Confusion swirled around an incident captured on a viral video with speculation of whether certain Bangkok taxis were registered or not, and whether Thong Lor Police were involved with an illegal taxi mafia.

 

Phansa Amraphitak, Police Chief of Thong Lor Police, today stated that the group of seven accused taxi drivers appeared for interrogation based on the summon notice. They testified that they were not unregistered taxi drivers but rather were using a ride-hailing application to receive passengers when the incident took place.

 

A group of three drunk individuals attempted to flag down a taxi but were refused service because the taxi was already booked through the app. This led to a confrontation with the disgruntled drunks banging on the car doors and shouting abuses, accusing them of operational illegitimacy.

 

The altercation, documented in a widely shared video, eventually escalated into a physical conflict. In the initial confusion, accusations were made that the taxi drivers were involved in an illegal taxi mafia in Thong Lor with the police involved. Both the drivers and the police vehemently denied those accusations.

 

Despite the speculation of police involvement and backing for the taxi gang, the Thong Lor chief ensured the accusations were baseless. Phone inquiries with the victims found no claims of misconduct by any police official at the scene. The accused driver is said to have shouted something about police involvement, but later claimed it was not to suggest any undue influence over law enforcement officials, but merely an exasperated comment amid the disagreement, reported KhaoSod.

 

By Nattapong Westwood

Caption: A drunken confrontation led to accusation of illegal taxis and police involvement in Thong Lor. (via Chatchanan Karn Chantajinda Facebook)

 

Full Story: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/transport/app-based-taxis-not-unlicensed-in-bangkok-brawl-police-chief-denies-mafia-links

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-07-31

 

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of course they are, to think otherwise would be very naive. TIT ....  money talks .. no pay walks.

Friends were going down to Pattaya with some coke and weed for a long weekend 5 years ago. Naively started talking about it after getting in. 10 minutes later the taxi stopped at a Thong Lo police box.

 

They were fined 30,000 baht, the police left the weed. 

 

10 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

the disgruntled drunks banging on the car doors and shouting abuses

This is rarely a good idea in any city in the world. 

 

They're lucky the taxi driver didn't pull out his samurai sword and start hacking at them. 

Tor Long??? Police and bars and now police and taxis... maybe gambling dens too?? No corruption in RTP.. How dare you to think so??

There are certain areas on Sukhumvit with Thai information-booth (I don't know what their official name is). And next to it there are always taxis parked on the street - in a no parking area. And that happens all night and all day, every day.

It seems the police just doesn't see all those parked taxi-no-meter. They also don't notice the not flowing traffic because all those illegally parked cars. 

Amazing Thailand!

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the Thong Lor chief ensured the accusations were baseless.

The explanation given sounds plausible...

 

But any time I read the following kind of comment:

 

"the Thong Lor chief ensured the accusations were baseless."

 

That's when I begin to worry that something foul was really going on.

 

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The accused driver is said to have shouted something about police involvement, but later claimed it was not to suggest any undue influence over law enforcement officials, but merely an exasperated comment amid the disagreement,

Likely story... do you know who I know again.

This is what happens when the Thai taxi reputation becomes known worldwide.

Every man for himself.????????

9 hours ago, steven100 said:

of course they are, to think otherwise would be very naive. TIT ....  money talks .. no pay walks.

The story seems a bit kiltered against the "drunks"?

Steven, get out there and teach them how to handle a few G & T's.????????

14 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

There are certain areas on Sukhumvit with Thai information-booth (I don't know what their official name is). And next to it there are always taxis parked on the street - in a no parking area. And that happens all night and all day, every day.

It seems the police just doesn't see all those parked taxi-no-meter. They also don't notice the not flowing traffic because all those illegally parked cars. 

Amazing Thailand!

Yeah !!! OMFarang. Ya gotta love the colour vibrancy and contradictions that are LOS !