Motorbike taxi driver stabs Burmese man in Pattaya after dispute

A clash between a motorbike taxi driver and his passenger unfolded in the early hours of yesterday morning right outside the Pattaya Police Station, culminating in a stabbing incident.

The confrontation erupted at approximately 2.30am, yesterday, November 20, with the two men involved in a heated dispute that attracted the attention of passersby, both locals and tourists.

Saw Hla Htav Han, a 31 year old Myanmar national, had engaged the services of a motorcycle taxi to transport him and a female companion from a bustling nightlife venue in South Pattaya to their place of stay. As they approached the vicinity of the police station, Han requested the driver, 36 year old Chaisan, to turn into Soi 9. According to Han, the driver responded with disrespectful language and verbal insults.

Feeling aggrieved, Han and his companion opted to end their journey abruptly in front of the police station. This decision reportedly infuriated Chaisan, leading to a verbal altercation that swiftly escalated into a physical fight. The skirmish unfolded in plain view of numerous pedestrians, including Thai nationals and foreign visitors who were in the area.

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with the two men exchanging blows until police officers intervened.

The police promptly stepped in to separate the two combatants and ushered them into the investigation room to unravel the details of the incident. Both individuals faced charges of physical assault and were each penalised with a 1,000 baht fine. Despite the severity of the altercation, neither Han nor Chaisan chose to pursue further legal action against each other, reported Pattaya News.

An observer at the scene remarked, “It was shocking to see such violence right outside the police station, especially with so many people around.”

In related news, a British tourist’s night in Pattaya went from bad to worse after he found himself in a brawl with two locals who’d offered to drive him home.