An unemployed teacher was arrested and charged with the theft of King Rama V-era royal decorations belonging to the late national artist Prayad Pongdam at his funeral, police said on Thursday.
On March 14, Warakorn Klongkarn, 25, snatched a royal insignia and a sash worth 500,000 baht from a tray placed in front of Prayad’s coffin at his funeral at Wat Thepsirin in Bangkok. He shoved it into his bag and fled.
The theft occurred one day before the royally-sponsored cremation of the national artist in the field of visual arts (print) was held, said Pol Col Nakarin Sukontawit, chief of Phlapphla Chai police station.
Mr Warakorn posed as temple staff in charge of watering floral decorations before the theft. However, he felt guilty after stealing the items and decided to return to the funeral and gave them back to Prayad’s family.
The family took him to Phlapphla Chai police station so that the incident could be recorded in the police logbook, but did not file a complaint.
Mr Warakorn confessed to stealing the late artist’s royal decorations “on the spur of the moment” as he was unemployed at the time and fascinated by their beauty. He said he was a former science teacher at a school in Don Muang area and went to worship Buddha statues at the temple before spotting the decorations.
His confession means police will forward the charges to public prosecutors because it was a criminal case and could not be set aside.
He was arrested in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Chakkarat district on Wednesday and was brought to a police press briefing on Thursday.
Pol Col Nakarin said police suspect Mr Warakorn may have been involved with the theft of royal decorations at two royally-sponsored cremations previously held at Wat Phra Si Maha That in Bang Khen district. He said Mr Warakorn admitted he had been there and police are investigating further.