Phuket road rage bus driver named
PHUKET: Bus driver Sanchai Putpong has denied pointing a gun at a Phuket woman driver on February 23, but admitted carrying the gun and damaging her car window with it.
Monday 4 March 2013, 03:02PM
Police arrested Sanchai, 41, on Friday night (March 1) when they found him driving a tourist minivan near the Thai Village restaurant in Phuket Town, around 6pm.
Police said Sanchai denied pointing his gun at the woman’s head, and shouting “I’m going to kill you”. However, he admitted hitting the window with the gun, which caused a 15cm mark on the glass.
He told police he left the gun – which he claimed was a replica, not a real weapon – in the toilet of a snake farm on Soi Ta-ied in Chalong.
He is currently being held in prison, pending his court case for the gun incident. He faces multiple charges including attempted murder, criminal damage (for leaving a mark on the woman’s car window), carrying a gun in a public place, and issuing threats. Police have requested the court to deny bail.
Sanchai, who was driving an An Xin tour bus at the time of the incident, is accused of following the woman driver as she drove behind Central Festival Phuket on February 23. He is alleged to have driven closely behind, attempting to pass while honking his horn.
When the woman reached the main Central Festival intersection, Sanchai is alleged to have jumped out of his bus and come to her window, pointing the pistol at her head and shouting “I’m going to kill you”.
The woman’s son was able to note down the licence plate and the police tracked down the vehicle outside Phuket Fantasea. However the driver had abandoned the vehicle and could not immediately be tracked down by police.
Police noted that, during questioning, Sanchai had admitted being released from Phuket Provincial Prison in 2010, after serving two years on a theft charge.
