The 19-year-old tourist, who was travelling alone when the alleged offences took place, came to the court, too, to give preliminary evidence.
After the judge heard evidence and asked questions, he advised the driver to get a lawyer to defend him.
This evening, Phuket police went with the tourist so that she could point out where the various incidents in her five-hour ordeal took place.
Meanwhile, the taxi driver was held in the court cells, and has been denied bail.
Pratueng Sornkham, Phuket Director of Airports of Thailand, told The Phuket News, “This is the third case [of this type] in Phuket that I have heard of. But no tourist informed officials or police before this occasion.
“I have tried to increase security. We have provided a taxi centre where there are standard prices but some tourists think that taxi service outside may be cheaper. Honestly, it is not cheaper. And it is riskier because there are no records of which driver takes which passenger.
“Because of this [demand form tourists seeking bargains], black taxis still hang around and still get customers from Phuket Airport. The driver in this case was not one of the former black taxis recorded by the Land Transport Department as being licensed to work at the airport.
“This problem could happen at any airport in the world. I want to urge all tourists to hire taxis by using the taxi centre in the airport – it’s much better than hiring a black taxi.”