PHUKET: A tourist from Egypt was struck in the face by a tuk-tuk driver wielding a walkie-talkie in a dispute over a fare in Phuket's west coast holiday hub, Patong, last night.
The blow came after the tuk-tuk driver complained when he discovered that 10 people wanted to travel in the tuk-tuk for the 300 baht fare he had just negotiated for six people.
The tourist, Ahmed Taha Taha, 34, sat down in the middle of the road in protest after the assault, insisting that police come to arrest the tuk-tuk driver.
He was bleeding from a head wound.
The tourist and the tuk-tuk driver met later at Kathu Police Station, which oversees Patong. The as-yet-unnamed tuk-tuk driver is due in court today.
A police source said today that Mr Taha Taha was persuaded to go to Patong Hospital for treatment after his sit-down protest about 8pm last night in Rat-U-Tit 200 Pi Road, outside the large Jungceylon shopping mall.
The fare of 300 baht had been agreed for the six people to go to the next beach, Karon, the source said. When 10 people turned up on the pavement to get into the tuk-tuk, the driver objected.
The Egyptian man used ''impolite language,'' the source said, and the tuk-tuk driver struck him in the face. At that point, a group of tourists joined in, attacking the driver.
The driver left the scene and Mr Taha Taha sat down in the roadway, blocking one lane of the one-way system that rings Patong, until police persuaded him to go to hospital for treatment.
Mr Taha Taha and the tuk-tuk driver appeared at the police station about 11pm.
The high fares charged by tuk-tuks and thuggish behavior displayed in disputes is the most frequent complaint made by visitors to Phuket.
The blow came after the tuk-tuk driver complained when he discovered that 10 people wanted to travel in the tuk-tuk for the 300 baht fare he had just negotiated for six people.
The tourist, Ahmed Taha Taha, 34, sat down in the middle of the road in protest after the assault, insisting that police come to arrest the tuk-tuk driver.
He was bleeding from a head wound.
The tourist and the tuk-tuk driver met later at Kathu Police Station, which oversees Patong. The as-yet-unnamed tuk-tuk driver is due in court today.
A police source said today that Mr Taha Taha was persuaded to go to Patong Hospital for treatment after his sit-down protest about 8pm last night in Rat-U-Tit 200 Pi Road, outside the large Jungceylon shopping mall.
The fare of 300 baht had been agreed for the six people to go to the next beach, Karon, the source said. When 10 people turned up on the pavement to get into the tuk-tuk, the driver objected.
The Egyptian man used ''impolite language,'' the source said, and the tuk-tuk driver struck him in the face. At that point, a group of tourists joined in, attacking the driver.
The driver left the scene and Mr Taha Taha sat down in the roadway, blocking one lane of the one-way system that rings Patong, until police persuaded him to go to hospital for treatment.
Mr Taha Taha and the tuk-tuk driver appeared at the police station about 11pm.
The high fares charged by tuk-tuks and thuggish behavior displayed in disputes is the most frequent complaint made by visitors to Phuket.
Egyptians showing how it can be done . Looking forward to hear what sentence the driver will get for this kind of attack....that it was a bit opportunistic of the Egyptian party to travel 10 in a Tuk Tuk is another story.
Posted by Bjarne on June 27, 2012 11:22