A viral video circulating on December 3 captured two foreign men physically attacking a Thai taxi driver outside a supermarket in Phuket’s Thalang district. The altercation reportedly stemmed from a disagreement over the fare.
In the footage shared by several Facebook news pages, including Phuket Hotnews, one of the men, both wearing white T-shirts, is seen kicking the taxi driver near his red-and-yellow taxi. Following the assault, the foreigners walked away while continuing to argue in their native language. The driver explained to witnesses at the scene, “They refused to pay the fare. They gave me only 50 baht.”
Witnesses encouraged the driver to report the incident to the police, criticizing the foreigners’ behavior.
According to the police, the taxi driver initially refrained from filing a complaint. However, he was later summoned for questioning after the video gained widespread attention on social media. The driver revealed that the passengers had booked his service via the Bolt app for a 570-baht journey from Patong to Thalang. The men, carrying only 200 baht, requested to pay the balance in foreign currency. When the driver declined, they asked to stop at a supermarket for a currency exchange.
After assisting with the exchange, the driver requested an additional 200 baht for the extra stop. The tourists refused, leading to an argument that escalated into violence. Despite the attack, the driver stated he would not pursue legal action against the foreigners.
The incident has sparked mixed reactions among Thai netizens. Some criticized the foreigners and urged the driver to press charges, while others speculated that the misunderstanding arose from a lack of communication about the additional fee.
