A group of motorbike taxi drivers who violently assaulted a GrabBike rider in Bangkok’s Phra Khanong area were given gentle slaps on the wrist this afternoon.
Three motorbike taxi drivers – Chawalit Sangsuwan, Dokrak Kamnueng and Thanakorn Kamnueng – were charged with assault and fined THB1,000 (US$30) each for beating 27-year-old GrabBike rider Tassada Fakfai this morning in front of the Aspire condominium on Soi Sukhumvit 48.
The three men also had to pay THB3,000 for Tassada’s medical treatment, according to Col. Ritthee Pandam of Khlong Tan Police.
GrabBike rider beaten by motosai taxis on Soi Sukhumvit 48 (Video)
The morning incident was shot by Tassada’s passenger, Amittaa Phongsawat, who said she was also struck during the fight.
Her footage showed Tassada being beaten by three motorbike taxi drivers in Soi Sukhumvit 48. After it went viral, many criticized the conventional motorbike taxi drivers for violence.
Tassada told police that after he picked up Amittaa at her place, one of the men rode up and asked “Are you GrabBike?”
A verbal argument erupted and escalated into a physical altercation, Tassada said.
Amittaa wrote on her Facebook and tagged Singapore-based ridesharing company Grab to state her concerns for the safety of the driver and herself.
Ride-sharing services remain unregulated in Thailand, and traditional drivers of taxis, tuk-tuks and win motosai have often gone after drivers of the app-based transport services.
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GrabBike rider beaten by motosai taxis on Soi Sukhumvit 48 (Video)
