Bangkok tuk tuk driver in trouble after clip of him screaming ‘f**k you’ at passengers goes viral
The Nation/Asia News Network
BANGKOK — A Bangkok tuk tuk driver has been slapped with four charges after a clip of him abusing a Singaporean couple went viral on Monday.
The caption with the clip, posted on Instagram by ‘singapore_incidents’, said the couple had taken the tuk tuk from CentralWorld shopping center in Pathumwan district to BTS Chong Nonsi station at an agreed fare of 150 baht.
When they approached the destination, the passengers said they wanted to get off near Charoenrat Road. The driver then said the fare had to be raised to 200 baht as the new destination was farther.
The couple then refused to continue, demanding that they be let off the tuk tuk immediately at Soi Narathiwat 3 and paid the driver only 100 baht as they had not reached the destination.
This ignited an argument, with the tuk tuk driver flinging insults at the passengers, one of whom was recording the incident. The clip later went viral online, sparking widespread criticism.
The tuk tuk driver, identified as Thongkham Chardchai, 57, was detained by Tourist Police on Monday evening and taken to Thung Maha Mek Police Station for questioning.
Thongkham reportedly admitted to losing his temper and using bad language with the passengers when they refused to pay the agreed-upon fare.
He was quoted as saying that he was not scamming the passengers as they were the ones who had changed the destination.
After about an hour of interrogation, police slapped Thongkham with four charges, namely driving without a driver’s licence, operating a public vehicle without a licence, not wearing the uniform of a public vehicle driver, and failing to clearly display a copy of the vehicle registration papers. Each charge carries a maximum fine of 1,000 baht.
Apart from paying the penalty, Thongkham will also be required to undergo three hours of training on etiquette as a public vehicle driver.
Tourist Police said they will coordinate with the Singapore Embassy to discuss the incident with the couple in a bid to maintain a positive image of Thailand.
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