Wounded tuk-tuk driver still missing

PHUKET CITY: Police have yet to hear back from a tuk-tuk driver who appeared at Phuket City Police Station early Friday morning drunk and bleeding from an apparent gunshot wound – and told to come back later.

Pol Lt Saran Redeng, Duty Officer at Phuket City Police Station, said that Somkid Huangsrapram, 42, arrived at the station about 2:50 am, complaining that he had been shot by a gang of about six youths on motorcycles as he was driving past Central Festival.

The front windshield of his tuk-tuk was shattered and missing most of the glass on the driver’s side.

K. Somkid, a resident of Rawai Village 1, said he was on his way home from the Larb Udon Isarn restaurant, on Bangyai Rd behind Big C, when his progress was slowed by motorcycle gang, who were riding slowly three abreast, Lt Saran said.

The gang comprised six males and one female. When he shouted at them to move, one of the gang shot at him, he added.

However, Lt Saran said that K. Somkid was too drunk to file an official statement, and that his account was given only verbally.

K. Somkid was told to go to a hospital for treatment to a minor wound to his arm that was still bleeding, Lt Saran said.

“I told him to get treatment at a hospital for the wound to his arm, which appeared to have been scratched or grazed. He was too drunk to make a statement. However, he never came back to make a report or file a complaint. In fact, I’m not even sure whether he went to a hospital,” he said.

“I think he had a problem with that gang, but as he never filed a report we have no complaint on which to act,” Lt Saran said.

K. Somkid was unable to give a description of any of the gang members, he added.