Phuket taxi drivers charged for assaulting security guard over access to hotel guests

 

The three taxi drivers were charged with assault after they attacked a hotel security guard who prevented them from entering the resort's grounds. Image: Screengrab via Col Santi Sakuntanark, Commander of the Royal Thai Army 25th Infantry Regiment

 

PHUKET:-- Three Phuket taxi drivers have been issued an official warning and charged for assaulting a hotel security guard who prevented them from entering the resort’s grounds to pick up customers earlier today (Sept 21).

 

Soldiers from the Royal Thai Army’s 25th Infantry Regiment, based in Phuket, were called in to support police as they responded to the incident, at a high-end resort in Mai Khao at about 10:30am.

 

Col Santi Sakuntanark, Commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment, identified the drivers as Seksak Chanpakdee, Sathiti Srisamut and Lersak Chupak.

 

Full Story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-taxi-drivers-charged-for-assaulting-security-guard-over-access-hotel-guests-63981.php#g8tR0uHaZktRIhxM.97

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2017-9-21

Apparently they were not mafia taxi drivers !

Ahh Phuket and their taxi drivers again. Wish this country could go Uber exclusively and just put these thugs out of business. Why bother pretending to be a taxi driver. Just go rob someone for real!

 

We look forward to their wais and 500 baht fines.

Edited September 21, 20178 yr by TVGerry

So what exactly happened, why did they want to enter the premises and why were they prevented from doing so?

 

The issue is normally the taxi drivers try to prevent other drivers from entering.

Edited September 21, 20178 yr by stevenl

3 of them !

Tomorrow's wallet find, by Phuket taxi driver, in the news, might contain as much as 600,000 baht !

........and the police needed army protection.

Says it all.

Mindless thugs.

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

So what exactly happened, why did they want to enter the premises and why were they prevented from doing so?

Their tactic is to have maximum access to tourists, particularly well-heeled, inexperienced ones. If they can position themselves and their vehicles directly in front of the hotel on the hotel grounds, they can offer their services (read : hassle) any tourist that ventures out of the front door of the hotel. It also infers some 'official' status if they are on the grounds of the hotel.

 

And as you pointed out, they can keep a very keen and watchful eye on anybody else transporting tourists from the resort whether they be the Mai Khao resort staff, Uber or  staff of tourist services such as boat trip staff.

2 hours ago, Psimbo said:

Mindless thugs.

Thugs, yes, but not mindless; there is purpose in their violence.

Pretty serious if the military is called in. I say good job!

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Phuket taxi drivers charged for assaulting security guard over access to hotel guests

 

The three taxi drivers were charged with assault after they attacked a hotel security guard who prevented them from entering the resort's grounds. Image: Screengrab via Col Santi Sakuntanark, Commander of the Royal Thai Army 25th Infantry Regiment

 

PHUKET:-- Three Phuket taxi drivers have been issued an official warning and charged for assaulting a hotel security guard who prevented them from entering the resort’s grounds to pick up customers earlier today (Sept 21).

 

Soldiers from the Royal Thai Army’s 25th Infantry Regiment, based in Phuket, were called in to support police as they responded to the incident, at a high-end resort in Mai Khao at about 10:30am.

 

Col Santi Sakuntanark, Commander of the 25th Infantry Regiment, identified the drivers as Seksak Chanpakdee, Sathiti Srisamut and Lersak Chupak.

 

Full Story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-taxi-drivers-charged-for-assaulting-security-guard-over-access-hotel-guests-63981.php#g8tR0uHaZktRIhxM.97

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2017-9-21

I would say that the security guard needs some further recognition, training, a raise, and an assistant.  The sad part is that with violent acts of assault being less than a slap on the wrist to them, the violence won't stop.    It starts at the airport upon exiting the plane.  Que for two hours... or pay 500000 baht and become an elite. Get a taxi with a working meter and stay at the airport or submit and continue on your holiday remembering always to negotiate the fair and be sure of the destination before getting into or on any vehicle period.

 

Imagine the horror to the tourists,  welcome to Thailand.

Get in my Taxi,  

But we don't want a ride, we're going for a stroll.  

Get in my friend's taxi then, he'll take good care of you, It's not safe around here to go for a stroll, see, BAM, PUNCH, Kick to the head!   The land of a million shades of smiles.

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

issued an official warning

Quaking in their boots for sure

a taxi driver filming his own assault, lol what an idiot, they should receive jail time for assault not a simple fine and warning

The military called in to assist. 

 

So exactly who were the military pointing their guns at in this case?! 

Securty guard not getting his cut?

Chief Banyat Kantha has issued them an official warning that this behaviour must not happen again, otherwise they might have their commercial driver’s licences revoked.

“And we are checking the backgrounds of all three drivers to see if they are wanted for any other crimes,” Col Santi added.

How about a 10,000 baht fine for each driver, follwoed by a public apology to the security guard for doing his job, add the charge of assault and trespassing, nah, still sounds to weak, suspend their taxi license for a year as well.

 

The 30,000 baht collective fines to go to the security guard for doing his job.

 

If taxi drivers in Phuket ever wonder why I never get a taxi or a tuk tuk in Phuket, its because of <deleted> like this, they don't deserve my loose change, they are typical thugs, if a taxi driver tried this stunt in Sydney, he would be chewed up and spat out in seconds by the boys in blue, but then again, they are not receiving brown envelopes to turn a blind eye are they.