An off-duty police officer who allegedly joined his friends in beating up a taxi driver and fired seven bullets into the sky with his handgun afterwards will face both disciplinary punishments and criminal charges.
According to a witness, taxi driver Thaninhanin Pramnak, 31, was buying a drink from a street vendor outside RCA, Bangkok’s popular nightlife area, on Monday when he teased his friend to pay for the beverage.
A friend of Police Lance Cpl. Boonseth Wutthiwinyucho, 27, thought the cabbie was talking to him and, instead of just saying no way Jose, slapped Thanin.
Thanin tried to explain, “I was talking to my friend, not you, bro,” and punched the guy.
Boonseth joined the melee with about five other friends and they beat up the cab driver until he was unconscious.
He then fired seven shots into the sky and escaped with a friend named Chutirat Thanormsingha on a van which was later stopped by the police.
National Police chief Somyot Poompanmoung said today he would see to it that Boonseth receives his punishments even as the legal proceedings have already begun.
Meanwhile, Thanin was reportedly seriously injured and in critical condition when he was rushed to hospital.
Police initially charged Boonseth for firing a handgun, carrying a weapon into a community area, illegally owning a weapon and physical assault. He will also receive disciplinary charges.
Police are also tracking down his other friends who joined the attack, The Nation and Komchadluek reported.
