Motorbike taxi driver stabs colleague in Phuket over passenger
A motorbike taxi driver in Phuket Town is currently on the run after allegedly stabbing a colleague during a heated argument. The violent dispute occurred yesterday, April 22, at the fresh market on Ranong Road.
The victim, a 65 year old known as “Thiwa Lo Phuket,” was discovered by officers from the Phuket City Police Station, still seated on his motorbike. He had sustained stabbing injuries to his abdomen and chest, prompting immediate medical attention. He was hastily transported to the Vachira Phuket Hospital for treatment.
The suspect, identified as Jumpol Panthong, also aged 65, is a fellow motorbike taxi driver. It is reported that the altercation began over a disagreement concerning a passenger. The verbal spat quickly escalated, leading to Jumpol allegedly brandishing a knife and stabbing Thiwa before promptly fleeing the scene.
Phuket City Police are currently utilising CCTV footage from the area in a bid to track down the assailant. The police force has confirmed that efforts to locate and apprehend Jumpol Panthong for the stabbing incident are ongoing, reported Phuket News.
In related news, a splash spat between a Thai Win motorbike taxi driver and an Indian tourist during Pattaya’s Songkran festivity ignited when the foreigner got drenched.
The kerfuffle arose when the Win driver’s playful seven year old son soaked the tourist, triggering a heated altercation.
The entire event took place on Pattaya Second Road towards Khao Phra Tamnak around 7pm on April 18. The escalating tension was caught on camera, showing the Thai driver pursuing and confronting the Indian tourist amidst the Songkran festivities.
The video further illustrated the driver attempting to hit the tourist. However, the situation was defused as onlookers stepped in and separated the two parties.
This incident quickly gained traction on social media, drawing mainly criticism towards the motorbike taxi driver. The majority of the netizens expressed their disappointment over the driver’s conduct, which they believed tarnished the reputation of Pattaya by intimidating the visitor.
