Confusion swirled around an incident captured on a viral video with hypothesis of whether or not sure Bangkok taxis were registered or not, and whether Thong Lor Police have been involved with an illegal taxi mafia.
Phansa Amraphitak, Police Chief of Thong Lor Police, right now acknowledged that the group of seven accused taxi drivers appeared for interrogation primarily based on the summon discover. They testified that they weren’t unregistered taxi drivers but rather have been utilizing a ride-hailing application to obtain passengers when the incident occurred.
A group of three drunk individuals attempted to flag down a taxi but were refused service as a result of the taxi was already booked via the app. This led to a confrontation with the disgruntled drunks banging on the automobile doors and shouting abuses, accusing them of operational illegitimacy.
The altercation, documented in a broadly shared video, finally escalated into a bodily conflict. In the preliminary confusion, accusations have been made that the taxi drivers were concerned in an illegal taxi mafia in Thong Lor with the police involved. Both the drivers and the police vehemently denied those accusations.
Despite the hypothesis of police involvement and backing for the taxi gang, the Thong Lor chief ensured the accusations have been baseless. Phone inquiries with the victims found no claims of misconduct by any police official on the scene. The accused driver is alleged to have shouted one thing about police involvement, but later claimed it was to not recommend any undue influence over regulation enforcement officials, but merely an exasperated remark amid the disagreement, reported KhaoSod.
Further investigation into the matter revealed that two officers had responded swiftly to the incident, arriving within three minutes of receiving notification. One officer safeguarded the taxi with the passengers onboard, blocking any attempts of bodily hurt by the aggressors. The other commenced peaceable negotiation with the instigating taxi driver.
The police reiterated their integrity and assured no official from the Thong Lor station was affiliated or sympathetic to any public transport group or illegal taxi mafia operations. Any violations regarding misuse of autos could be dutifully fined and actioned by the police. However, they noted that automobile registration points fall underneath the authority of the Department of Land Transport.
As for the drunken would-be passengers, they vowed to pursue authorized action but have but to formally file costs. Spoiler is as a outcome of of a legal requirement for a physician’s certificate in physical abuse cases, which they’re waiting for..