A foreign man has been caught on video assaulting his girlfriend in a tuk tuk in Phuket, Thailand, before attacking the driver who tried to intervene. The incident occurred on March 13, when the couple stopped at a pharmacy on Thaweewong Road in the Patong district. The driver, who filmed the event, captured the man violently confronting his girlfriend after she took too long inside the store.
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In the footage, the man is seen pushing the woman onto the tuk tuk seat and grabbing her by the neck. Despite her attempts to defend herself, the situation escalates, leading to the man slapping her before the clip ends. The video, uploaded by the driver under the account Ko Nus Ok, quickly gained traction on Thai social media and was later reposted by news outlets such as KomChadLuek.
Social media users directed criticism at both the assailant and the driver, who was reproached for recording rather than directly assisting the woman. The driver later clarified that he had attempted to intervene multiple times and was met with aggression from the foreign man, who insisted it was a personal matter. The driver managed to defuse the situation, removing the man from the tuk tuk and ensuring the woman reached her hotel safely.
He explained that recording the incident was a precaution in case his vehicle incurred damage, for which he might seek compensation. Although he mentioned his vehicle was affected, there was no indication whether he reported the incident to the police. The event highlights ongoing concerns regarding safety and the responsibility of bystanders during public altercations, reported The Thaiger.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 16 Mar 2026