Taxi driver arrested for abandoning elderly foreign tourist on Bangkok highway

A Bangkok taxi driver has been arrested after he abandoned an 80 year foreign tourist on the side of a highway.

Pol.Gen Panurat Lakboon told reporters that Mr Witoon Borisut, 42, from Ubon Ratchathani was arrested on Tuesday.

Mr Witoon told police how he picked up Filipino national, Mr Reyes, 80, from Suvarnabhumi airport on Saturday but decided to dump him on the side of the road because the two men were having trouble communicating with one another.

Mr Witoon said he couldn’t understand where Mr Reyes wanted to go and pulled over to try and ask another taxi driver for directions.

However, despite the help of another taxi driver, Mr Witoon still could not understand Mr Reyes so instead decided to leave the old man and drive off.

Police were alerted a short time later by concerned motorists who reported seeing an elderly man walking along the side of the highway.

Mr Witoon was charged for violating section 100 of the Traffic Act and has been fined 2,000 baht. The maximum penalty for violating the act is one month in prison.

In his defence, Mr Witoon said that he told the other taxi driver to drive Mr Reyes to a local police station so they could provide assistance and not just leave the man on the roadside.

Thai Visa

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