An American tourist and a Phuket tuk-tuk driver shook hands and made peace after they were each fined THB2,000 for getting into a would-be fistfight over a THB200, about US$6, tuk-tuk fare in the Patong nightlife area in the early hours of Sunday.
The fight broke out at about 5am in front of the Poppa Palace Hotel. By the time Tourist Police called in the Patong Police, the driver, Burin Sukhontharot, had left the scene.
A video clip of the fight went viral on social media. The video starts showing the American, Nicholas Martin De Haan, 28, from Oregon, and Burin already engaged in the fight, with a woman–identified by police only as “Emma Frances”, 25, from England–on the ground.
Lt. Col. Saksan Khomsakorn, of the Patong Police, with fellow officers later yesterday afternoon tracked Burin to his apartment in the Kathu area and he was taken to Patong Police Station to remedy the situation with his passenger.
De Haan and Frances had shared a late-night tuk-tuk from the end of Bangla Road, police were told.
“I told them that the fare was THB200, but De Haan paid only THB40,” Burin told police.
“I tried to explain that the fare was B200, not B40, but De Haan was drunk and refused to pay. So we were arguing and then started fighting. I admit that I hit him in the face,” Burin said.
De Haan, recounting his version of events, told police, “I already asked how much the fare was before I got in the tuk-tuk. I thought that the fare was B20 per person. So I paid B40. I admit that I was drunk and that I hit Burin.”
However, no mention was made of who struck first or how the woman ended up on the ground.
They were both charged with fighting in public and fined THB2,000 each.
Burin will also be reported to the Phuket Land Transportation Office.
Col. Saksan added, “I would like to warn every public transport driver that if they are in this kind of incident, please calm down and talk with customers. If the problem cannot be resolved, please call the police. Please do not lose your temper and use physical force. It damages the image of the province and country.”
Story: The Phuket News
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