Phuket Police hit “abductor’ taxi-driver with two more charges

PHUKET: Two more charges have been levied against the illegal taxi driver who denies having sexually assaulted a Chinese tourist after picking her up at Phuket International Airport on May 17 (story here).

Already accused of deprivation of liberty for holding the 19-year-old woman captive in his vehicle for five hours, as well as sexual assault and being under the influence of drugs, Paitoon Kruain now faces charges of consuming alcohol while driving and operating a regular vehicle as a taxi, said Phuket City Police Chief Sermphan Sirikong.

“Mr Paitoon was fined 2,000 baht at the police station for operating a regular vehicle as a taxi,” Col Sermphan said.

The case was handed over to the Public Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday.

— Irfarn Jamdukor