Phuket Taxi Driver Accused of Raping Passenger
A 19-year-old ride-hailing taxi driver in Phuket has been arrested following allegations that he raped a female passenger and stole her mobile phone. The case has drawn attention across the island, raising fresh concerns about passenger safety and the regulation of ride-hailing services in Thailand’s tourist destinations.
According to police reports, the incident occurred late on Saturday night in Thalang district. The victim, a 28-year-old African national who works as a teacher at a private school in Phuket, filed a complaint with Thalang police in the early hours of Sunday morning.
She alleged that after she and a friend hired the taxi, the driver first dropped her companion off at her home in Soi Somboon Sap, located in tambon Sri Sunthorn. The victim remained in the vehicle, expecting to be taken to her own residence in tambon Pa Khlok. However, instead of completing the trip, the driver allegedly stopped on a dark and deserted stretch of Soi Somboon Sap.
There, according to her statement, the driver forcibly dragged her to the roadside, sexually assaulted her, and stole her mobile phone before fleeing the scene. The shaken woman managed to contact police, who arranged for her to be taken to Thalang Hospital for a medical examination.
By Monday, officers from Thalang Police Station tracked down the suspect at a rented house in tambon Thep Krasattree, also in Thalang district. He was immediately arrested and taken into custody for questioning.
The young driver denied the rape allegations during police interrogation. He claimed the sexual encounter had been consensual, insisting that the woman had agreed to it because she could not afford to pay the taxi fare. Investigators, however, noted that this explanation conflicted with the victim’s statement and the sequence of events she reported.
Police say the investigation remains ongoing. Officers are reviewing medical evidence, interviewing witnesses, and examining the suspect’s background. They are also working to establish a timeline of the events leading up to the alleged assault.
Cases of sexual assault involving taxi or ride-hailing drivers are rare in Phuket, but when they occur, they often spark public debate about passenger safety, particularly for women traveling alone at night. Authorities frequently advise passengers to share trip details with friends, verify driver identities through official apps, and avoid traveling alone in isolated areas late at night whenever possible.
The accused driver remains in police custody while investigators prepare to forward the case to prosecutors. If convicted of rape and theft, he faces serious criminal penalties under Thai law, including a lengthy prison sentence.
Police have urged the public to allow the judicial process to run its course while emphasizing their commitment to ensuring justice for the victim.
