Lao woman’s harrowing experience with Thai taxi driver in Bangkok

Officers from Bang Kruai Police Station in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok arrested an illegal Thai taxi driver for sexually harassing and overcharging a Lao woman. The driver denied he sexually harassed the woman, stating that he was just teasing the passenger.

The Lao victim, 19 year old Phouangmalay Keovilay, and her older brother filed a complaint against a Thai taxi driver at Bang Kruai Police Station at 6pm on December 4 after the alleged sexual harassment at about 10.30pm on November 29.

Phouangmalay explained that she travelled from Laos to visit her brother in Nonthaburi province. She arrived at Bangkok Bus Terminal in Chatuchak district, or Morchit Bus Terminal 2, at about 10pm. A Thai man in a motorcycle taxi vest approached and urged her to use his service. He said he also had a taxi car.

Phouangmalay saw that it was convenient to accept his offer and agreed to use his service. However, the car was not a taxi at all, it was his car, a white Nissan Almera.

Phouangmalay said she was curious and worried but decided to get in the car because she was in a hurry. The driver then asked to see the map on her phone and refused to return it throughout the journey.

The taxi driver then began to sexually harass her by asking about her boyfriend and talking about sex-related topics. He also boasted that he was an ex-prisoner, locked up for drug offences, and had tattoos all over his body. The driver added that he was a YouTuber and talked about his criminal record on the channel.

Phouangmalay expressed her greatest fear when the driver stopped to relieve himself on the roadside. He stopped to pee four times, hindering her brother’s attempts to reach her by phone.

Upon finally reaching her destination, Phouangmalay noted that the journey, which should have lasted 20 to 30 minutes, extended beyond two hours due to the taxi driver opting for an alternative route. Additionally, he requested 90 baht for toll charges and 200 baht for fuel.

The driver demanded 950 baht for a 13 kilometre trip instead of the 200-300 baht they had agreed on. Phouangmalay then grabbed her mobile phone and called her brother to help her talk to the driver.

While her brother spoke to the taxi driver about his strange behaviour and overcharging, Phouangmalay said she went to a nearby ATM to withdraw cash for the fare. She returned to the driver and paid him only 800 baht.

Upon receiving the payment, the driver hastily departed to evade Phouangmalay’s brother. Nitiwit Lertlitphuwadon, the Thai employer of the brother, opted to pursue the driver on his motorcycle. However, the car driver deliberately nudged Nitiwit’s motorcycle, causing it to topple and compelling him to cease the pursuit. Nitiwit mentioned that he couldn’t discern the registration plate numbers due to their faded condition.

Officers reviewed CCTV in the area until they were able to arrest the taxi driver, 26 year old Thanathorn Pimdee, yesterday, December 5. Officers found that Thanathorn did not have a license to operate a taxi car and also found drugs in his system.

Thanathorn admitted to overcharging the Laotian passenger but denied sexually assaulting her. He said he was only teasing the woman and had no negative intentions. He claimed that he refused to return her phone because he needed to use the map and that he stopped to pee very often because he had kidney problems.

Thanathorn also said he left the scene quickly because the victim’s brother and Nitiwit approached him. He was concerned for his safety and had to leave.

Police reported that they could only charge him with drug use and that traffic offences fall under the jurisdiction of the Land Transport Department.