The driver of a van in Phuket, Thailand, has been charged by the police following an incident involving a Singaporean tourist.
The altercation, captured on video and shared online, prompted the driver to turn himself in at the Mueang Phuket police station.
Local police chief Pratuang Pholmana confirmed that Poramet Soraket, a 47-year-old driver for Hatyai World Tour agency, was wanted for questioning after the video showed him verbally insulting the tourist, identified as 35-year-old Faris Abdul Kadir Basharahil.
In the video, a man wearing a red shirt approaches another individual in a white and red Ajax Amsterdam football shirt. The man in red raises his arm in a threatening manner, as if about to deliver a backhanded slap, causing the other person to flinch and step back.
The incident takes place on the side of a road near a van marked with the words Hatyai World Tour, with two suitcases on the pavement, according to Daily News. The man in red is seen holding a rod-like object behind his back throughout the confrontation, while other tourists in the van witness the incident.
According to the police, the dispute began when Mr. Faris, who had started his journey in Krabi, refused to pay an additional 100 baht (approximately S$3.90) to be taken to the Grand Supicha City Hotel, located about 1km from the cafe where he was dropped off.
The agreed-upon destination was unclear. Hatyai World Tour offers four-hour rides from their Krabi office to a Phuket bus terminal, which is over 4km away from Mr. Faris’ hotel, for around 550 baht.
Additionally, Mr. Faris was dissatisfied with how Poramet handled his luggage, which led to an argument. The driver became angry when Mr. Faris made a comment and took a photo of him.
The police clarified that the object Poramet appeared to be holding was a rubber hose, although they did not explain why he kept it while confronting the tourist. Colonel Pratuang commended the Thai man for not escalating the situation into a physical altercation and for cooperating by surrendering himself at the police station.
Poramet has been charged with “frightening a person by use of threat” at a district court. If convicted, he may face a fine of 1,000 baht and a one-month jail term. The incident has also been reported to Phuket’s provincial transport authority.