A BANGKOK taxi driver who was tracked down and arrested after stabbing an Australian man in the wee hours of Wednesday (Oct. 23) during a row over damage to his vehicle apologised to the tourist after being apprehended, Amarin TV said this morning (Oct. 25).
Pol. Col. Phanom Chuathong, superintendent of Thung Maha Mek police station, ordered an investigation team to chase Mr. Samorn Chunet, 49, after stabbing Mr. Jamin Ricky Simon, 39, in the abdomen at the entrance of Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Soi 9, Sathorn district, at 3.30 a.m. with rescuers later taking the wounded tourist to the hospital.
Samorn confessed that on the day of the incident he had picked up the wounded Australian man and another Thai man from Silom Soi 2 to take them to a hotel on Narathiwat road.
However when they reached Narathiwat Soi 9 Simon and the Thai man started arguing so Samorn stopped the cab. As the Australian man got out of the vehicle he hit it hard and slammed the door.
Samorn then got out and told him to pay for the damage to his taxi which led to an argument. As he had brought a cutter kept in the glove compartment along with him he used it to stab the tourist in the abdomen and quickly drove away.
The cabbie has been charged with assault causing bodily harm to another person but after that bowed his head and gave a wai to the tourist.
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The taxi driver apologising to the Australian tourist, above and Front Page, and his cab, inset. Photos: Amarin TV
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