Thai motorcycle taxi rider survives stabbing, robbery in Pattaya

A 60 year old motorcycle taxi rider managed to escape from an armed robber who posed as a passenger before stabbing him in the neck and an attempt to steal from him on Soi Thung Klom Tanman 13 in Pattaya.

The motorcycle taxi rider, Sakchai, sought help from a rescue team in the early hours of yesterday, July 24, after escaping from the scene of the theft with an injury to his neck. After receiving first aid, Sakchai filed a complaint at Nong Prue Police Station.

Sakchai told Channel 7 that the armed robber, a Thai man aged between 20 and 30 years old, came to his taxi shelter at about 12.25am. The man then hired him to go to an apartment in Ban Lang community. Upon arrival, the passenger asked him to wait outside the apartment, saying he would go to his room to get the fare for Sakchai.

The passenger returned five minutes later and informed Sakchai that he could not enter the room. He asked Sakchai to take him to another destination in Soi Thung Klom Tanman 13. The place was quiet and surrounded by cassava plantations.

The thief, in disguise, took this opportunity to strangle Sakchai and pointed a sharp wooden stick at his waist before threatening to kill him.

“How old are you, uncle? Have you ever died before? If you don’t want to die now, hand over all your valuables.”

Sakchai did not comply with the thief’s order. He fought back, prompting the thief to stab him in the neck with the wooden stick. Sakchai continued to fight with the attacker until he fled the scene. Sakchai then rode his motorcycle out of the area and sought help from rescuers.

Sakchai disclosed that he has been offering services to locals in the area for 40 years and experienced a similar incident 20 years ago. In that case, the thief repeatedly stabbed him in the back and stole his beloved motorcycle. Sakchai added that police were unable to arrest the thief in that case.

Nong Prue Police Station successfully arrested the thief, identified as 23 year old Suphat, in Soi Pornprapha Nimirt later on the day. Suphat was drinking alcohol with his friends outside his home shortly before his arrest.

Suphat confessed to drinking alcohol and taking drugs on the day of the incident but denied the attempted theft. Suphat claimed that the victim, Sakchai, hurt him first, so he had to protect himself. Police were not convinced by his claim but have not yet issued an official charge against Suphat.