An Iranian national was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport early Tuesday morning after sexual harassment claims of a female motorcycle taxi driver, who was transporting him from Khlong Toei district of Bangkok.
The female driver, 40, reported to police that her foreign customer inappropriately touched her chest and body while riding as a passenger on her motorcycle.
According to a Khaosod English report, the incident happened around 8pm on February 23 near Tobacco Monopoly area in Khlong Toei. Ms. Namphung, the female motorcycle driver, said that the harassment started as she drove towards the main road intending to report to the police. The man pleaded with the lady driver to turn back. Believing that the man would stop, she didn’t push through, however, the man continued to touch her inappropriately, even touching her genitals.
The lady driver used a translation app to communicate with the man asking him to stop and respect women, but was ignored by the male passenger. Nampung then jumped off her motorcycle at a police booth near Wireless Road intersection and screamed for help. Finding no officers present, she called the attention of nearby pedestrians for assistance, with the man fleeing the scene without paying his fare.
She filed a report at Lumphini Police Station and messaged the customer to meet her there, but the man didn’t come. Instead, the man offered financial compensation for settlement on the matter and denied any harassment claims. Nampung refused and insisted on charging him.
Mr. Mohsen, 31 years old, of Iranian nationality, was arrested February 24 at Suvarnabhumi Airport after attempting to leave the country. He was arrested as the court approved an arrest warrant on charges of committing indecent acts with use of force against a person unable to resist earlier that day.
Immigration officers held Mr. Mohsen until the morning before transferring him to Lumphini Police Station, where the charges were made.