A motorcycle taxi driver was arrested over an alleged sex assault on a German tourist in Thailand.

Pongpat Klaithongkham, 18, was flagged down by the German woman, 37, to take her from the Old Town area of Phuket to a hotel at around 12:45 am on February 26.

However, while riding along the highway, Pongpat reportedly molested the passenger, prompting her to jump off the motorcycle and suffer minor injuries.

A passing motorist helped the terrified tourist and took her to the hotel, where she reported the incident to police with the help of staff.

Authorities were able to identify Pongpat through a phone call he had made to the hotel inquiring about directions and its address.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Tapthai Leelanon and Police Lieutenant Colonel Ekkachai Siri of Mueang Phuket Police Station led cops in arresting Pongpat at his rented residence in Phuket on February 26.

The distraught German woman also confirmed his identity at the police station, sobbing uncontrollably as she pointed at Pongpat as her alleged sexual harasser.

She said that on the way to the hotel, Pongpat turned to kiss her on the cheek before grabbing her hand and placing it on his penis.

When she pulled away, he reportedly forced her hand on his crotch and also touched her genitals, she claimed.

Police said they had seized Pongpat's motorcycle and the clothes he wore during the incident as evidence, adding more items were being collected.

Pongpat was detained at the Phuket City Police Station pending legal proceedings.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Tapthai Leelanon said: 'We will continue to interrogate Pongpat and will charge him with committing an indecent act.

'He has been handed over to the inquiry officer of Mueang Phuket Police Station for further legal action.

'We have trained officers supporting the tourist.'

Last year, another German backpacker was raped on Thai island Koh Chang.

Florentina Retka, 24, had taken a solo trip to Thailand, but was molested by local guide Kasama Apichaisompon, 55, on an isolated beach on the island last February.

Kasama was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison on November 30, as Florentina, an experienced traveler, warned female tourists to avoid visiting the country.

In November 2023, an American tourist claimed she was raped by a man she met on a dating app in Bangkok, Thailand. The female teacher, 24, had allegedly swiped right on the suspect Tienming He, 25, while she was browsing Tinder and agreed to see him at a bar on November 2.

While in 2018, a British teenager claimed she was raped on the notorious island of Koh Tao. Thai authorities banned her from the country and accused her of making up the incident.

Also in 2018, A 34-year-old Thai construction worker surrendered to police, two days after allegedly raping a 29-year-old New Zealand woman returning to her hostel in Bangkok's Phra Nakhon district.

Shockingly, in 2019 a young British backpacker, 21, was raped after passing out drunk on the island of Koh Phi Phi off the coast of Krabi province. A deckhand working in the area had reportedly found her at 3 am and cut open her denim shorts before raping her.

Also in 2019, a Thai man was arrested for the brutal rape and murder of German backpacker Miriam Beelte, 26, on the idyllic island of Koh Si Chang.

In August 2021, a female Swiss diplomatic worker, 57, was found raped and murdered at the bottom of a waterfall on the island of Phuket. She was discovered lying face down in a rocky pool at the bottom of a waterfall with a black tarpaulin thrown over her body.