Phuket Taxi Driver Arrested Over Chinese Tourist Sex Assault Complaint

[Lite Beer]

Phuket taxi driver arrested over Chinese tourist sex assault complaint
Phuket Gazette -

Capt Nucharee Longkaew (left), the Phuket City Police specialist officer for interviewing victims of sex crimes, said the case is still under investigation. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: A Phuket taxi driver is being held by Phuket City Police today following a 19-year-old Chinese tourist alleging the driver held her captive for hours and tried to sexually assault her.

“Both the taxi driver and Chinese tourist have been brought in for questioning,” Detective Nucharee Longkaew, the Phuket City Police specialist officer for interviewing victims of sex crimes, told the Phuket Gazette today.

Capt Nucharee explained that the Chinese tourist entered a taxi at Phuket International Airport at about 4:30pm yesterday.

“She asked to be taken to a high-end resort in Patong,” she said.

It was not until around 9pm that two women passing by saw the taxi driver pushing his car along Songkla Road, a quiet backstreet near the busy Samkong Intersection .

“The taxi driver told us that the woman didn’t know where her hotel was and that he had run out of gas,” one of the women told the Gazette.

“He complained that the woman was causing a great deal of trouble for him,” she added.

When the women arrived at the scene, the Chinese tourist was already out of the taxi, standing alone in front of a 7-Eleven.

“She yelled out ‘Help! Police!’ We asked what happened and she said the taxi driver had kept her locked inside his car hours,” one of the women reported.

“The woman [Chinese tourist] said she was sitting in the front passenger seat of the taxi and the driver had touched her leg. She said she was very scared and felt threatened by him,” one of the women told the Gazette.

The women took the Chinese tourist to the Phuket Tourist Police headquarters in Phuket Town.

The Tourist Police received the woman's complaint and then escorted her to Phuket City Police Station, where the case was handed over for further investigation.

Capt Nucharee explained that as the Chinese tourist could accurately describe the taxi and recall both the license plate number of the vehicle and the taxi driver ID number displayed inside the cab, officers identified the driver and went his house in Sakoo, near the airport.

The driver wasn’t home, so police left the message that the man was wanted for questioning.

He presented himself to police at 2pm today.

As of 5:30pm today, after more than three hours of interrogation, the driver had yet to leave the police station.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-taxi-driver-arrested-over-Chinese-tourist-sex-assault-complaint-21093.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-05-18

[Lite Beer]

Phuket black taxi accused of molesting tourist

PHUKET: A“black taxi” driver was accused today of molesting a 19-year-old Chinese tourist during a five hour ordeal in which he repeatedly tried to have sex with her and she repeatedly defended herself.

The girl arrived alone on a flight from Singapore at 4:15 pm and contracted him to take her from the airport to her hotel in Patong.

She showed the driver the address of the hotel, which was on her phone. He quoted a price of B700. She suggested B550, to which he agreed.

On the way he stopped to buy some water and beer and then asked her for money for fuel. She gave him some money.

He drove her “around the hills many times”, she told police, until it was dark. Then he started to touch her arms and legs. She used her shoes to stop him. He persisted. She told him to stop, but he replied that she must give him a kiss first.

Finally, the taxi ran out of fuel at 9 pm at the Tawee Saman market in Phuket City. For the fourth time the driver asked his passenger for money for fuel.

Two local people saw her standing outside the car while he tried to push it. One told The Phuket News, on condition of anonymity, “The situation seemed odd. We could see baggage in the car and the girl was crying. The driver looked scary.

“We walked over and we talked with them. I speak some English and the girl spoke some too, so she explained how frightened she was, and why.

“We took her out of there to the police station.”

The taxi driver – understood to be from Saku – bought some fuel and drove away, but thanks to the witnesses, he was soon tracked down and arrested.

He denied any wrongdoing but police took him to hospital for a medical opinion about scratches on his shoulder which they suspect may have been from the Chinese girl’s fingernails as she defended herself.

Police later delivered her to her hotel but have suggested she change to another. They have also assured her that they will keep an eye on her.

The driver is currently undergoing further questioning.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-black-taxi-accused-of-molesting-tourist-39475.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

-- Phuket News 2013-05-18

[pedro01]

Why exactly should she need to change hotels?

[allalong]

All depends on the taxi scum driver's bank balance.Need to get this story translated by my chinese friends and put on social sites in China.Anything to further "Pooket's" business *****

Sent from my GT-S7500L using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[laocowboy2]

Why exactly should she need to change hotels?

Taxis have protection. Unrotected witnesses go 'missing'. If there is any justice, she will be connected to a very senior PLA officer; then watch the 'correction' squads arrive.

Bodies are us!

[Dr Wanchai]

Innocent until proven guilty.

[grumpyoldman]

Innocent until proven guilty.

Dogscheit.

These guys are scumbags, guilty until proven innocent.

Had one of them get outside the airport and then demand money from me to put fuel in the vehicle, I said no, you get me to my destination I give you money. He drove me back to the airport after acting like a complete idiot, slamming doors and carrying on, yelling. Jerkweeds these guys......

[Soupdragon]

Innocent until proven guilty.

That should always be the case. Lets hope that this case is investigated thoroughly and impartially and the facts established.

It has been reported in another publication that the driver tested positive for drugs. That alone should bring a harsh sentence.

[chooka]

What no one has claimed that the tourist is making a false report? That is the normal cry on here when there is a story like this and where is the usual remarks it is her fault and she should not be alone and if she hadn't of come to Thailand then this wouldn't of happened and the poor taxi guy wouldn't be going through all this stress.

[steelepulse]

Scumbag! These guys pay "fees" monthly so they think it allows them to do whatever they want without worrying about the law

[joboss]

Good she received help from the passing by people. Goes to show that if you see something that you think looks dodgy, sometimes you can help. Good on the police.

[Buckeye21]

Where is the pic of the guy? Had it been a foreigner the pic would be of him and not the 2 cops

[Buckeye21]

Too bad she didn't have the new tourist safety app they have been pushing lately.

Edited May 19, 2013 by Buckeye21

[Hecate]

I don't want to suggest in any way that the girl is at fault, but it's best not to sit in the front seat of a taxi. Some of these guys take it as a sign that you are interested in them. Sounds like a scary experience. She should definitely change hotels.

[allalong]

Where is the pic of the guy? Had it been a foreigner the pic would be of him and not the 2 cops

Yes shameful but not surprising .They like parading foreigners and even some thais even if not convicted.this taxi driver must have protection for some reason.

Sent from my GT-S7500L using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited May 19, 2013 by allalong

[market trader]

I feel badly for the Chinese lady. But because the lady is from China I believe the case will be investigated more thoroughly than if it were a white farang. China is the most important source of tourism for Thailand.

[how241]

Innocent until proven guilty.

That should always be the case. Lets hope that this case is investigated thoroughly and impartially and the facts established.

It has been reported in another publication that the driver tested positive for drugs. That alone should bring a harsh sentence.

+1

[SiggiCM]

it is not about china or farang, i dont know any thai women who take a taxi or tuk tuk in Phuket or Koh samui, no of any women friends would take a taxi, better to drive completely drunk on motorbike with other drunk person and more safe

[khh]

I don't want to suggest in any way that the girl is at fault, but it's best not to sit in the front seat of a taxi. Some of these guys take it as a sign that you are interested in them. Sounds like a scary experience. She should definitely change hotels.

partly a cultural difference. i remember seeing signs in chinese taxis that said only women and children could sit in the front (for the driver's safety).

[wiyada]

A Female sitting in the front of a taxi ! I wouldn't suggest that for any female anywhere in the world.... It's not like China is the safest country for females surely she must have been lacking in the brains dept. Not that that makes the alleged offence any less serious but come on, talk about putting yourself in harms way.

They stopped for fuel a number of times why did she not get help then ? something doesn't smell right here which is possibly why the police brought both in for questioning.

Still no matter if he is guilty or not being Thai and a taxi driver has already judged him guilty in the Thaivisa armchair defectives (no I didn't mean detectives this time !)

Re the cultural thing...when travelling in foreign countries, especially alone it would have been prudent for her to understand the culture that is basically worldwide when it comes to travelling safely in taxis. Maybe male taxi drivers in china are eunuchs ?

Edited May 19, 2013 by wiyada

[theajarn]

I wonder if this is the same taxi driver (who has a wife) that raped that other Chinese tourist before? Wouldn't be surprised.

[theajarn]

On the way he stopped to buy some water and beer and then asked her for money for fuel. She gave him some money.

There's a clear sign something is wrong already.

Actually the part where they agreed a price without the meter was a clear indication that she was going to get f•cked (no pun intended).

[theajarn]

A Female sitting in the front of a taxi ! I wouldn't suggest that for any female anywhere in the world.... It's not like China is the safest country for females surely she must have been lacking in the brains dept. Not that that makes the alleged offence any less serious but come on, talk about putting yourself in harms way.

They stopped for fuel a number of times why did she not get help then ? something doesn't smell right here which is possibly why the police brought both in for questioning.

Still no matter if he is guilty or not being Thai and a taxi driver has already judged him guilty in the Thaivisa armchair defectives (no I didn't mean detectives this time !)

Re the cultural thing...when travelling in foreign countries, especially alone it would have been prudent for her to understand the culture that is basically worldwide when it comes to travelling safely in taxis. Maybe male taxi drivers in china are eunuchs ?

Maybe she was scared out of her f*ing wits, that's why. I'm sure the Thai witnesses who came to her help were making it all up -- oh yeah -- must be part of the act to extort money from a taxi driver.

[fullcave]

So where's the picture of the perp?

[belg]

4.30 hours taxi drive, she must have seen the whole island and the taxi driver pretend he does not know resort x or y, so why does he have a taxi drivers licence in the first place ?

ah yes, taxi maffia, i forgot

[techboy]

Where is the pic of the guy? Had it been a foreigner the pic would be of him and not the 2 cops

Yes shameful but not surprising .They like parading foreigners and even some thais even if not convicted.this taxi driver must have protection for some reason.

Sent from my GT-S7500L using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

That is such a crock. I have been reading this forum for years and your assertion is your own myth. Pathetic.

Edited May 20, 2013 by techboy

[webfact]

Phuket taxi driver to face abduction, drug charges
Phuket Gazette


Paitoon Kruain (right), 32, who independently operated an illegal taxi at Phuket International Airport, has denied the allegations against him. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- The Phuket taxi driver accused of holding a 19-year-old Chinese tourist captive for hours and threatening her with sexually intimidating gestures on Friday will face deprivation of liberty and drug charges.

Phuket City Police today named the driver as Paitoon Kruain, 32, from Sakoo, a small village on Phuket’s west coast near Phuket International Airport.

Mr Paitoon was interrogated by Phuket City Police for six hours on Saturday after the Chinese tourist filed her complaint. She accused the driver of holding her captive in his car for nearly five hours and repeatedly touching her while he drove around (story here).

“He will be called in for more questioning today,” Phuket City Police Inspector Watcharapong Plaiphan said.

“We are preparing to charge him with deprivation of liberty and with taking drugs,” Lt Col Watcharapong added.

During the marathon interrogation of Mr Paitoon at Phuket City Police Station on Saturday, the Chinese tourist gave her statement to police through a translator in front of the Thai press.

“I got in a taxi at the airport and asked the driver to take me to a hotel in Patong. The driver convinced me to sit in the front seat. He said the back seat had a problem, so I sat in the front,” she said.

The tourist identified the taxi as a bronze Honda Civic with Phuket license plates KorPor 5602.

“We left the airport at around 4:30pm. The driver kept touching my legs. I tried to stop him, but he kept doing it. So I took off my shoe and told him to stop or I would hit him,” she said.

“He didn’t stop. He kept touching me and asking if he could kiss me while he drove around. I had no idea where we were. The doors were locked. All the time he kept asking to kiss me and sometimes he hugged me.

“He drove around until the car ran out of gas at about 9pm. He asked to kiss me again. So I let him do it then he got out of the car. Once he unlocked the doors, I got out off the car and yelled for help until good people took me to a police station,” she said.

Mr Paitoon, who independently operated an illegal taxi at the airport, has denied the accusations, Col Watcharapong confirmed.

“He said she was the one who tried to assault him by hitting him with her shoe.

“We did not believe his statement, so we tested him for drugs. He tested positive. He confessed that he took one and a half pills of ya bah [methamphetamine] on the day,” he added.

“We are now preparing to charge him with deprivation of liberty and with being under the influence of drugs,” Col Watcharapong said.

Ekkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police, who first received the complaint from the tourist, confirmed the Chinese embassy has been notified of the incident.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-taxi-driver-to-face-abduction-drug-charges-21097.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-05-20

[MacWalen]

Sure, China is a big market, they will do something about it to get good press, not mentioning that it is the right thing to do.

[clockman]

So if he is not locked up, he can do what many Thai people do, run away!

[Payboy]

“We are preparing to charge him with deprivation of liberty and with taking drugs,” Lt Col Watcharapong added.

All set for a 2000 Baht fine and a pat on the back before he's out preying on the streets again.