When they were discovered intimidating a driver in Bangkok and frightening his passengers, a gang of taxi drivers in Pattaya recently got themselves into trouble but managed to avoid being charged or fined. When the driver, 43-year-old Jamnong Sutaboon, was asked by the police to explain his actions on May 4, he exhibited no remorse.
He and another Pattaya taxi driver were shown in a video harassing Supiwat, a 43-year-old Bangkok cab driver, near Walking Street.Supiwat claimed that early in the morning, he drove tourists from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Pattaya before stopping to get a breakfast. He accepted a trip request for three passengers through the Grab app to take them to Laem Chabang while he was eating without turning on his “available” light.
However, two Pattaya-based taxi drivers, including Jamnong, confronted him as he was leaving the passengers’ hotel. Even though Supiwat was properly registered to use the Grab app, they questioned his place of origin and asserted that he was not permitted to pick up passengers in Pattaya.
Supiwat was able to escape in his car, but the belligerent Pattaya cab drivers pursued him and eventually caught him once more at the crossroads of Third and South roads. Once more, they sought to eject the occupants from the car while citing vague transportation laws that purportedly prohibited him from operating in Pattaya. When the light turned green, Supiwat was able to accelerate off and successfully escape Pattaya since the passengers refused to cooperate.
Supiwat criticized Jamnong’s behavior, claiming that they both work in the same field and that he has the authority under the law to pick up Grab customers. Jamnong was questioned by the police, but no fine or legal action was taken against him. Instead, they said that they will carry out additional investigations and offer suggestions to the Chon Buri Land Transport Department in order to stop similar situations from happening again.
