Off-duty policeman kills two taxi drivers and injures one in shooting over fare dispute
An off-duty policeman killed two taxi drivers and seriously injured another in a shooting over a fare dispute in Thailand.
Police Senior Sergeant Major Namthap Phakwatthana, 33, was furious when the motorcycle riders quoted the standard fare of 120 baht to take him from Huai Kwang to the Makkasan area of Bangkok.
When he complained it was too high, the workers told him to take a metered taxi instead, sparking a violent row near Soi Pracha Songkhro 38 in the early hours of June 14.
CCTV footage shows the men, wearing orange vests, allegedly attacking the border patrol officer, kicking him to the ground and chasing him away from the taxi stand.
But he suddenly swung around and pulled out his service firearm before peppering them with gunshots.
Terrified bystanders screamed and scrambled for safety as gunfire rattled the street at around 2:25 am local time.
The riders lay on the ground bleeding as Namthan fled on foot amid the panic.
Police arrived 10 minutes later to find Phurit Manthisan, 37, lying in a pool of blood from four to five gunshot wounds to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency personnel rushed Kiatisak Srirat, 46, and Charin Khunarak, 48, to a hospital with wounds to their thighs and hands, but Charin died during treatment.
Lieutenant Colonel Phin Mekphaiboon said the suspect escaped during the chaos, but later turned himself in to police.
He said: 'Shortly after the incident, Mr Namthap Phakwatthana, 33 years old, a Border Patrol Police officer, surrendered to Makkasan Police Station, handing over a 9mm Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun and a magazine containing ammunition.
'During initial questioning, Mr Namthap confessed that the motive for the tragic incident stemmed from a heated argument over motorcycle taxi fares. He became enraged and fired his service weapon at the group of motorcycle taxi drivers before escaping the chaos by taking a public transport vehicle.'
He added that Namthap was charged with intentional homicide, attempted murder, and carrying a firearm in public without proper reason.
Namthap was taken to the Criminal Court for pre-trial detention. Police opposed bail, citing the severity of the case, the potential for high penalties, and concerns that the suspect might flee or interfere with the investigation.
In a statement, the Border Patrol Police Bureau said he was on leave during the incident. The bureau added that he has been suspended and a disciplinary committee has been formed to investigate the case.
The bodies of the deceased were taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for post-mortem examinations before being handed over to their families.
