18 Bangkok motorbike taxi drivers get prison for 2019 mass brawl killing a bystander

18 motorbike taxi drivers are sentenced to prison for their involvement in a mass street fight in June 2019 where a bystander was killed by a stray bullet. Bangkok’s Prakhonong Court handed down prison sentences ranging from 5 years to more than 27 years, according to Thai media.

The fight broke out between two gangs of win drivers, named by Thai media as Soi 1 and Soi 2, on Soi Udomsuk 1 in Bangkok’s Bang Na district. Around 50 to 60 drivers from Soi 1 attacked 20 to 30 drivers from Soi 2 with knives and other weapons, apparently because Soi 2 drivers, who were unregistered and operated without the proper orange identification vests, took customers away from the Soi 1 group.

A 20 year old Kerry Express courier, Weerawat Pheungkrut, was shot and killed when a stray bullet struck him in the left eyebrow. The drivers who were directly involved with the murder were sentenced to the longest prison terms, including leader of Soi 1 known as Pramuk. He was sentenced to 27 years and 10 months in prison and ordered to pay a 5,000 baht fine as well as 280,000 baht in compensation with a 7.5% yearly interest.

Other drivers with high prison sentences and also ordered to pay 280,000 baht in compensation with a 7.5% yearly interest:

• Best was sentenced to 27 years in prison and ordered to pay a 5,000 baht.
• Am was sentenced to 25 years in prison and ordered to pay a 5,000 baht fine.
• X was sentenced to 24 years and 6 months in prison and ordered to pay a 2,500 baht fine.

Drivers with lower prison sentences:

• Beer was sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in prison and ordered to pay a 6,666 baht fine.
• Too, Nui, Bank, Fluke, Mai, Tam and Moo and Jack were sentenced to 5 years in prison and ordered to pay a 5,000 baht fine.
• Oo, Nott, Bank and Ae were sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison and ordered to pay a 5,000 baht fine.

SOURCE: Thai Visa

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