Thai taxi driver attacked by passenger for overcharging (video)

A Thai taxi driver is seeking justice after a male passenger attacked him for overcharging on a roadside in the Sathorn district of Bangkok.

The taxi driver, Pipol Sawangsuk, shared three videos showing him in a heated argument with the passenger on a footpath along Chan Road in Bangkok on Saturday, August 31. He later shared another video explaining the situation.

According to Pipol, he picked up two passengers, a man and his daughter, from outside King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi on Pracha Uthit Road, with their destination being Banphaeo General Hospital on Chan Road.

The online directions to the hospital were not clear, so the passenger suggested that the taxi driver pin the destination at a nearby building instead. At one point during the journey, the woman suggested that Pipol turn left, which was the wrong direction.

Pipol followed the map until they arrived at the destination. The meter showed a fare of about 160 baht, which angered the male passenger, who was seen wearing a blue shirt in the video. The passenger was seen shouting at Pipol while his daughter tried to calm him down.

The passenger claimed that he had booked taxis to the hospital before and was charged only 100 to 110 baht, not 160 baht. He accused Pipol of overcharging him by taking a detour. Pipol suggested resolving the matter at a police station but the man refused and attempted to leave the scene.

His daughter tried to pay the fare to Pipol but her father stopped her and became angry with her. He shouted at his daughter.

“Are we wrong? How? Why are you so stupid!”

The taxi driver continued to demand the fare shown on the meter. The male passenger became angrier and allegedly hit Pipol on the head a few times. After arguing for a while, the woman discreetly paid the full fare to the driver.

Pipol stated at the end of his video that he forgave the passenger for physically assaulting him but was not okay with being falsely accused. So, he created a video to clarify the matter.

Pipol later reported the incident to Tung Mahamek Police Station and shared the story with the officers. However, he decided to drop the legal proceedings as he did not want to waste his time.

Many readers will feel conflicted about the story, as hundreds of passengers are being ripped off and overcharged by the capital’s unscrupulous taxi drivers daily. Is it a case of karma or simply fate catching up?