Two Bangkok taxi drivers have been arrested and shown before the media for crimes against female passengers.
The Bangkok Post reports that Arkom Shinda, from Khon Kaen, has been arrested for the alleged rape of a passenger, while Jeerawat Singsoda, from Surin, has allegedly committed nine robberies against female passengers.
Last week, an unidentified woman claimed that she had been raped by her taxi driver after he picked her up from Soi Nana following a party. She claims to have fallen asleep in the taxi after asking to be taken to Phra Khanong, before waking up in a hotel in Din Daeng where she was assaulted.
A police investigation found that Arkom was the driver of her taxi. He has allegedly confessed to the crime and claimed it was his first time.
Jeerawat was also found by a police investigation that was launched after a female passenger complained she was robbed of ฿5,000 in cash by her driver after being picked up in Din Daeng.
Jewellery, a handbag, ID cards and an ATM card belonging to the victim were also found by police in Jeerawat’s Bang Na apartment.
After questioning, Jeerawat allegedly confessed to the crime and said he had committed similar acts on nine other occasions, targeting women he found in the Sukhumvit area as they were often vulnerable while under the influence of alcohol.
These latest alleged crimes come in the wake of the arrests of another Bangkok taxi driver, Witsanu Sawangsuk, and his wife earlier this month.
The pair allegedly robbed a Thai-American women after picking her up on the Khao San Road following the New Year’s Eve celebrations, according to Coconuts. She had apparently passed out, under the influence of alcohol, and they took her to a motel room.
The woman managed to escape from the motel upon regaining consciousness and filed a police report against the two. Witsanu has contended they were not planning to sexually assault the victim as both he and his wife are suffering with HIV. The victim has nevertheless undergone a medical examination.
Featured image is by Captain Kimo and is used under a Creative Commons licence
