A Bangkok taxi driver masquerading as a military officer has confessed to threatening foreign passengers with a tire iron and robbing them.
Hua Mak Police arrested Roi Et native Pitakpong Piewsoi, 23, on Feb. 24 and charged him with armed robbery after one of his victims provided his license plate number to officers, TANN reported.
Bangladesh national Hammed Hassan, 36, filed a report with police on Monday night stating that he and his sister got into a taxi in front of MBK center. Mr. Hassan said that the driver was driving “usually fast” and was going on about the “many mafia” in Thailand, claiming that he was a military official.
In front of Rama IX Soi 62, Pitakpong threatened Mr. Hassan with a tire iron and took his bag containing about US$1,000 and 400 baht. The weapon-wielding pseudo-soldier then told Mr. Hassan’s sister to get out of the car, the report claimed.
Hassan was able to memorize the license plate number of the taxi and report it to police, leading to Pitakpong’s arrest. Pitakpong confessed to the crime and added that he had committed a similar act once before, adding that he had no intention of assaulting his victims.
The thief claimed he used the loot to buy a bed.
He remains in custody at Hua Mak Police Station.
