EGYPTIAN MAN ARRESTED AFTER SMASHING UP PHUKET TAXI

EGYPTIAN MAN ARRESTED AFTER SMASHING UP PHUKET TAXI

An Egyptian man has been arrested following a frenzied attack on a Phuket taxi. The incident took place in Bangtao on the night of Friday, March 22, according to a Phuket News report. The assault, mainly directed at the taxi driver’s phones and the taxi itself, are the latest story of poor foreigner behaviour on the southern island.

The man, identified as 31 year old Basem Aly Ismail, remains in protective custody in hospital after smashing the windows of a taxi belonging to 53 year old Suriya Plodmai.

According to Kajonkiat Khamwichairat of Cherngtalay Police, the authorities were notified at around 10.30pm and arrived to find both men at the scene. Suriya told officers that he had picked Basem up in Patong and taken him to Bangtao, having agreed a fare of 450 baht.

However, once arrived at his destination, Basem asked the driver if he could borrow his phone to call a friend. Suriya says that after using the phone, the Egyptian refused to return it. He then slammed the device down on another phone that the taxi driver was holding, breaking both mobiles, a Xiaomi 12 and a Samsung A54, in the process.

Suriya says that at this point, Basem became enraged and grabbed an iron rod to smash the windows of the taxi. The windscreen and several other windows, including the rear windshield, were all shattered in the attack.

Basem was described as being in a “fit of frenzy”, by Cherngtalay Municipality rescue workers who transported him to Thalang Hospital. He was subsequently taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he remains in police custody.

Meanwhile, the authorities are continuing their investigation ahead with the intention of bringing charges against the Egyptian.