Police are searching for an app-based taxi driver after a foreign teacher filed a rape complaint at Thalang Police Station in Phuket on Saturday, August 23.
The 28 year old foreign victim lodged the complaint after being rescued by residents in the area. The Phuket Info Centre Facebook page reported that the victim is an African teacher, although officials have not yet confirmed this to the public.
According to the victim, she and a friend had visited an entertainment venue before booking a journey home via a ride-hailing application on Saturday night. The driver reportedly dropped her friend off first and then continued towards her home along Soi Somboon Sub in the Si Sunthon district of Phuket.
Midway through the journey, the driver allegedly stopped on a dark and isolated road, dragged her into the roadside forest and sexually assaulted her. He then stole her mobile phone and abandoned her at the scene until locals came to her aid.
Residents took her to the hospital for a medical examination before she attended Thalang Police Station to file a complaint. The specific application used and the driver’s details shown on the platform have not yet been disclosed.
In a similar case reported in Bangkok in January, a Thai taxi driver was arrested for raping a drunk passenger at his home in the Taling Chan area. The victim fled from the suspect’s house wearing only underwear, seeking help from locals nearby.
The driver initially escaped but was later arrested. He denied the rape charge, claiming he had merely taken her to his home without intending harm.
Another case in Bangkok occurred in March, when a teenage woman narrowly escaped an attempted rape by a Bolt motorcycle taxi rider. The rider reportedly drove her to an isolated road, touched her inappropriately, and demanded sex. The victim refused and fled on foot before seeking help from her regular taxi driver.
The story Foreign teacher files rape complaint against Phuket app-based taxi driver as seen on Thaiger News.
