tao on Dec 2.
The two men are not the same taxi drivers who presented themselves at Cherng Talay Police Station on Dec 4, with one of the men claiming responsibility for the attack.
Cherng Talay Police announced the arrests of the two “actual” assailants on Dec 12, confirming the charges against the men.
The two men were arrested in accordance with arrest warrants issued by Phuket Provincial Court on Dec 12, Cherng Talay Police reported.
Udomchai Pengsut, 49, was arrested on warrant number 635/2023 for “joining together to cause physical harm to others until it causes serious harm to the victim.”
Wutthidet Phromthong, 37, was arrested on warrant number 635/2023 also for “joining together to cause physical harm to others until it causes serious harm to the victim.”
The location of arrest for both men was given as at Cherng Talay Police Station.
Police were continuing to proceed with legal action against the men, Cherng Talay Police noted.
Grab taxi driver Teerajet Chukaew, 25, was legally trying to pick up tourists near a venue at Bang Tao Beach who had ordered a Grab taxi late on Dec 2 when he was attacked by the two men, who both worked as taxi drivers at a queue nearby.
Mr Teerajet suffered multiple bruises to his body and a punctured lung in the attack, during which he was beaten with a piece of wood.
In fear of his safety, after filing the complaint with police, Mr Teerajet returned to his home province of Trang to recover from his injuries in hospital, where he remains.
Within hours of officers from the Cherng Talay Police arriving at the scene on Dec 4 to investigate the attack, two men presented themselves at Cherng Talay Police Station, with one of the men claiming responsibility for the attack.
Kamjorn Kanyacharee, 48, told police that he was the one who had “caused the incident” and carried out the assault.
Bamrung Thipkonglat, 46, said he was a witness to the incident and claimed that he was the one who intervened to dissuade Mr Kamjorn from “the incident”, namely the attack.
Police have yet to explain what charges, if any, will be brought against Kamjorn and Bamrung for presenting false information to police officers conducting an investigation.
In the wake of the attack, more than 200 taxi app drivers in Phuket gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall on Dec 6 to appeal for protection and fairness.