Pattaya driver accused of misconduct by intoxicated passenger
A 24 year old woman reported being coerced by a driver into a non-consensual act after she was heavily intoxicated while returning home from a host bar in Pattaya in the early hours. Despite filing a complaint with Pattaya Police Station, she was initially told to gather her own evidence, causing considerable distress.
Yesterday, Police Colonel Arut Saphanon and Pol. Col. Suradet Imjai, along with a police investigative team, identified a suspect within hours. The 43 year old suspect M admitted he was the one accused by the victim.
M claimed the incident did not occur as described by the victim. He stated that after picking her up from a nightlife venue, they engaged in flirtatious conversation, with the woman sharing her expenses at the host bar. He said this led to a misunderstanding, believing she was interested in him.
M further alleged that when the victim complained of cold, he offered her a blanket, leading to closer physical contact. He described the victim as attractive, which led to him being momentarily overcome by the situation. However, he insisted the victim initiated the encounter and no coercion was involved.
When asked why he did not book a hotel if the encounter was consensual, M claimed it was a fleeting impulse and he had no intention of pursuing anything further as he didn’t have protection with him. After the act, they continued to converse normally, and he offered to drive her to the province without charge.
M said he and the woman exchanged contact details and continued to communicate, but later she contacted him to express her discontent with the incident. He apologised and promised such an event would not recur. He expressed regret upon learning she had filed a police report and contacted the media.
Concerning his account with the ride-hailing app, M admitted to using a friend’s ID to continue driving after his account was suspended. The police clarified that the request for evidence was likely misunderstood since the victim was intoxicated and needed to collect herself before completing the report.
Bolt, the ride-hailing service, issued a statement acknowledging the incident from April 3, reinforcing their commitment to user safety and confirming the permanent suspension of the account involved due to breaches of their terms. They pledged full cooperation with relevant authorities and emphasised their dedication to enhancing safety and professionalism on their platform, reported KhaoSod.
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