Thai taxi driver hits rock bottom, then throws rocks at Bangkok cab
Police yesterday arrested a Thai taxi driver for throwing rocks at another taxi driver’s car in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok. The suspect claimed he committed the offence out of stress after his business went bankrupt.
A 58 year old taxi driver named Pornsawat rushed to Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station in a state of fright on Tuesday, March 18, and reported that someone had fired a bullet at his taxi car. He then showed officers a hole in the window on the left side of his orange taxi.
Pornsawat explained that he was driving near the Erawan Museum on Sukhumvit Road in Samut Prakan when the driver of a pink taxi approached from behind and shouted, “Hey!” As he slowed down, the driver of the pink taxi allegedly shot at his car.
Pornsawat insisted that he had never had a conflict with anyone and had not been involved in any road disputes with the attacker.
Officers inspected the car for a bullet casing but found only a rock on the back seat, leading them to conclude that the incident had involved rock throwing rather than shooting.
Police reviewed security camera footage from the scene and along Sukhumvit Road until they identified the suspect’s vehicle, a pink taxi bearing the registration number ทส 2387 Bangkok. They traced the car to Soi Mong Bang in the Phra Samut Chedi district of Samut Prakan, where they arrested the driver, 56 year old Suttipong.
Stress blamed for crime
During a search of Suttipong’s vehicle, officers discovered more than 30 rocks hidden inside, but no other illegal items were found.
Suttipong was escorted to the police station for questioning, initially refusing to get out of the police car upon seeing numerous journalists waiting. He eventually exited the vehicle and walked swiftly to the questioning room without speaking to the media.
According to the police report, Suttipong initially denied the accusations and challenged the police to produce evidence. However, when confronted with CCTV footage of his actions, he admitted to throwing the rocks, explaining that his violent behaviour was caused by stress.
Suttipong stated that he had previously operated a travel agency and van service in the central province of Suphan Buri, but his business had collapsed. He subsequently took up work as a taxi driver, a job he has held for three years.
The police have not disclosed the specific legal consequences Suttipong will face. However, under Section 358 of the Criminal Code, causing damage to another person’s property carries a penalty of imprisonment for six months to 10 years and a fine ranging from 10,000 to 200,000 baht.
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