UPDATE: Reported Patong taxi driver denies harassment allegation; no evidence found so far

Phuket officials report that no police report or credible evidence has so far been found to support a foreign tourist’s allegation that a taxi driver touched her intimate area in Patong. The reported driver has been identified and questioned, but was not named in the follow-up account. He denied harassment and said the incident resulted from a misunderstanding.

The alleged incident was reported on Prachanukroh Road in Patong on 9 September 2026. According to an account shared by the owner of a nearby taxi queue, the woman reportedly fled a yellow-and-red two-tone taxi near an Amata massage shop at about 9.50am and sought help from local residents. Local tuk-tuk operators reportedly took her to Kudo Beach.

The Phuket Express reported on 10 September that provincial officials were working with the Department of Land Transport and local police to verify the vehicle and driver. Police were gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses, while transport officials were reviewing driver records. At that point, the tourist had not filed a formal complaint, although officials said the matter would not be ignored.

In a follow-up published on 11 September, officials said Phuket’s Land Transport Office and Patong Police had summoned the reported driver on 10 September, questioned him and inspected his vehicle and licence. According to the account he gave officials, the passenger tried to move from the back seat to the front, so he blocked her for safety reasons. He said she later asked to end the ride near Malin Market, paid the fare and left without filing a formal complaint.

The reports gave different accounts of the woman’s movements after she left the taxi: the taxi-queue owner said local tuk-tuk operators took her to Kudo Beach, while the driver said the ride ended near Malin Market. The reports did not reconcile those accounts.

Phuket Governor Chotnarin Kedsom said the province was treating the matter with utmost seriousness. He was quoted as saying: “This issue directly affects tourist safety and confidence in Phuket. We are following up closely to ensure clarity and accountability.” Officials said strict legal and administrative measures would be enforced if wrongdoing is confirmed.

Earlier, the owner of the taxi queue said a security camera near a Baw Wee shop might have captured the incident and urged authorities to review the footage to identify the driver. Officials said they would continue monitoring the case and act within their legal powers if new information emerged. The province urged the public to rely on official sources and avoid sharing unverified personal information that could harm people involved or damage Phuket’s tourism image. The allegation remains unconfirmed.