A taxi driver was arrested on Thursday on charges of stealing a rucksack containing valuables worth 500,000 baht from a Chinese woman passenger seven months ago.
Dom Katemala from Surin was accused of stealing the bag from Lin Lu, a 29-year-old exchange student at Bangkok University.
Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hukpan, chief of the Tourist Police Division, said Mr Dom picked up Ms Lin and a friend from Sukhumvit Soi 39 and took them to Min Buri-Romklao housing estate in Bangkok’s Min Buri district on the night of Dec 10. The passengers put two suitcases in the taxi’s boot. Ms Lin placed her rucksack on the front seat next to Mr Dom.
When the taxi arrived at the destination, the pair got out and retrieved their luggage. Mr Dom followed and tried to rush them into paying the fare, Pol Maj Gen Surachet quoted Ms Lin as saying.
After being paid, the 52-year-old driver drove away with Ms Lin’s rucksack still on the front seat.
Mr Dom denied the theft charge, claiming he found out later the bag remained in his car after he left and tried to return it to his passenger but was arrested first.
“I thank all police units for the help in recovering the stolen assets even though the incident took place seven months ago,” Ms Lin said.
Police did not give details about the valuables in the bag or whether anything was recovered from the driver, saying the investigation into the theft was ongoing.