CHIANG MAI, Thailand – A transgender woman has appealed for help identifying a tuk-tuk driver accused of attacking her friend in the early hours of August 8, leaving the victim with a severely injured and split lip and bruising across her body. The incident reportedly happened around 5 a.m. in Phra Singh, Mueang Chiang Mai, after the group had left a nightlife venue. According to the victim’s account shared online, the group had jokingly exchanged words with the tuk-tuk driver, with the encounter initially appearing friendly. The situation reportedly changed when the driver’s girlfriend approached the group, apparently believing they had been flirting with or interfering with her boyfriend. Attempts to explain the situation failed to calm the confrontation.
The tuk-tuk driver then allegedly attacked one of the women, punching and striking her repeatedly, leaving her with a badly injured lip and bruising to her arms and body. Witnesses reportedly intervened when the driver’s girlfriend attempted to confront the victim again.
After the alleged assault, the driver reportedly drove away with his girlfriend and companions. The victim’s side claims he made comments indicating that he was not afraid of police before leaving the scene.
The injured woman has since reported the incident to police and provided photographs of her injuries, video footage and images of the blue tuk-tuk, including its registration number, in the hope that the driver can be identified and located. The case has also drawn attention because the driver is reportedly the partner of a karaoke hostess manager who was previously involved in a widely publicized dispute after foreign customers were allegedly presented with a bill of around 150,000 baht at a karaoke venue. The establishment was subsequently ordered to close, according to the account circulated online. Police are expected to investigate the assault, examine the available evidence and determine the appropriate legal action.
