Police yesterday arrested and fined a tuk-tuk driver who was caught on video brandishing a large knife in front of a Phuket Hotel.
The arrest was made after the video clips started to circulate on social media.
Patong Police Chief Col. Tassanai Orarigadech said today, “Yesterday I ordered a team of investigators to look for this tuk-tuk driver urgently.
“An officer found the driver at 10 pm, his name is Pannawich Nakamin, 35, and he admitted that he is a man seen in the video.”
According to Col. Tassanai, Pannawich told police that picked up tourists at McDonald’s on Thaweewong Road at 5am yesterday morning and dropped them off at a hotel on Soi Kep Sap, where they refused to pay the THB400 fare, prompting him to get the knife from his vehicle and threaten them.
“This behavior is not acceptable in a public place. People should not be carrying a knife in tourism areas,” said Col Tassanai.
“I am still looking for the tourists involved as I want to hear their side of the story,” he added.
At present, Pannawich has only been charged with carrying a weapon in a public place for which he was fined THB500.
“Other charges might be brought against him if we find out more details about this case,” Col Tassanai concluded.
Story: The Phuket News
