App-alling Thai man: Admits to sexual assault of multiple taxi riders
A Thai man sexually assaulted an app-based motorcycle taxi rider in Bangkok and astonishingly confessed to assaulting other riders during previous rides.
The victim took to social media to share a video of him arguing with his passenger over the sexual assault on the footpath in Bangkok. The video was posted on a Facebook page, เพื่อนRiDer ไม่ทิ้งกัน (meaning friends for riders, help each other), yesterday, May 22.
The rider revealed that the incident took place on his first day of work. The suspect booked a ride from Soi Somdet Phra Chao Taksin 15 to Sathupradit Road on May 21. The ride took about 25 minutes, during which the rider was assaulted.
In an interview with Channel 7, the rider said that the pervert passenger began the assault by touching his leg. He ignored the action, thinking the passenger might be scared because he was riding at night. Unexpectedly, the suspect moved to touch his private parts, prompting him to stop the vehicle.
In the video, the rider questioned the passenger about why he dared to sexually assault him during the ride and whether he had done this to others before. They engaged in the following conversation below:
Rider: Are you straight?
Suspect: Why? I’m sorry.
Rider: No, I don’t accept your apology. You cannot do this to me.
Suspect: I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, OK?
Rider: Can I see your face? Let me see your face. You are a pervert. How many riders have you assaulted before?
Suspect: Two to three riders.
The rider then asked a security guard at a nearby building to contact the police. In fear of facing legal charges, the suspect offered 2,000 baht in cash to the victim to end the case but the victim would not accept it.
The rider emphasised in the video that he provides a riding service, not a sex service. The suspect repeatedly apologized and begged the victim to stop the legal proceedings, saying he would lose his job.
The suspect then promised that he would never do it again but the rider was not convinced. The rider almost physically assaulted the suspect due to his anger.
Channel 7 reported the police later urged the rider to accept 5,000 baht in compensation from the suspect and refrain from proceeding with legal action.
