Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter
AYUTTHAYA — The public van driver who attempted to stab a TV reporter in Ayutthaya province with a knife for honking his horn at him has surrendered himself to police and apologized to his victim.
Although the driver, Anan Charoenkham, 45, was initially charged with attempted murder, the charge was dropped at the request of the victim, police say. His punishment was reduced to a 2,500 baht fine and a possible sanction by the Department of Land Transport in the province.
Anan surrendered himself to police at Ayutthaya Police Station on Tuesday morning, said an officer at the station, Col. Ekkarat Uncharoen.
The suspect reportedly confessed to attacking Thai PBS reporter Bancha Eiammeechai on Monday after the reporter honked his horn at him. According to Col. Ekkarat, Anan said he reacted with a momentary flash of rage.
Anan also apologized in person to Bancha yesterday at the police station, and in return Bancha withdrew the criminal charge against the van driver.
“The criminal charge is now over … Both parties negotiated and they were satisfied with the outcome,” Col. Ekkarat said today.
Nevertheless, Anan was still fined 2,500 baht on counts of carrying a weapon into a residential area, attempted physical assault and behaving in an aggressive manner towards other motorists. The Department of Land Transport is also deliberating other possible punishments for Anan, Ekkarat said.
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Public Van Driver Fined For Speeding, Taunting Passengers
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