A Bangkok cabbie claiming to be HIV-positive was arrested recently for allegedly raping and robbing female passengers in the city center.
Kaew Sangmuang, 43, confessed to robbing and raping at least ten women at knifepoint, and swindling others into sex as he prowled the streets of Lad Prao, Huai Kwang and Ratchada, the Bangkok Post reported.
Kaew told police that he used condoms every time he had sex because “he did not want to spread the deadly disease,” according to The Nation.
Kaew’s Bangkok sex romp was up when he attempted to extort 6,000 baht from a couple whose notebook computer he had stolen.
The couple reported to police that on February 15 they had hired Kaew to transport them and their belongings, notebook in tow, to their condominium in Ratchathewi, Metropolitan Police Bureau Deputy Chief Saroj Phromcharoen said.
The couple said that after arriving at their destination, the suspect told them that he had taken all of their belongings out of the car and drove away. Shortly after, they discovered that their computer was missing.
Three days later, the Kaew phoned the couple demanding 6,000 baht for the return of their computer and they agreed to meet at a shopping mall in Lad Prao the same day.
The couple reported the incident to police who arrested Kaew at the shopping mall later in the day.
Inside his taxi, police found nine ID cards, two bank passbooks, two ATM cards and 22 mobile phone SIM cards.
When faced with the evidence, Kaew confessed that he had raped “many passengers” between 18 and 22 years old, The Nation reported.
After raping his victims, he then forced them to withdraw cash from their bank accounts at ATM machines and drove away with their money. He also confessed to having sex with and stealing from other passengers.
“I pretended to have love interest in them and promised to give them some money. Then, I brought them to hotels to have sex after which I would steal their belongings. I also raped some passengers,” he said.
One of Kaew’s tricks was to ask passengers to leave the cab to help withdraw cash from his account at an ATM.
“I promised to wait in the cab. But after they got out, I sped away with their belongings,” he said.
So far, seven women have come forward with complaints against the predatory chauffeur.
The Nation reported the complaints against Kaew as follows:
• Last October, a woman filed a complaint accusing him of stealing her handbag with 1,000 baht in cash and a mobile phone in it;
• On December 14 last year, another woman complained to Bang Chan Police that he stole 5,000 baht in cash, a gold necklace, an iPhone and her handbag;
• On December 26, a woman complained to Beung Kum Police that he stole from her 500 baht in cash, an ATM card and a mobile phone;
• On December 29, another victim told Hua Mark Police that he stole 10,000 baht in cash, a Blackberry mobile device and three passbooks;
• On January 22, yet another victim complained to Min Buri Police that he stole her Blackberry and 5,000 baht in cash.
• and on February 10, two women filed complaints with Lat Prao Police saying that Kaew raped and robbed them.
Police have called for victims to come forward and contact Phaya Thai Police Station with any information they may have.
