Foreign man allegedly attacks Phuket tuk-tuk driver over unpaid fare

A Phuket tuk-tuk driver has filed a police complaint alleging that a foreign passenger attacked him with a beer bottle after refusing to pay a fare.

The driver said he picked up the man and a woman on Bangla Road and took them to a hotel in Kathu. When they arrived, the man reportedly said he had no cash, left his phone with the driver as security and promised to pay when the driver returned about an hour later.

The driver said the passenger appeared heavily intoxicated when he returned and mentioned having an argument with his girlfriend. After the driver requested payment, a dispute allegedly broke out. The driver said the man took back his phone, tore his shirt and struck him on the head with a beer bottle before leaving without paying.

Police had not released further details about the investigation or confirmed whether they had identified the alleged attacker at the time of the report.