Cabbie who dumps a passenger on motorway arrested by tourist police

Tourist police have arrested a taxi driver who picked up a female passenger from Suvarnabhumi international airport for a ride to Huay Kwang but allegedly dumped her on the motorway after she refused to pay him 500 baht as taxi fare as he demanded.

The passenger who managed to hail another taxi which brought her home in Huay Kwang later posted in her Facebook account her bad experience with the cabbie working at Suvarnbhumi international airport.

Tourist police based at the airport later managed to track down the taxi driver, identified as Boonchuey Pimnont, and made the arrest along with his taxi. A search of his car uncovered a small amount of Ice.

During the interrogation, Boonchuey admitted that he was hooked to Ice several years ago and had to consume it on daily basis. He also admitted that he picked up the female passenger at the airport and, after leaving the airport, he demanded from her 500 baht as taxi fare and refused to use the taxi meter.

The cabbie claimed that, during festive occasions such as Songkran and New Year, most taxi drivers at the airport would normally refuse to use taxi meters, but would charge a lum sum fare from their passengers.

He was, however, charged with possessing illicit drug, using drug while driving, refusing to send his passenger to the destination and not using taxi meter.

Tourist police said they would ask the Land Transport Department to revoke his driving license.