Armed Australian 'black taxi' driver arrested in Phuket

[itchybum]

So you cannot pick up a friend or client from a hotel ?

Did you not bother to read far enough to see dagger, pistol (albeit BB gun, but used to threaten people) and bullets?

but this time he waved a push dagger at her.”

but he went to his car and returned with a pistol, with which he threatened them.

Polting was also in possession of real bullets.

Did you not bother to read that this happened after being harassed by the numpties ?

Anyway, glad this is happening in the world class destination that is known as the shit hole phuket....it deserves all it gets.

[NamKangMan]

This story gives a real indication of the true problems with the transportation industry on Phuket. Can it get any worse?

[Emdog]

:four counts: operating an unregistered taxi (okay for Thais, despite what they say), doing work that is reserved exclusively for Thai nationals (Thai nationals? Work? as taxi driver? , carrying a weapon in a public place (don't they all, especially samurai swords), and issuing threats ("Thai/Phuket customer relations .technique).

[moe666]

Does he have a work permit for being a timeshare tout, Hell NO. When they approach me in Chiang Mai I ask for a work permit they shut there book and leave.

[zaZa9]

Short of the 'pistol' part I could easily have been accused of the same yesterday.

3 friends were staying at The Sunprime Hotel when their prepaid week finished and they decided to move to somewhere cheaper.

I said I'd drop them to the new place in my pick-up ( it has a divers style canopy and seats on the back) as they had big bags.

So I pull up on the apron near Reception at the Hotel , and one Thai in dark navy smiles and says welcome , while another Thai in turban and red beard ( unusual I know) and light blue shirt glares at me and says , "What you do?!!"

I say , "Oh , I'll only be here a minute , Im pickng up my friends " , thinking he is some sort of security.

Then he demands , "Where do you take them?"

Incensed that staff would be so nosey , I nearly say , "Mind yer own fcuken business" , but stop myself , with some Thais its just there way...

But this Thai is glaring, no smiles here.

So I say , "Baan khong pom!" ( House mine) and smile at him.

He then starts a chatter in Thai , and I detect the word 'taxi' but Im already hurrying inside , thinking they are just officious staff who dont want me parking there.

When I come out its pretty obvious the farangs really are friends , theyre chattering and throwing their bags in my truck , while red beard observes them closely.

He says , "You cannot do , this taxi job only Thai!"

( The real Hotel man is standing back smiling and looking worried.)

I just smile again , and we drive off , past taxi men leering at me.

Its in the car I realize hes a taxi man by the logo on his shirt.

In my opinion he has no right being any where but outside the Hotel gates , but he has obviously decided he will be a self appointed "approver" of who tourists will travel with and do so right near reception.

The situation is way out of hand .

A misplaced word and I could have been accused of one of the charges expressed above , or worse , beaten up .

For simply picking up friends....

Sure you can transfer friends.

You're putting yourself in a difficult position of course because of the canape on your car, and I presume them sitting there as well? What plates does your car have?

Exactly my point.

Im not 'puting myself in a difficult position' with those who actually have the REAL authority , because I was told by my insurance Co. I had to have the canopy registered in my blue book and blue and white plates, so the vehicle is legal to carry passengers from everyones point of view.

But all this doesnt matter , because as a falang , I cant be driving any form of taxi anyway. ( Its a maxi cab , so the friends sit inside)

But some jumped up little sh!t can show no regard for hotel rules ( Im pretty sure he wasnt invited to stand there) and strong arm his way up to a hotels parking desk , then tell me Im not following the rules.

Why should I be lectured or in in any danger for driving my type of car?

[sunshine51]

Regardless of his "occupation"...what I'd like to know is

why is he packing this kit...

Has the time share biz on the rock become that cut throat?

BTW...hang his ass...hang it high.

[LivinginKata]

Regardless of his "occupation"...what I'd like to know is

why is he packing this kit...

phuketnews_The_weapons_found_on_Mr_Porting_s_person_Photo_Ka.jpg

Has the time share biz on the rock become that cut throat?

BTW...hang his ass...hang it high.

I would like to know if this is the BB gun as reported ... "He was taken for questioning at the Police Station in Patong, where it was discovered that the pistol was a non-lethal BB gun, though Ponting was also in possession of real bullets."

Some real confusion in news reporting. as usual.

[zaZa9]

As someone who once cared neither way about the transport 'situation' around here , I have come to the conclusion the transport cartel in Phuket are lead by liars and cheats , if not that way bent individually .

Its pretty obvious that the money in fares has to be extremely lucrative , or we would not be seeing this constant manipulation , coercion and conniving over customers, turf and charges.

If there was no big money in it , no Thai would give a toss.

The snouts are fighting to get at this cream.

I therefore have no hesitation in concluding that the story featured here is mostly made up. After all , it has been reported to the press by a group we all know lies and cheats for their living.

I believe the Australian did return to the scene of an earlier argument- the first when he picked up the lady , but the second time - to drop her off- he probably came armed.

He'd sort of be silly not to.

The rest is fabrication.

[sunshine51]

Regardless of his "occupation"...what I'd like to know is

why is he packing this kit...

phuketnews_The_weapons_found_on_Mr_Porting_s_person_Photo_Ka.jpg

Has the time share biz on the rock become that cut throat?

BTW...hang his ass...hang it high.

I would like to know if this is the BB gun as reported ... "He was taken for questioning at the Police Station in Patong, where it was discovered that the pistol was a non-lethal BB gun, though Ponting was also in possession of real bullets."

Some real confusion in news reporting. as usual.

Yeah...bit of confusion I agree. Hard to tell from the ammo

but the ammo looks like .38 Special to me, perhaps bird

shot? The pic is blurred by hand/camera movement;

however...there are 2 CO2 cartridges between the knuckle

knife & pistol. The question remains though...why was he

packing this kit?

[Maggusoil]

Oh come on. His taxi is black. He is supposedly running a black business and is a general blackguard.

Right?

[MarkCyr]

Idiot.

Regardless of whether he was taking a fare or not, threatening a bunch of quasi-mafia taxi types with weapons was just retarded beyond all measure. Might as well paint a target on the back of your skull. This bozo should feel lucky they just called the BIB instead of giving him a taste Phuket Taxi-Mafia Justice.

[dao16]

Well, to hell with all this. You can pick up friends and clients....all those saying you can't are full of hogwash. The thing is, this guy does appear to be working and he didn't deal with it correctly. The correct answer was C) I am picking up my friends. I have picked up and taken people to airports and bus/train stations all over thailand....it would be stupid if you could't. Of course, I wasn't working, so it wasn't a thing. This guy was just doubly dumb for working and then not knowing how to actually work it in phuket, of all places....shizenhole on earth...never going there any time soon. I prefer my current pleasant view of thailand, despite its flaws.

[jmccarty]

Well, to hell with all this. You can pick up friends and clients....all those saying you can't are full of hogwash. The thing is, this guy does appear to be working and he didn't deal with it correctly. The correct answer was C) I am picking up my friends. I have picked up and taken people to airports and bus/train stations all over thailand....it would be stupid if you could't. Of course, I wasn't working, so it wasn't a thing. This guy was just doubly dumb for working and then not knowing how to actually work it in phuket, of all places....shizenhole on earth...never going there any time soon. I prefer my current pleasant view of thailand, despite its flaws.

I will continue to collect my oil industry clients in my car, bring them to my office, or entertain them. Catch me if you can!

[NewlyMintedThai]

He was obviously making a habit of picking up fares from the hotel, and the taxi drivers caught onto it. A farang picking up someone from a hotel would obviously not be an issue otherwise.

[atyclb]

Even if the client was from the time share company,

there is no 'plausible reason' any person farang or Thai from the

time share company can not drive someone around.

If he is NOT taking money for picking someone up, then he is not a taxi service.

Are only Thais allowed to drive people around now?

If someone has misinterpreted the law that way... then they are both mighty dumb and greedy.

Misinterpreting anything is not uncommon given the majority of the population lacks the capability to "connect 2 dots"

[ThaiTrav]

Illegal taxi drivers in Patong? I don't believe it. Funny when a non Thai is working illegally, the police get involved.

FACT Thais love Thais ....no way will they help or side with a farang .This post does not read true

[ThaiTrav]

Illegal taxi drivers in Patong? I don't believe it. Funny when a non Thai is working illegally, the police get involved.

FACT Thais love Thais ....no way will they help or side with a farang .This post does not read true

I have a BB gun ....looks real it air fires plastic bean bag foam size balls . As if real bullets could even fit ,they can,t .i would guess planted to make the case for sure.

[MMarlow]

Short of the 'pistol' part I could easily have been accused of the same yesterday.

3 friends were staying at The Sunprime Hotel when their prepaid week finished and they decided to move to somewhere cheaper.

I said I'd drop them to the new place in my pick-up ( it has a divers style canopy and seats on the back) as they had big bags.

So I pull up on the apron near Reception at the Hotel , and one Thai in dark navy smiles and says welcome , while another Thai in turban and red beard ( unusual I know) and light blue shirt glares at me and says , "What you do?!!"

I say , "Oh , I'll only be here a minute , Im pickng up my friends " , thinking he is some sort of security.

Then he demands , "Where do you take them?"

Incensed that staff would be so nosey , I nearly say , "Mind yer own fcuken business" , but stop myself , with some Thais its just there way...

But this Thai is glaring, no smiles here.

So I say , "Baan khong pom!" ( House mine) and smile at him.

He then starts a chatter in Thai , and I detect the word 'taxi' but Im already hurrying inside , thinking they are just officious staff who dont want me parking there.

When I come out its pretty obvious the farangs really are friends , theyre chattering and throwing their bags in my truck , while red beard observes them closely.

He says , "You cannot do , this taxi job only Thai!"

( The real Hotel man is standing back smiling and looking worried.)

I just smile again , and we drive off , past taxi men leering at me.

Its in the car I realize hes a taxi man by the logo on his shirt.

In my opinion he has no right being any where but outside the Hotel gates , but he has obviously decided he will be a self appointed "approver" of who tourists will travel with and do so right near reception.

The situation is way out of hand .

A misplaced word and I could have been accused of one of the charges expressed above , or worse , beaten up .

For simply picking up friends....

Sure you can transfer friends.

You're putting yourself in a difficult position of course because of the canape on your car, and I presume them sitting there as well? What plates does your car have?

I don't think having a canape on the vehicle would put anyone in a difficult position, surely it would be there just in case someone wanted a snack?

[NamKangMan]

He was obviously making a habit of picking up fares from the hotel, and the taxi drivers caught onto it. A farang picking up someone from a hotel would obviously not be an issue otherwise.

If you own a bar - you can't serve a beer to a custoner in your own bar, as that is an occupation reserved for Thai's.

If you own a guest house / hotel / resort - it's appears you can't operate as a "transfer driver" for your own establishment, as it could appear you are simply "working" in an occupation reserved for Thai's, despite you owning the business.

[IrishIvan]

He was obviously making a habit of picking up fares from the hotel, and the taxi drivers caught onto it.  A farang picking up someone from a hotel would obviously not be an issue otherwise.

 

If you own a bar - you can't serve a beer to a custoner in your own bar, as that is an occupation reserved for Thai's.

 

If you own a guest house / hotel / resort - it's appears you can't operate as a "transfer driver" for your own establishment, as it could appear you are simply "working" in an occupation reserved for Thai's, despite you owning the business. 

A lot of farang bar owners just put up the money for their hooker girlfriends. The money is split up after the bar shuts. A genuine owner manager can pour cocktails and cook meals. The guys that get deported for cracking a beer are just taking the piss. The idea of a farang working in Thailand is bringing a speciality. Pimps arent really bringing something new to Thailand

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Torrens54]

Wonder what would happen if Australia put a Ban on all NON-Australian Taxi Drivers? Might put a few Thais and OTHERS out of a job.

Same could also be said about allowing Thais to buy Land in Australia!

[jbrain]

Good to see that this dangerous criminal was handcuffed, I'm surprised he wasn't instructed to lay face down .

Asean here we come.

[NamKangMan]

He was obviously making a habit of picking up fares from the hotel, and the taxi drivers caught onto it. A farang picking up someone from a hotel would obviously not be an issue otherwise.

If you own a bar - you can't serve a beer to a custoner in your own bar, as that is an occupation reserved for Thai's.

If you own a guest house / hotel / resort - it's appears you can't operate as a "transfer driver" for your own establishment, as it could appear you are simply "working" in an occupation reserved for Thai's, despite you owning the business.

A lot of farang bar owners just put up the money for their hooker girlfriends. The money is split up after the bar shuts. A genuine owner manager can pour cocktails and cook meals. The guys that get deported for cracking a beer are just taking the piss. The idea of a farang working in Thailand is bringing a speciality. Pimps arent really bringing something new to Thailand

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yes, a chef with a work permit can cook specialist meals in his own guest house / hotel - but it appears his work permit doesn't cover acting as a "transfer driver" to pick people up from the airport who are staying at his guest house / hotel. This work, driving, is reserved for Thai's.

If pulled up, even basic questioning and enquiries would reveal the "driver" as an owner of a guest house / hotel and his passenger as simply one of his guests - then, the trouble starts.

I heard of a case where a guy had a work permit as a chef, in his own restaurant / guest house. He was arrested for also working behind his reception counter, answering phones, taking bookings, handing keys to guests etc.

[market trader]

Why all you people still live in Pattaya and Phuket is beyond my comprehension.

[TheGhostWithin]

Well, to hell with all this. You can pick up friends and clients....all those saying you can't are full of hogwash. The thing is, this guy does appear to be working and he didn't deal with it correctly. The correct answer was C) I am picking up my friends. I have picked up and taken people to airports and bus/train stations all over thailand....it would be stupid if you could't. Of course, I wasn't working, so it wasn't a thing. This guy was just doubly dumb for working and then not knowing how to actually work it in phuket, of all places....shizenhole on earth...never going there any time soon. I prefer my current pleasant view of thailand, despite its flaws.

One could interpret under Thai law that by picking up your client that you were having a "business meeting", and unless your work permit did not specify a physical address for which you were to undertake your work, technically you would be breaching the terms of your work permit.

Again, Thai law is not a tool which is used to instill order in society, it is a system which is used by the elite (of all colors) to squash opponents. The law, just as love, just as war, is not seen the same way in Thailand as it is where most of us are from.

[TheGhostWithin]

He was obviously making a habit of picking up fares from the hotel, and the taxi drivers caught onto it. A farang picking up someone from a hotel would obviously not be an issue otherwise.

If you own a bar - you can't serve a beer to a custoner in your own bar, as that is an occupation reserved for Thai's.

If you own a guest house / hotel / resort - it's appears you can't operate as a "transfer driver" for your own establishment, as it could appear you are simply "working" in an occupation reserved for Thai's, despite you owning the business.

You are technically not even allowed to sit in the bar if you are the owner, as it would appear that you have sufficient ownership capacity to be "controlling" the business over and above your legal 49% ownership right, and also may be deemed that you are providing an entertainment aspect adding value to your business for which is a role a Farang cannot perform in an entertainment venue. True fact.

[deecee10]

Hardly operating as a taxi for hire.

How about all the weapons and threats from so-called legitimate taxi operators?

[shaurene]

So you cannot pick up a friend or client from a hotel ?

Where does it say he was picking up a friend, did he have another friend to pick up when he went back????

It states he told the lady taxi driver he worked for a time share taxi company.

Get things right Mate

[shaurene]

He was obviously making a habit of picking up fares from the hotel, and the taxi drivers caught onto it. A farang picking up someone from a hotel would obviously not be an issue otherwise.

If you own a bar - you can't serve a beer to a custoner in your own bar, as that is an occupation reserved for Thai's.

If you own a guest house / hotel / resort - it's appears you can't operate as a "transfer driver" for your own establishment, as it could appear you are simply "working" in an occupation reserved for Thai's, despite you owning the business.

You are technically not even allowed to sit in the bar if you are the owner, as it would appear that you have sufficient ownership capacity to be "controlling" the business over and above your legal 49% ownership right, and also may be deemed that you are providing an entertainment aspect adding value to your business for which is a role a Farang cannot perform in an entertainment venue. True fact.

Interesting information. That would see all Falange under arrest as they all sit in their bars, all the ones I have been in over the years in Pattaya and Khon Kaen

[hanno]

Wonder what would happen if Australia put a Ban on all NON-Australian Taxi Drivers? Might put a few Thais and OTHERS out of a job.

Same could also be said about allowing Thais to buy Land in Australia!

The difference of course being that most Aussies would not dream of driving a taxi. Well, not at least until the mining industry goes belly up.