Pattaya, Thailand – On July 15, 2024, at 1:30 AM, Mr. Prajub Yuemeka, a 54-year-old taxi driver operating a vehicle with the license plate มฎ-7498 (Bangkok), filed a complaint with Police Lieutenant Anan Kesornbua at Pattaya City Police Station. Mr. Prajub reported that a foreign tourist hired him for a trip from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya but failed to pay the full fare, shockingly offering a “large bag of cannabis” as payment instead, leaving the driver stunned, as we previously reported here.
In a swift follow-up on the same day, Deputy Superintendent Police Lieutenant Colonel Arut Sapanont, alongside Police Lieutenant Colonel Torlap Tinamat and investigative officers, tracked down the suspect, identified as Mr. Fergus, a 34-year-old from Northern Ireland. He was located at a lodging near Phratamnak Hill in Pattaya and was brought to the Pattaya City Police Station for questioning.
Mr. Prajub was called to the station to negotiate with Mr. Matthew. The suspect admitted to hiring the taxi from Don Mueang Airport—not Suvarnabhumi as initially reported—but claimed he lacked sufficient cash to pay the fare. He stated he had asked the driver to stop at an ATM, but the request was not fulfilled. Regarding the cannabis offer, Mr. Matthew insisted it was merely a conversation with a friend and not a genuine attempt to settle the fare with drugs.
Following negotiations in the presence of investigating officers, both parties reached an agreement. Mr. Matthew paid the agreed-upon fare of 2,000 baht, and the matter was resolved amicably without further legal action. Both parties then parted ways.
