Thai boxing coach in legal ring after almost blinding biker

Three motorcycle taxi riders are taking legal action against a Thai boxing coach in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok, following a physical altercation on the night of Monday, October 14, during which one of the riders nearly lost his sight.

Two of the three riders, 37 year old Komsan Charoensisuk and 52 year old Adisorn Dokmaitate, filed a complaint against the 34 year old boxing coach, Pramote, on Tuesday. They later shared their story with news agencies to pressure Pramote to take responsibility.

The riders told ThaiRath that they argued with Pramote on the road outside Bua Thong Thani Village. Adisorn admitted to having cut Pramote off while riding his motorcycle, which led to the argument.

The riders claimed that Pramote called two other boxing coaches to the scene, and the three of them physically assaulted the taxi riders. Adisorn added that he nearly lost his eyesight due to the assault.

Pramote and the two other boxing trainers gave an interview with ThaiRath yesterday, October 16. Pramote explained that Adisorn cut him off to pick up more passengers near his stand, which angered him.

Pramote rushed to confront Adisorn, asking why he acted so selfishly and dangerously on the road. According to Pramote, Adisorn responded with vulgar insults, prompting him to call his friends for support.

Pramote insisted that it was the three motorcycle taxi riders who attacked him and that his two friends did not take part in the assault. In fact, Pramote stated that one of his friends named Ex even slapped him to stop the fight.

Pramote admitted to randomly kicking a prostrate Adisorn and did not expect to injure his eye. He claimed that he immediately stopped the attack when he saw the severity of Adisorn’s injury and promised to compensate him.

This incident differs from previous altercations between Thai motorcycle taxi riders and other motorists, in which the riders were often the aggressors. In most prior cases, taxi riders initiated the assault against motorists who violated their perceived rules.

For example, in a similar case in July, taxi riders in Patong, Phuket, brutally assaulted a tourist. In another incident, a group of taxi riders in Pattaya was seen attacking a foreigner for parking near their stand.