The arrest was made after the video clips started to circulate on social media.
Patong Police Chief Col Tassanai Orarigadech told The Phuket News today (Sept 1), “Yesterday I ordered a team of investigators to look for this tuk-tuk driver urgently.
“An officer found the driver at 10 pm, his name is Mr Pannawich Nakamin, 35, and he admitted that he is a man seen in the video.”
According to Col Tassanai, Pannawich told police that he picked up tourists at McDonald's on Thaweewong Rd at 5am yesterday morning and dropped them off at a hotel on Soi Kebsup where they refused to pay the B400 fare so he went and got the knife from his vehicle and started threatening them.
“This behaviour is not acceptable in a public place. People should not be carrying a knife in tourism areas,” said Col Tassanai.
“I am still looking for the tourists involved as I want to hear their side of the story,” he added.
At present, Pannawich has only been charged with carrying a weapon in a public place for which he was fined B500.
“Other charges might be brought against him if we find out more details about this case,” Col Tassanai concluded.