CHON BURI - A taxi driver has returned cash worth about 162,500 baht to a Hong Kong tourist who left his wallet in his cab in Pattaya beach city.
Prasert Thipdong, 61, handed the wallet containing Thai and Hong Kong currency over to Hong Kong visitor Tong Kit Hang Augustine, 48, at the Pattaya police station in Chon Buri on Wednesday.
The cabbbie said he picked up the tourist at Central Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya hotel on Soi Wong Amat and took him to Harbour Pattaya shopping mall on Tuesday night. He then returned home.
When he started work on Wednesday morning he found a wallet left on the front seat. He checked it and found it contained Thai baht and Hong Kong dollars worth about 162,500 baht in total and a personal document showing the name of Tong Kit Hang Augustine. He immediately contacted Pattaya police to help find the owner.
Mr Prasert said he never even thought of keeping the money and wanted to return it to the owner to help improve Pattaya’s image in the eyes of foreign visitors.
Pol Col Apichai Krobpet, chief of Pattaya police, arranged the meeting between the taxi driver and Mr Tong for the return of the money.
Mr Tong said he was delighted to get back his lost wallet and thanked Mr Prasert for returning it to him. He praised the driver for his honesty and Thai people for their hospitality.