Col Paisarn Sangthep, Deputy Superintendent of Kathu Police told The Phuket News, “On December 27 at around 4.30 pm, Pol Lt Seksan Prakapsin posed as a taxi driver driving a green-plate taxi, and tried to pick up customers from the Avista Resort.”
“When Lt Seksan arrived in front of the resort, two black [illegal] taxi drivers blocked his way. They would not let him go inside to pick up customers. They questioned the plainclothes police [Lt Seksan] to see if he had a voucher or a job card [from a tour company].
“[Finding he did not], the black taxi drivers threatened the police officer, saying that this was their territory and no one else was allowed to pick up customers there.
“When Lt Seksan was threatened, Sub Lt Chusak Tussanaphom, seeing the situation looked like getting out of hand, gave the signal to other police to move in.”
Pamorn Maiphuak, 40, and Narathit Wangaree, 27, were arrested and charged with conspiring to utter threats and coerce others into complying with what they wanted.
Col Paisarn told The Phuket News, “I am not sure how much the fine will be, but the Phuket court can impose a maximum sentence of three years.
“At the scene, there were three black taxi drivers, but the other one did nothing, so we did not arrest him. Usually, there are about 10 taxi drivers there, but the others were out taking passengers elsewhere.
Col Paisarn said that this was the second time police from Patong had mounted this kind of exercise. On December 20, three black taxi drivers – Pitak Noonun, 36, Chaiwut Noonun, 34, and Kittikorn Jaripak, 32, were arrested in front of Citin Plaza Hotel on Prachanukhro Rd, Patong. On the same charge.
“With these two cases, we used the same method to arrest them. I think the taxi system is already improving. Now, misbehaving taxi drivers are starting to worry about our activities.”