
BANGKOK — Police arrested a taxi driver who stabbed an Australian tourist passenger with a cutter after an argument over car damage payment escalated.
Thung Mahamek Police Station officers in Bangkok responded to a report of an injured foreign tourist on Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Road near Conritum mall, close to Soi Narathiwat 9, at 3:39 a.m. on October 24. Emergency responders provided first aid – the victim had normal vital signs and could communicate. He was then transported to Chulalongkorn Hospital.
After getting permission from doctors, investigators interviewed the injured man, who identified himself as Simon, age 39, from Australia. He stated that a pink taxi driver had stabbed him in the right abdomen with a cutter after an argument. When bystanders appeared, the taxi driver fled the scene.
The victim had taken a pink taxi to the incident location where an argument broke out, leading to the driver attacking him with a knife. Bystanders discovered him, and the driver fled. Emergency services took him to Chulalongkorn Hospital.

Investigators later identified the taxi driver as Mr. Samorn, age 49. After reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses, including security guards who confirmed seeing Mr. Samorn attack Simon with a cutter.
On October 24, officers brought Mr. Samorn and his taxi in for questioning at Thung Mahamek police station. He confessed to injuring the Australian man. He had picked up Simon and a Thai man from the Thaniya area, Silom Soi 2, to take them to Chatrium Hotel on Narathiwat Road.
When they reached Narathiwat Soi 9, Simon and the Thai man were arguing. Mr. Samorn stopped the car, at which point Simon strongly hit inside the car and slammed the door when getting out. Mr. Samorn got out to demand payment for damages, but this led to an argument as Simon didn’t see any damage.
As both parties became angry, Mr. Samorn grabbed a small cutter (approximately 12cm long) from his car’s storage compartment. During the argument, he waved the cutter around, cutting Simon’s abdomen. Simon sat down on the sidewalk, after which Mr. Samorn drove away and dropped off the Thai man near Silom Soi 2.
Investigators have charged the suspect with causing bodily harm to another person. Mr. Samorn has apologized to Simon with a wai gesture.
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