SAMUT PRAKAN ― The driver of a pink taxi cab widely known via online communities for being violent and extorting passengers was arrested in Muang district on Thursday.
The man was identified as Thanes Boonsermsub, 37. He was arrested at a police checkpoint in the afternoon after a tip-off.
The arrest followed stories that have circulated on the internet for two months about his rude manners, assaulting passengers, arguing with them and extorting money.
Reports said the story of Mr Thanes went viral after actor and singer Jirayuth “Max” Kanthayos went onto Instagram to tell of his experience of getting into a taxi on June 16. He alleged the driver, who was identified later as Mr Thanes, almost assaulted him and extorted money from him.
Mr Jirayuth said the driver was dangerous and was using a pink taxi cab with the licence plate Tor Sor 856 Bangkok.
Several victims who claimed they were assaulted, extorted or subjected to bad manners, also posted their stories on the popular webboard pantip.com, where users labelled him as “the pink taxi of legend”. Some said they had filed complaints against the man with Huai Khwang police station and Bang Na police station in June.
A Pantip user with alias "The Dcember" claimed she was the latest victim of Mr Thanes, saying he kicked and banged her car after she refused to let him cut into her lane near Makkasan Airport Rail Link Station this morning.
In her message, she said she only knew about Mr Thanes’ reputation after she searched for his car licence number online. She said she did not understand how he was able to keep driving when at least two complaints had been made to police about him.
Mr Thanes told police he was a military officer but drove a taxi to boost his income, Wichit Boonchitwuthikul, chief of Bang Pu police station, said.
Mr Thanes admitted he had undergone treatment for a mental disorder at Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry but was now fully recovered.
Authorities found his patient ID card in his taxi which is owned by Sahamit Taxi Cooperative.
He admitted to arguing with passengers and assaulting several of them because they were demanding and difficult to handle.
Pol Col Wichit said Mr Thanes gave confusing and rambling accounts. Police are coordinating with other police stations where complaints have been filed before proceeding with legal action against him.
Photos by Sutthiwit Chayutworakan
