Deaf, mute Grab driver tangled in sexual assault claims after ride goes awry

A deaf, mute Thai Grab driver is seeking justice after a passenger accused him of attempted sexual assault due to a misunderstanding during a trip in Bangkok on Tuesday night.

The Grab driver’s 70 year old mother, Thongmuan, visited Huay Kwang Police Station yesterday, October 9, to seek justice for her son. The misunderstanding led to her son being charged with causing another person to feel fear or shock, which could result in imprisonment for up to one month, a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both.

On the day of the incident, October 8, Thongmuan’s son provided a service to a female passenger at around 4am. He picked her up in the Sukhumvit area, with the destination set for Soi Vibhavadi 60.

The Grab driver reportedly took a wrong turn at the Thailand Cultural Centre-Tiam Ruammit intersection along Rama 9 Road, which forced him to change the route and head towards Huay Kwang Tunnel.

While travelling through the tunnel, the passenger tapped his shoulder and asked him to stop. He complied and then drove back home.

Unexpectedly, Thongmuan received a call from the police that day, informing her that the female passenger filed a complaint against her son, accusing him of driving off the route displayed in the application. The woman claimed he was trying to take her to another location for a sexual assault and that he did not respond to her questions.

The Grab driver was unable to respond to the woman because he has hearing and speech impairments, a fact that is usually displayed in the booking details on the app.

According to Thongmuan, her son works full-time at a hotel in Soi Sukhumvit 11 and part-time as a Grab driver to support her and 14 other family members. Following the charge, her son was stressed and shocked.

The Grab driver communicated via sign language that he smelled alcohol on the woman but did not know if she was drunk. He was puzzled as to why the passenger stopped mid-journey but could not ask her.

The Superintendent of Huay Kwang Police Station, Prasopchok Iam-pinit, promised to ensure justice for both parties. Officers will review security camera footage along the route to determine the truth in the case.