Samui, Surat Thani –
A Grab driver has sustained severe injuries from bullet wounds after being shot by a minivan driver at the Samui International Airport.
The Bophut Police told The Phuket Express that they were notified of the incident on Wednesday (September 13th) at a taxi parking area.
Witnesses told relevant police that the injured man, who had already been taken to a hospital, was identified only as Mr. Boy, 30. Three bullet cartridges were found at the scene. The suspect, initially identified only as Mr. Pao, 50, fled the scene.
Witnesses told Bophut police Mr. Pao is a minivan taxi driver and had engaged in a verbal altercation with Mr. Boy who is a Grab mobile app driver. Pao had asked Mr. Boy to pickup passengers outside the airport area instead of inside the airport. The argument took place in front of many witnesses at the busy airport.
Mr. Boy allegedly became furious by Pao’s “request”, losing his temper, and assaulted Mr. Pao with his hand. Mr. Pao became enraged and took a gun from his minivan and shot at Mr. Boy, who tried to run away but failed. The incident was clearly captured by witnesses and CCTV and shared on social media, causing the incident to go viral. TPN media has decided not to share the footage as it could disturb sensitive viewers.
Police are currently hunting for Mr. Pao as of press time. Incidents between mobile app taxi drivers and “traditional” taxi drivers have escalated across the country since the end of Covid-19, with Thai officials trying many different tactics and policies to attempt to appease both sides.
In a related story, but from Phuket:
‘Grab’ taxi cars are now allowed as the first application taxi service to service the Phuket International Airport starting from today (September 1st).
