Norwegian Tourist Assaulted by Ride-Hailing Driver in Phuket

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

A Norwegian tourist has filed a police report after being assaulted by a driver from a popular ride-hailing app in Phuket. The incident occurred early on December 30, leaving the victim with many injuries.

 

Ms. Thanatphon Khongcharoen, 44, escorted her friend, Mr. Egil Christian Andresen, 57, to Karon Police Station to report the attack. According to Mr. Andresen, he was struck with a sign by the driver following a disagreement over the destination.

 

The altercation began around 05:05, when Mr. Andresen booked a ride to his accommodation near Patak Soi 1, approximately one kilometre from the pick-up point in front of a jewellery store. However, the driver allegedly questioned whether he wanted to go to Phuket International Airport instead. Confused and frustrated, Mr. Andresen requested to get out of the vehicle.

 

As he exited, the driver retrieved a sign from nearby and struck Mr. Andresen multiple times. The tourist sustained injuries, including cuts and bruises to his left temple, ear, face, and elbows. Mr. Andresen sought medical treatment and has provided police with evidence, including CCTV footage, to support his claim.

 

Recounting the event, Mr. Andresen expressed his disbelief: “I have been a taxi driver in Norway for over 30 years and have never encountered or caused harm to any passenger. In my country, such behaviour would result in lifetime revocation of a driver’s public transport licence.”

 

Mr. Andresen added that he had visited Phuket several times and had always enjoyed the peaceful surroundings of Karon and the island’s natural beauty. Despite the incident, he remains hopeful that justice will be served.

 

Police are investigating the matter and are working to identify and apprehend the suspect. The case has sparked concerns about passenger safety and the conduct of ride-hailing service drivers in the region.

 

-- 2025-01-01

 

[mdr224]

As a white person i wouldnt go to phuket anymore. They think all of us are russian and something like this is bound to happen

[gt162]

Phuket is known for taxi mafia. This has been going on for many years. 

[Briggsy]

Try to avoid Phuket.

 

If you must go, do not use any form of taxi. The drivers are criminals. It is the worst province in Thailand.

[Andre0720]

4 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Try to avoid Phuket.

 

If you must go, do not use any form of taxi. The drivers are criminals. It is the worst province in Thailand.

I often say: "When it happens in general, I have a tendency to generalize."

But hey, should be some limits now wouldn't you say...

[Briggsy]

2 minutes ago, Andre0720 said:

I often say: "When it happens in general, I have a tendency to generalize."

But hey, should be some limits now wouldn't you say...

I agree. My limit is the provincial border for Phuket. I will not cross it.

[Liverpool Lou]

24 minutes ago, gt162 said:

Phuket is known for taxi mafia. This has been going on for many years. 

No, this has not been going on for many years; Grab, Bolt (or whichever service he booked) are not part of the "taxi mafia"!

[Andre0720]

4 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

I agree. My limit is the provincial border for Phuket. I will not cross it.

Oh yes, there are invisible lines, beware to all, and invisible people watching, beware for those who exit this world.

 

The limits that I follow is on my speedometer. Very useful as well...

[Liverpool Lou]

16 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Try to avoid Phuket.

 

If you must go, do not use any form of taxi. The drivers are criminals. It is the worst province in Thailand.

You don't know the difference between booked ride-hailing services and taxis?

[Briggsy]

Just now, Liverpool Lou said:

You don't know the difference between booked ride-hailing services and taxis?

What are you saying?

 

I suggest you avoid Phuket.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 minute ago, Briggsy said:

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

You don't know the difference between booked ride-hailing services and taxis?

What are you saying?

 

I suggest you avoid Phuket.

I'm saying what I posted.  I suggest that you read it and the OP.

[Briggsy]

1 minute ago, Liverpool Lou said:

I'm saying what I posted.  I suggest that you read it and the OP.

No idea what you mean.

[Liverpool Lou]

6 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

7 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

I'm saying what I posted.  I suggest that you read it and the OP.

No idea what you mean.

Doesn't surprise me.

[Briggsy]

1 minute ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Doesn't surprise me.

Don't go to Phuket. The taxi drivers behave in a criminal manner.

[Ben Zioner]

44 minutes ago, gt162 said:

Phuket is known for taxi mafia. This has been going on for many years. 

Right, don't go to Phuket.

 

Even if you drive your own car you are likely to fall victim of these mindless thugs. Especially if you try to parl your can in Patong.

[Georgealbert]

This the CCTV of the incident, courtesy of Matichon.

 

[BangkokReady]

2 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

This the CCTV of the incident, courtesy of Matichon.

 

 

No excuse for the "Thai style" attack, but seems like the Norwegian may have been a little drunk and this could have contributed to what happened.

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

Why is the Norwegian provoking the taxi man? He could've just walked away.

 

Idiot. Deserved the tuning.

[bokningar]

11 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

Why is the Norwegian provoking the taxi man? He could've just walked away.

 

Idiot. Deserved the tuning.

What was the provocation, getting out of the car?

Any IDIOT can see the the drive came after the guy and attacked him.

[NickyLouie]

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

This the CCTV of the incident, courtesy of Matichon.

 

 

Irving Berlin score the music for this ?

[Coxy]

Why would anyone want to visit Phuket, it has turned into a Wild West town.   The kind off incidents seem to happen on a daily basis 

[Gjk7777]

19 hours ago, Briggsy said:

Try to avoid Phuket.

 

If you must go, do not use any form of taxi. The drivers are criminals. It is the worst province in Thailand.

Are you for real? I don't believe that's the full story told. A lot of Taxi journeys by app are hit and miss. 1000 perfect journeys and 1 bad one doesn't make every Taxi driver a criminal.

[grubman]

We would never know what the so called victim Mr. Andresen said to the taxi driver, as he had only booked an ride for 1km to his accommodation. Maybe the taxi driver wanted more money for the fare as it was only 1km away and wanted to compensated for the early morning pick up, we will never know what was said in the car from both parties, it will always be conflicting stores

 

But why did Mr. Andresen not just walk away and not retaliate, and what was said for the driver to react in the way he did. we will never know, so why all the bashing on Phuket 

 

In all honestly, i don't like Phuket that much myself, having lived there for 4 year many years ago, its not an area of Thailand that i enjoy, but for you 1 or 2 week tourists its fine and as the quality of tourist coming now don't seem to have the same respect for the locals or it might be the locals don't have the same respect  for the tourists. and with the advent of more social media and CCTV, incidents like this get more exposure then years past. 

 

If you go to Phuket enjoy yourself and be respectful to the locals and i am sure you will get the same respect back.    

[hotchilli]

20 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

In my country, such behaviour would result in lifetime revocation of a driver’s public transport licence.”

Alas Thailand will fine the driver 1,000 baht and they will be back out on the road immediately.

Public safety is of no concern to the transport minister.

[riverhigh]

"Mr. Andresen booked a ride to his accommodation near Patak Soi 1, approximately one kilometre from the pick-up point in front of a jewellery store. However, the driver allegedly questioned whether he wanted to go to Phuket International Airport instead."

 

Bulls%$t taxi driver. The taxi hailing company should hand over all  the personal details of the driver to the police and ban him for life. The passenger should have got into the taxi, shown the address of the booking, and off to the destination. If the booking showed the destination as the airport  then the passenger should be let out. Its not that complicated !! No need for the taxi driver baby tantrum and violence. 

 

[SiSePuede419]

20 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

but seems like the Norwegian may have been a little drunk and this could have contributed to what happened.

That doesn't look like a tourist fleeing a bad ride share driver.

It's a video of a tourist who was drunk and belligerent and got out of the vehicle to fight, not run away.

Go ahead and explain it.

[thesetat]

1 hour ago, Gjk7777 said:

Are you for real? I don't believe that's the full story told. A lot of Taxi journeys by app are hit and miss. 1000 perfect journeys and 1 bad one doesn't make every Taxi driver a criminal.

I do not see what is your point. What excuse is there for the driver to come out of the car kicking and punching him to begin with? I seriously doubt the foreigner hit the driver inside the car. There is no excuse that can be said that justifies what the driver did initially. As for the continued beating, the foreigner may have done things that led to continuing hitting him and getting a weapon (the signs) but even still, the foreigner is unarmed and mostly defending himself. 

A taxi driver must be prepared to accept if a passenger wants to cancel the ride or change the destination and to do so without violence. This driver needs to be sent to prison for assault with a weapon with intent to cause bodily harm. Let him rot in a jail cell for a few years for losing his temper and then attacking the foreigner. 

[wavodavo]

Another example of falangs behaving badly in a foreign country. They have to realize that they are a visitor in Thailand and must respect the locals and there will always be language problems so if there is a dispute over a bar bill or taxi fare get it sorted out as quickly as possible and walk away. If there was a mis-understanding with the taxi driver over the destination  he  should have just  told him to stop ,  paid  him for the journey so far, thanked him  and walked off.... end of story. For some people this may be hard to do  but you have to do it if you don't want a nice comfy stay in the Bangkok Hilton or cost you a lot of money because the police will always side with the locals.

[MalcolmB]

21 hours ago, mdr224 said:

As a white person i wouldnt go to phuket anymore. They think all of us are russian and something like this is bound to happen

Phuket isn’t for snowflakes.

 

They melt. 
 

It is fine here, you have been reading too much news. No mass shootings or drivers driving through crowds, no tent cities full of drug zombies like the USA

[MalcolmB]

2 hours ago, Coxy said:

Why would anyone want to visit Phuket, it has turned into a Wild West town.   The kind off incidents seem to happen on a daily basis 

If you have money it is the best province.

A lot of high quality stuff easily available that is not found at other Thai beach resorts.

If you are on a budget other places will suit you better