Thai taxi driver arrested for stabbing Australian tourist in Bangkok

Thai police arrested a taxi driver for the brutal stabbing of an Australian tourist with a box cutter, causing injuries. The driver confessed to the crime, stating that a quarrel led to the incident, which occurred after the tourist slammed the car door loudly and refused to pay for the damage.

Yesterday, October 24, Police Major General Witthawat Chinnakam, Police Colonel Phopthorn Jitman, and Police Colonel Phanom Chueathong from Thung Maha Mek Police Station interrogated the 49 year old taxi driver, Somporn, in connection with the stabbing of the Australian tourist.

The incident took place in Thung Maha Mek, Sathorn, Bangkok, in the early hours of the previous day.

Police received a report at 3.39am about a foreign man being stabbed in Narathiwat Soi 9. Upon arrival, officers found a 39 year old Australian man with a stab wound to his right abdomen, lying on the roadside. Emergency responders administered first aid and transported him to Chulalongkorn Hospital.

Witnesses revealed that the victim had been in a pink taxi, whose license plate was initially unknown. A dispute broke out between the passenger and the driver before the stabbing occurred.

A bystander intervened, prompting the driver to flee the scene.

Investigating officers reviewed CCTV footage and identified the pink taxi driven by Somporn. The suspect was subsequently apprehended and brought in for questioning, where the victim confirmed his identity.

Somporn admitted that on the night of the incident, he had picked up the Australian tourist and a Thai man from Thaniya, Silom Soi 2, to take them to a hotel. During the journey, a heated argument erupted between the two passengers, leading him to stop the car.

The tourist allegedly banged on the car violently and shut the door with force after getting out. When Somporn followed him to demand the taxi fare, another argument ensued.

He then took out a small box cutter from the glove compartment and waved it around, unintentionally stabbing the tourist in the abdomen. He then fled the scene, dropping off the Thai man near Silom Road, close to Soi 2.

Somporn has been charged with causing bodily harm, leading to injury. He expressed remorse and apologised to the Australian tourist, reported KhaoSod.