A BRITISH tourist who was videotaped by a tuk tuk dash cam assaulting the driver in a row over the fare in Phuket was apprehended in Krabi last evening and taken to the district court today (May 1), Amarin TV said.
The attack took place at around 4 a.m. last Friday (Apr. 26) with the tuk tuk driver, only identified as Mr. Abdullah, who spoke through his father because he is not eloquent, saying the British tourist, Mr. Luke Alexander Graham, 31, had agreed to pay 400 baht for a ride from Patong beach to his hotel at Karon beach.
However upon reaching the hotel, Abdullah said Graham tried to strangle him and slapped him after claiming he had been shortchanged as he had given him 1,000 baht while in fact he had handed over a 100 baht note.
Abdullah went for a checkup at Patong Hospital and the doctor said his left cheek had been injured but there were no external wounds.
Accompanied by his father, Bang Hae, Abdullah then filed a complaint at Karon police station.
The investigating officer gathered evidence and asked the court for an arrest warrant after which he went to Krabi and arrested Graham there last evening then brought him back to Karon police station.
This morning Abdullah and his father came to Karon police station at 10 a.m. to give additional testimony while being informed that the suspect is also there.
Bang Hae said his son does not speak English and that he is happy his assailant had been arrested.
Later Karon police together with Immigration Police said Graham had confessed to assaulting the driver and they had collected evidence to take him to the district court.
CAPTION:
The British tourist being taken to Phuket district court. Photo: Amarin TV
Also read; Again in Phuket: Foreigner attacks tuk tuk driver in row over fare
British tourist in hot water over video clips critical of Thailand
Ex-police chief’s spouse ‘seeks British nationality to escape money-laundering charges’
Court overruling sought against ban on senatorial candidates’ self-introduction on social media
Global economy set to stay on a roll for the rest of the year: Reuters poll
