UPDATE: Phuket taxi driver disputes touching young Australian girl’s leg in viral incident

Phuket –

A Phuket taxi driver has disputed claims he touched a minor’s leg inappropriately after an Australian tourist filed a report to the Phuket police about the man allegedly touching his daughter’s leg inappropriately inside a taxi at a parking area in a shopping mall in the Mueang Phuket District over the past weekend.

Our previous story:

On May 1st Lieutenant Colonel Nannapat Malai of the Cherng Talay Police in Thalang reported that a 44-year-old male Australian tourist who stayed at a hotel in Bang Tao Beach in Cherng Talay, Thalang district. (The Phuket Express is withholding his name) filed a report to the police on April 30th about the alleged incident.

Update story:

The Phuket Provincial Police Commander Major General Sermpan Sirikong yesterday (May 2nd) told The Phuket Express, “We have questioned the taxi driver involved in the allegations from an Australian tourist. He claims that he did not touch the girl’s leg and only used his finger to poke the girl’s pants lightly in what he claimed was a regular gesture and not inappropriate after she asked him if her pants were beautiful.”

“However, we have contacted the consulate of the Australian tourist and will ask if they want to take any further action on the incident.” Major General Sermpan stated.

“We have also sent the case to the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) to see if they will take any action. We think the taxi driver behavior was inappropriate, regardless of his claims.” Major General Sermpan concluded.

The Phuket Express notes that the taxi driver’s name was not released by Phuket police.

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Goongnang Suksawat
Goong Nang is a News Translator who has worked professionally for multiple news organizations in Thailand for many years and has worked with The Pattaya News for more than four years. Specializes primarily in local news for Phuket, Pattaya, and also some national news, with emphasis on translation between Thai to English and working as an intermediary between reporters and English-speaking writers. Originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat, but lives in Phuket and Krabi except when commuting between the three.