[opergolon]

A taxi driver detained for crimes he did not commit has been awarded 20,000 baht in compensation from the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

Charin Chumket, 35, was falsely accused of robbing passengers.

He was arrested after one of the victims remembered the licence plate number of the taxi in which she was robbed and also assaulted. That led police to identify Mr Charin as the culprit.

In fact, another taxi driver in the area was driving a vehicle with a fake licence sticker identical to Mr Charin's plate.

Mr Charin was charged with robbing Chollada Jarasit, 25, a catering staff member of Thai Airways International who took a taxi on the night of July 1.

Police said Mr Charin turned himself in on July 2 after he saw media reports saying he was wanted by police.

Four victims _ including Ms Collada _ who had been robbed and subjected to rape attempts by a taxi driver mistakenly identified Mr Charin as the culprit based on his plate number. He was detained for two days at Lat Krabang police station and seven days at Min Buri court.

Over the next few days, however, police learned about another robbery involving a taxi driver in the same area. The victim described the same licence plate number as Mr Charin's vehicle. Police then arrested Thinapat Sirisopachotikul, 36.

Pol Maj Gen Pisit Pisutsak, the city police deputy chief, said Mr Thinapat admitted robbing and assaulting passengers. Thinapat told police he had adhered a sticker of a fake licence number to his car. MPB commissioner Khamronwit Thoopkrachang yesterday delivered the cash to Mr Charin.

[mnhloot]

He must be praying day and night before truth is out