An Egyptian national was escorted by Phuket police to a hospital for psychiatric assessment last night, after he allegedly refused to pay a taxi fare, damaged driver’s cell phone, assaulted him and struck the taxi with an iron bar.

The victim, Suriya Plodmai, told Thalang district police that he took the tourist from Patong Beach, in Krathu district, to his lodging at Banthao Beach, in Thalang district, early Saturday morning.

On arrival at the lodging, the tourist borrowed the cabbie’s cell phone to call a friend, but refused to return it to the driver when asked. Instead, he allegedly went berserk.

Suriya managed to escape from the tirade and called Thalang police, who arrived quickly. The tourist was apprehended and escorted to a hospital for assessment.

The Egyptian Embassy in Bangkok was informed of the incident, so that its officials could contact the tourist’s family and arrange compensation for the taxi driver.