CHON BURI — A 44-year-old Italian man has accused a British friend of drugging him, robbing him of 600,000 baht cash and dumping him at Pattaya beach.
Luga Viggiani alleged that his friend lured him to have the money ready to pay to police for help in tracking down a business partner who allegedly cheated him.
He lodged a complaint with Pol Lt Col Somkhid Sitthisart, investigation chief at Pattaya police station in Chon Buri province, early Wednesday.
The incident happened on May 28, and he decided to seek help from police after failing to find his British friend himself, Mr Viggiani said.
Before he was drugged and robbed, he had been asked to jointly invest in an entertainment business in Pattaya with his business partner, who duped him into investing 2 million. After the money was handed over his business parter had disappeared, the 44-year-old Italian complained to police.
Later, the accused British national, identified only as Asaf or Singh, whom he had known for some time, had offered to help him get back his money from his business partner.
But Mr Asaf told him that he must prepare 600,000 baht to cover expenses for a police team who would be contacted to do the job.
As he wanted his money back, he agreed to pay the amount set by Mr Asaf. He prepared the money and went with him to meet the police team, or so he thought. On the way, Mr Asaf had given him bottled drinking water. After drinking water, he felt dizzy and sleepy, Mr Viggiani said.
He later woke up and found himself lying on a beach in front of Central Pattaya Beach shopping centre. He found that his 600,000 baht cash and a 150,000-baht watch had vanished.
Police would look into the complaint and locate the accused foreigner for questioning.