A VIP chauffeur was arrested for allegedly attacking an airport security guard in Thailand.

Worawit Chanya, 41, reportedly punched Sergeant Thanakrit, 47, over a parking dispute at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakan province on November 6.

CCTV footage shows Worawit in a black suit throwing a right hook at the guard's face. Other security guards restrained him and took him to the Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station.

The alleged attack happened at the perennially congested road outside the second-floor passenger terminal of Entrance 4.

Police Captain Chanathan Promraksa of the Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station said: ‘Both sides have been summoned for thorough questioning. Worawit will be charged for assaulting an official while performing his duty. We will gather evidence to submit to the court according to legal procedures.'

During interrogation, Thanakrit said he was directing traffic at the terminal when a black Toyota Alphard parked at the arrival area at around 8 am. The vehicle was said to have circled around waiting to pick up a passenger.

The security guard said: 'At first, I didn't stop the van because traffic was still light. But when the road started to become congested, I asked them to leave because they had exceeded the alloted time to stay. The windows were closed so I walked over and shouted so they could hear me.'

He said three men in black suits, including the chauffeur Worawit, then emerged from the car 'looking unhappy' before the suspect punched him in the face.

The injured guard added: 'I insisted that I was not being rude to or trying to start a fight. I was just doing my job.'

Another security officer Yatsamin Moosor said that Thanakrit did not use rude language and only raised his voice so he could be heard above the traffic din.

Worawit allegedly admitted to the attack claiming he did so 'in self-defense'. He said he had requested a few more minutes to stay at the as his VIP foreign client was arriving soon.

He claimed: 'The guard used abusive language to tell me to leave. I went out of the car to confront him, but he bumped into me so I punched him.'

He added that he did not intend to hurt Thanakrit and distanced himself after the punch. CCTV footage obtained by police show he attempted to attack the guard several times despite other officers intervening.

Police charged Worawit for assaulting an officer on duty. Under Section 138 of the Thai Criminal Code, the offense is punishable with imprisonment of up to a year, a fine of up to 2,000 THB (45 GBP), or both. If violence is involved, the offender may be punished with up to two years in jail, a 4,000 THB (90 GBP) fine, or both.

(1 GBP = 44.15 THB)