BANGKOK, THAILAND – A 33-year-old motorbike taxi driver in Bangkok was suspended from his ride-hailing app account after reporting a sexual assault by a male passenger on 28 October.
Assault during routine ride
On 28 October 2024, at 19:20 local time, Nitiaut, aged 33, accepted a fare from the Thammasat University bus stop to Charansanitwong district, according to his police statement in Bangkok. Within minutes, the passenger allegedly placed both arms around him and groped his genital area. The driver stopped the bike immediately, ordered the passenger to dismount, and ended the trip at that point.
He recorded the confrontation on his phone, submitted the video to local police, and filed an official complaint on the same evening. However, after the male passenger filed a counter-complaint through the ride-hailing platform, the company suspended Nitiaut’s driver account, effectively halting his only source of income.
Driver demands accountability
“We are humans, not objects to be touched just because someone pays!”
said Nitiaut, Motorbike Taxi Driver.
The 33-year-old stated that his suspension left him without income and that he expected the platform to investigate the assault before penalizing him.
Support from rights group
The non-profit organization Saimai Survive, headquartered in Pathum Thani province, took up the case on 29 October. Ekkaphop Luangprasert, Founder of Saimai Survive, announced that his group would provide direct legal assistance to the driver and reminded the public of Thailand’s sexual assault penalties.
“Anyone who harasses a driver commits a crime—period!”
said Ekkaphop Luangprasert, Founder of Saimai Survive.
Ekkaphop cited Sections of the Thai Criminal Code, under which offenders face up to 10 years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 200,000 Baht. The organization also criticized ride-hailing companies for failing to protect drivers when disputes arise.
Pattern of repeated incidents
Reports aired by Channel 8 and Amarin TV confirmed that at least two similar sexual harassment cases involving Bangkok motorbike riders were documented earlier in August and October 2024. One case involved a female driver who evaded a male passenger’s advance, while the other male rider uploaded footage of his ordeal to TikTok.
– October 2024: female motorbike driver escaped attempted assault in Bangkok.
– August 2024: male motorbike driver reported harassment by a passenger and shared the evidence online.
According to Saimai Survive’s monitoring, multiple drivers have privately reported similar attacks but withdrew complaints fearing account suspension or loss of work.
Public and legal response
Police in Bangkok’s Charansanitwong district confirmed receiving the complaint and said that investigators would review both the video footage and app records to establish liability under Section 278 of the Thai Penal Code.
As of 31 October 2024, the platform had yet to reactivate Nitiaut’s account, leaving uncertainty over his ability to resume work. Legal advocates repeated their call for clear protocols protecting gig workers who report crimes committed by passengers.
Key facts:
– Incident date: 28 October 2024
– Location: Bangkok, Charansanitwong district
– Victim: Nitiaut, 33-year-old motorbike driver
– Platform action: Account suspension
– Legal penalty for harassment: Up to 10 years imprisonment or 200,000 Baht fine
– Supporting agency: Saimai Survive, led by Ekkaphop Luangprasert
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and that results will be forwarded to prosecutors once statements from both parties are verified.