Bangkok Taxi Driver Poses As Military Officer, Robs Foreign Passengers

[webfact]

Taxi Driver Poses as Military Officer, Robs Foreign Passengers

BANGKOK: -- A taxi driver claimed he was a military officer and used a tyre iron to threaten and rob two foreign passengers in front of Rama IX Soi 62. He was later arrested by the Hua Mak Police who were able to identified the driver from the number plate taken down by the victims of the robbery.

Earlier this afternoon, Hua Mak Police arrested Pitakpong Piewsoi, 23 year old taxi driver, from Roi Ed Province. The police have charged him with armed robbery.

On Monday night Hammed Hassan, a 36 year-old Bangladesh national, filed a report with the police. Hassan told the police he got into a taxi, with his sister, in front of the MBK center in Siam area. Hassan said the taxi driver was driving usually fast. According to his testimony, the taxi driver kept alleging that there are many mafias in Thailand and claimed that he is a military official.

When they reached the front of Rama IX Soi 62, Pitakpong used a tyre iron to threaten Hassan, demanding he give up money and other valuables. Pitakpong forcibly took Hassan's bag which contained approximately US1,000 (Bt30,600) and Bt400 Thai baht. Hassan and his sister was then told to get out of the car.

Hassen had memorized Pitakpong's number plate and reported the robbery to the police.

Upon his arrest, Pitakpong confessed to the police that he had done this once before. He claimed he had no intention of assaulting the passengers he robbed. He said he used the money from the robberies to buy a bed and had already spent it all.

Pitakpong is now in the Hua Mak Police's custody.

-- Tan Network 2012-02-24

[ratcatcher]

One can only assume that Pitakpong has expensive taste in beds? B31,000 ?

(Perhaps there was a female attached)

[tragickingdom]

No need to buy a bed. It is free Bed and breakfast for the coming months.

[xavierr]

the passengers can now sigh with relief, he had no intention of assaulting them with the tyre iron

[khaowong1]

I'm not sure how often this kind of thing happens, but it sounds like the fallen economy is raising it's ugly head. A bed?

[BookMan]

Clearly he spent the money buying the new style of micro-bed that can be ingested for safe keeping.

[yougivemebaby]

What a dikk

[theanimaster]

Obviously his house was one of those that got inundated so now he has to buy a new bed (and plenty other things).

The government didn't give him his 2,500 baht, that's why.

But you'll see... He'll vote red in the next elections, that's for sure!

[kkup]

obviously it was a bed stuffed with pink lining and foil or he always bets on black.

[pacovl46]

Pfff. Look at the lightweight! He certainly can't wear a jacket on a windy day because otherwise he'd be blown away like a dry leaf. One kick and he'd be gone!

[Unkomoncents]

Only in Southeast Asia can a man 'pose' as a military officer in order to rob unsuspecting third world denizens. And a bed? Ha! The article said this guys was driving fast. Guy flat-out bought as much ya baa as a man can handle and toasted to himself.

[Reasonableman]

More pond scum. How is Mr HIV rapist getting along? Giving taxi drivers a stinking reputation. Sounds like time taxi drivers enforced acceptable standards of behavior themselves, if the government or police cannot/will not. Kick these turds out.

[EyesWideOpen]

So let me get this straight....... The other bad taxi guy is raping and robbing young Thai women for months, and the police do nothing. Now a foreigner is robbed, and the case is cracked instantly.......

[Reasonableman]

Seems so. Your point is....?

So let me get this straight....... The other bad taxi guy is raping and robbing young Thai women for months, and the police do nothing. Now a foreigner is robbed, and the case is cracked instantly.......

[asdecas]

Since no-one else has remarked on the fact, it falls to me to observe that foreigners appear unable to distinguish between an Esaan taxi driver and a Thai military officer.

[hamishgillan]

I like- 'Hassan said the taxi driver was driving usually fast.' (lifted from original script)

[PoodMaiDai]

Miracle Thailand.

Just think of how many cases of these types of robberies don't get reported.

I have a feeling that as Thailand's economy continues to crumbles and more and more people lose their jobs, crime is going to skyrocket. It's already bad enough.

[Reasonableman]

He must have been in Thailand all of 1 day to have realised that it was usually fast

I like- 'Hassan said the taxi driver was driving usually fast.' (lifted from original script)

[mstribling]

Pfff. Look at the lightweight! He certainly can't wear a jacket on a windy day because otherwise he'd be blown away like a dry leaf. One kick and he'd be gone!

Who plays this character in your mind? Is it you, or perhaps a famous actor?

[bobl]

Use your OWN CAR to commit these crimes, making you easily identifiable?? Jail AND the Twit Of The Week award. What a winner...

[sirchai]

. Hassan said the taxi driver was driving usually fast.

Simon said: " No it isn't fast, it's the way we're usually driving here." Coming from 101 ( Roi-Et) means a lot. Must be an educated guy......"

[sirchai]

Seems so. Your point is....?

So let me get this straight....... The other bad taxi guy is raping and robbing young Thai women for months, and the police do nothing. Now a foreigner is robbed, and the case is cracked instantly.......

His point was that he/she didn't know nothing at all. Instant coffee sucks.

.I'm happy that I'm always driving with the good guys..

Edited February 24, 2012 by sirchai

[Reasonableman]

Enjoy the rest of your evening as much as you've enjoyed the start.

Seems so. Your point is....?

So let me get this straight....... The other bad taxi guy is raping and robbing young Thai women for months, and the police do nothing. Now a foreigner is robbed, and the case is cracked instantly.......

His point was that he/she didn't know nothing at all. Instant coffee sucks.

.I'm happy that I'm always driving with the good guys..

[alexakap]

"Miracle Thailand" comes to mind.

Yeah...they usually fled with your wallet like a miracles in the fog...

BUT IT WON"T AFFECT TOURISM!!!!!!!!

5555

[connda]

Too much yaabaa, too little brain.

[skippybangkok]

Little twerp...... would have made a Shishkabab out of him

[Nisa]

From the headline, I expected this to be a story about a taxi driver driving around in a Military Officer's uniform committing robberies. But basically the story is ...

"Tire Iron Wielding Taxi Driver Robs Foreigners"

[Dancealot]

Tire iron? That would be the first weapon come to mind in this situation to me if he premeditated. I guess he spontaneously decided to rob him. He must have been a sleeper...

[notime]

Was he targeting foreigners only? I wonder why.

(Another nail in the coffin of the hospitality hub).

When will somebody show some leadership in this country and officially announce, perhaps in front of TV cameras that Farang is actually human and kicking him is as bad as anybody else? Or am I incorrect to think that that would be quite a shock to many?

[Tony Clifton]

I would like to thank the police officer for pointing his finger or else we could have never figured out exactly where the criminal is on the photo.