A 31-year-old taxi driver and former soldier was shot dead while at the wheel in Koh Samui, Surat Thani province, on 24 May 2026, after being attacked by a group of nearly 10 men. The victim, identified as Mr Sikkharin, died at the scene after being ambushed following a passenger drop-off near a hotel. The vehicle subsequently crashed into a wall after he was shot multiple times in the chest.

Get today's headlines by email

According to accounts from relatives on 27 May, the incident occurred late at night after Mr Sikkharin had completed a fare. He was then surrounded by men allegedly linked to a local black-plate taxi network, who blocked his vehicle, forced open the doors, and attacked him using baseball bats and physical force.

As he attempted to escape down a dead-end road, one attacker is reported to have fired a handgun at him five times, killing him instantly. Family members have claimed the attack is linked to ongoing disputes over passenger pick-up rights, despite Mr Sikkharin reportedly paying 3,500 baht per month in protection fees to avoid conflict.

They also raised concerns over the initial police response, stating officers claimed nearby CCTV cameras were not functioning and suggested only one suspect was involved and had fled the island by speedboat. However, a video later provided by a witness reportedly shows close to 10 attackers surrounding and assaulting the victim, contradicting the initial police account.

The victim’s family has since called for a transparent investigation, highlighting that Mr Sikkharin was an active volunteer who assisted vulnerable passengers. Following the incident, his wife, who had a newborn baby aged one month, reportedly left Ko Samui due to safety concerns after receiving a suspicious phone call directing her to the scene. The Sai Mai Tong Rod organisation has stepped in to assist the family, urging authorities including Surat Thani provincial police and the Department of Special Investigation to review the case.

Manager Online reported that officials are expected to continue examining video evidence and witness statements as pressure increases for clarity over the number of suspects involved and the circumstances surrounding the killing.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

Adapted by ASEAN Now MGRonline 28 May 2026

View full article

"Family members have claimed the attack is linked to ongoing disputes over passenger pick-up rights"

Clearly wasn't following the taxi mafia rules.

Not all 'mafia 'related gangsters in Thailand are foreigners. Many locals have firearms and are prepared to use them.

Not a new problem. My welcome to Koh Samui over 20 years ago was a taxi driver trying to negotiate an extortionate fare from the airport, claiming the meter was broken. I removed the cloth cover to expose a fully functioning meter, the fare was immediately halved. After many similar experiences I now use ride hailing apps almost exclusively. Places the mafia operate try to stop app use as it negates their theft attempts. TIT.

3 minutes ago, Classic Ray said:

Not a new problem. My welcome to Koh Samui over 20 years ago was a taxi driver trying to negotiate an extortionate fare from the airport, claiming the meter was broken. I removed the cloth cover to expose a fully functioning meter, the fare was immediately halved.

It is a problem but "metered" taxis arrived on Koh Samui in 2014. But as you say preferred not to use. Grab and Bolt have made life better.

The 3,500 baht per month for protection was money well spent.

30 minutes ago, Classic Ray said:

Not a new problem. My welcome to Koh Samui over 20 years ago was a taxi driver trying to negotiate an extortionate fare from the airport, claiming the meter was broken. I removed the cloth cover to expose a fully functioning meter, the fare was immediately halved. After many similar experiences I now use ride hailing apps almost exclusively. Places the mafia operate try to stop app use as it negates their theft attempts. TIT.

26 minutes ago, marin said:

It is a problem but "metered" taxis arrived on Koh Samui in 2014. But as you say preferred not to use. Grab and Bolt have made life better.

Most likely the attacked and killed driver was working for a ride hailing app.

4 hours ago, stevenl said:

Most likely the attacked and killed driver was working for a ride hailing app.

Look at the video. He was driving a registered red and yellow meter taxi.

27 minutes ago, CFCol said:

Look at the video. He was driving a registered red and yellow meter taxi.

Learn to read full news articles perhaps.

The driver was working for a volunteering foundation who drive pregnant women, disabled people and elderly for free around Samui. The entire dispute was with some 'ego fuelled a hole' who made a huge drama over the volunteer having picked up someone at one of their spots, despite knowing, this taxi not even does it for money. The issues was then resolved already, but the ego a hole felt like losing face, so killed him.

Edited May 28May 28 by Spider5511

5 hours ago, jippytum said:

Not all 'mafia 'related gangsters in Thailand are foreigners. Many locals have firearms and are prepared to use them.

The legal registered fire arms in Thailand equate to 1/5 Thais having a licensed gun, that not includes illegal guns. So never mess with cars in traffic. It happens a lot in the south tho, just a few weeks ago a Thai shot his pregnant girlfriend in Samui too. Not that long ago a tattoo shop owner in Phangan also came out with a shotgun and almost shot a tourist sitting on his pavement, just a normal day.

With exceptions like this case, you usually would not get in such issues if behaving normal and understanding local rules. They also would explain you the rules in a nice way, if you happened to be entirely new. If you then continue, it goes bad fast.

Edited May 28May 28 by Spider5511

1 hour ago, CFCol said:

Most likely the attacked and killed driver was working for a ride hailing app.

Look at the video. He was driving a registered red and yellow meter taxi.

Many metered taxis are also available on Grab and Bolt.

6 hours ago, stevenl said:

Most likely the attacked and killed driver was working for a ride hailing app.

If so, if they really investigate should be able to obtain killed driver phone his last fare application that would be the fare that set up the attack.

Samui has had issues with the taxi mafia for decades now, when I was living there during the Prayuth Decimation they made a major proclamation about cleaning up the taxi industry and hundreds of soldiers descended upon the island to make it happen. All was good for 2 weeks and then like everything else Prayuth did, all was forgotten two weeks later. Zero reform. The southern islands are still quite lawless and the cops are pure franchisees.

14 hours ago, Classic Ray said:

Not a new problem. My welcome to Koh Samui over 20 years ago was a taxi driver trying to negotiate an extortionate fare from the airport, claiming the meter was broken. I removed the cloth cover to expose a fully functioning meter, the fare was immediately halved. After many similar experiences I now use ride hailing apps almost exclusively. Places the mafia operate try to stop app use as it negates their theft attempts. TIT.

Based upon my last visit to Koh Samui a few months ago, the Bangkok Airways owned airport does NOT allow rideshare drivers to pick up passengers at the terminal. My understanding is that the transport entities have multiple operating names, but control remains with a small group of families. I believe the expression "Pay to play" summarizes the state of public transport on Koh Samui.

43 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Samui has had issues with the taxi mafia for decades now, when I was living there during the Prayuth Decimation they made a major proclamation about cleaning up the taxi industry and hundreds of soldiers descended upon the island to make it happen. All was good for 2 weeks and then like everything else Prayuth did, all was forgotten two weeks later. Zero reform. The southern islands are still quite lawless and the cops are pure franchisees.

It is the square of corruption and passed the point of no return in 2008. From Nakhon Si Thammarat to Krabi to Phuket to Surat Thani, including Koh Samui and Koh Phangan the corruption is endemic, pervasive and fierce. It is so entrenched and deeply rooted now, that only the draconian measures of Vietnam and China where corrupt public officials and their clients are publicly executed might discourage some of the more overt corruption.

The samui taxi drivers are scum wasnt to long ago think it was a grap driver was shot at arrivals in broad daylight, what happened to the perpetrator sweet f all, there is only 1 mafia in thailand esp on the islands and that's the R.T.P as nothing crimal goes on without their say or taking their cut. The islands have only got worse over the years and will continue to do so

4 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

It is the square of corruption and passed the point of no return in 2008. From Nakhon Si Thammarat to Krabi to Phuket to Surat Thani, including Koh Samui and Koh Phangan the corruption is endemic, pervasive and fierce. It is so entrenched and deeply rooted now, that only the draconian measures of Vietnam and China where corrupt public officials and their clients are publicly executed might discourage some of the more overt corruption.

Totally agree. And it's very refreshing to agree with you for a change! LOL. Something truly extreme has to happen in order to stop the backward march of Thailand, and it must happen soon.

For a nation that used to be the lion of Southeast Asia it's very sad and kind of pathetic to see them in the position of a sickly, whiny alley cat. And it's really their own doing. People still don't understand how incredibly destructive the 10-year Prayuth Decimation was.

21 hours ago, jippytum said:

Not all 'mafia 'related gangsters in Thailand are foreigners. Many locals have firearms and are prepared to use them.

These local taxi drivers are akin to wiseguys!

19 hours ago, CFCol said:

Look at the video. He was driving a registered red and yellow meter taxi.

So? Doesn't mean he wasn't driving for a ride hailing app. This is simply a turf war, like many similar. Doesn't matter who he was driving for or how much money, if any, he was charging.

Taxi driver mafia exist and maybe the man did not follow the rules.Goodluck in finding who done it.

UPDATE

Police Arrest 12 Suspects in Koh Samui Taxi Driver Murder