Bangkok taxi driver denies raping victim despite her fleeing in underwear
A Thai taxi driver denied raping his intoxicated passenger this past Sunday, January 26, despite the victim fleeing his home in Bangkok wearing only underwear to seek help.
The victim filed a complaint with officers at Taling Chan Police Station on Sunday. The 60 year old taxi driver, Thanawat, turned himself in but denied all allegations. However, he could not explain why he took the victim to his rented room if he had no intention of assaulting her.
The victim later recounted the incident to Channel 7. She explained that she had gone to a bar in Ratchaprasong, Bangkok, with her friends. She drank four cocktails and felt intoxicated, so she excused herself and took a taxi home.
The victim said she could not recall what happened to her in the taxi but woke up in Thanawat’s home wearing only underwear, with Thanawat on top of her.
The woman screamed for help and resisted the assault until she managed to escape from the taxi driver. She ran into a nearby house, still undressed, where locals in the area helped her. She also reported that 2,000 baht in cash was missing.
The victim was rushed to a hospital for a medical examination, which confirmed evidence of sexual assault.
Suspect often takes women home
Police interviewed locals who helped the victim. They stated that she ran out of Thanawat’s home wearing only underwear. Thanawat followed her outside and handed her clothes and belongings before driving away in his taxi.
Neighbours of Thanawat reported that they had seen the taxi driver bring many women, both Thai and foreign, to his home. However, they had never suspected him of wrongdoing, assuming that the women were either willing visitors or sex workers.
Thanawat was questioned for about an hour before being transferred to Taling Chan Criminal Court for temporary detention.
Before his transfer to court, the taxi driver gave a brief interview to the media. He stated that he wanted to apologise to the victim and insisted he did not intend to rape her, as she believed. When asked why he brought her to his home if he had no lewd intentions, Thanawat remained silent.
Thanawat has been charged under Section 276 of the Criminal Law for sexually assaulting another person using violence or threats. If convicted, he faces a penalty of imprisonment for four to 20 years and a fine ranging from 80,000 to 400,000 baht.
ORIGINAL STORY: Bangkok taxi driver flees after attempted assault on passenger
A woman found herself in an unknown room after taking a taxi ride home, where the driver allegedly attempted to assault her. The incident occurred on January 26, when the woman, who had been drinking with friends in the Ratchaprasong area, took a Toyota taxi to return to her condominium.
Waking up in an unfamiliar room with the driver, the 42 year old woman realised he had removed her clothes and was attempting to assault her. She resisted and cried out for help, prompting the driver to flee.
Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, has tasked Police Colonel Monchai Arunsongsangdee, Superintendent of Taling Chan Police Station, with investigating the case after the woman’s report.
Police were informed of the incident and proceeded to the location in a rental room on Chok Phra 8 Alley, Chok Phra Road, Khlong Chok Phra subdistrict, Taling Chan district, Bangkok.
The woman reported the incident to the police, who are now working to apprehend the driver. Police have taken her statement and are following legal procedures at Taling Chan Police Station. The investigation remains ongoing as police continue their efforts to locate the suspect and ensure justice for the victim, reported KhaoSod.
In other assault news, Police arrested a Thai security guard in the eastern province of Rayong for sexually assaulting a three year old girl in his car in December last year.
The 36 year old Thai man submitted his three year old daughter’s case to the Paveena Foundation for Children and Women to seek justice. The sexual assault took place on December 5, and the security guard was finally arrested yesterday, January 22.
In other taxi driver news, a drunk taxi driver remains at large after crashing into more than 10 motorcycles on a road in the western province of Phetchaburi, resulting in three serious injuries.
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