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Expat Phuket resident Gary Ponting was being questioned at length by police on Wednesday and is likely to face at least four charges over posing as a taxi driver and possession of weapons.
Original Report
PHUKET: Photographs taken by Phuket taxi drivers reveal some of the mayhem caused in a confrontation between drivers and an Australian in Patong today.
The man, named by police as Gary Ronald Ponting, 44, was involved in an argument with drivers at a rank at Phuket Graceland Resort and Spa that led to his arrest.
According to police, the man became angry with at least one person at the rank - the deputy leader, a woman named Aunt Meow - and the row escalated.
Major Pratuang Polmana told Phuketwan: ''I am not sure whether he was trying to be a taxi driver but he was certainly arguing with drivers there.''
The argument began at 9am when Mr Ponting turned up at the resort and as the dispute grew he said: ''Let me drop my passengers and I will be back.''
It is believed Mr Ponting made a trip to the Tiger Kingdom in central Kathu then at 2pm came back and asked to see Khun Meow.
Khun Meow wasn't there so he returned at 3pm and, Major Pratuang said, put on a set of knuckle dusters and tried to punch her.
''Taxi drivers went to help,'' Major Pratuang said. ''One man was cut on the chin.''
The Australian man went back to his pickup, grabbed a gun and started waving it around,'' Major Pratuang said.
The cry went up: 'Call police! Call police!' The Australian fled.
''Officers arrested the suspect at Kalim Circle, not far from the resort,'' Major Pratuang said.
A taxi driver at the Graceland rank, Nikom Ruangrut, told Phuketwan tonight that Khun Meow was deputy leader at the rank and standing in for the leader, who is in Bangkok.
''The Aussie said he was there [at Graceland] to pick up his passengers,'' Khun Nikom said.
It's believed Mr Ponting has been on Phuket for three years and has a Thai girlfriend.
According to sources who heard Mr Ponting's account, he said he was set upon by the taxi drivers. He is being held in a cell at Kathu Police Station overnight.
'trying to be a taxi driver but he was certainly arguing with drivers there.'
Well if he is waving guns at people then he should fit right in as a Phuket tuk tuk/taxi driver.
Posted by NomadJoe on October 1, 2013 23:58