Grand Theft Auto game off Thai shelves after cabbie killing
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 16:48:00 08/05/2008
Filed Under: Crime, Murder, Computing & Information Technology, Games, Entertainment (general), Youth
BANGKOK -- Thailand swept copies of the Grand Theft Auto computer game off shop shelves on Tuesday after a disturbed teenager allegedly killed a taxi driver in a copycat crime.
The New Era Interactive Media company, the only legal distributor of the games and software, expressed regret over the incident on its website.
"We have stopped selling Grand Theft Auto [GTA] and inform all legal vendors to withdraw the game from their shelves," the company said in an online statement.
"The company will not import GTA 4 [the next in the series] to distribute in Thailand," it added.
The company also warned people to be careful about the types of computer games they buy and urged friends and relatives of gamers to watch their behavior closely when playing.
An 18-year-old high school student has been charged with robbery and possession of a weapon, and could face the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted.
Police said the teenager had become incensed when he could not afford to play the game, which encourages gamers to kill and steal cars in order to accrue points.
The teen was arrested on Sunday after police found the bloody body of a 50-year-old Bangkok taxi driver slumped in his cab.
The Grand Theft Auto computer game series, which has sold about 70 million copies, has come under fire for its graphic depiction of casual violence, drug dealing and prostitution.
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