CHIANG MAI - The story of the motorcyclist who spilled 58,000 baht in cash across a city road and then asked police to help get it back has taken a new twist - with police arresting him on an outstanding warrant for drug dealing.
Wuthipong Boonta, 25, was told to return to Chang Puak police station on Wednesday morning to collect some of the money he had lost while riding a motorcycle on Chang Puak Road near Lanna hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
Police had already returned 9,900 baht to him yesterday, after two people who made off with 5,500 baht and 4,400 baht of his lost money handed it in.
- Earlier report : Motorcyclist accidentally spills cash on road
Police told Mr Wuthipong that more people had since returned money and he should come and get it.
But when he arrived at the police station on Wednesday they arrested him immediately.
Police from Muang Chiang Mai station had alerted their colleagues at Chang Puak that Mr Wuthipong was named in an arrest warrant issued four years ago for possession of type 1 narcotics with intent to sell.
Muang Chiang Mai police said on Feb 13, 2012 they set up a sting operation to buy 20 methamphetamine pills, or ya ba, from Mr Wuthipong. He allegedly arrived on a motorcycle with a woman identified as Supparat Suriya to deliver the speed pills to undercover police outside a school in Pa Dad sub-district. The suspect managed to make good his escape after the police identified themselves and approached him.
Mr Wuthipong admitted he was the person named in the warrant, but he had not confessed to the drug charges, police said after detaining him.
The suspect was taken to his home in Pa Dad, which was searched for drugs.
The Chiang Mai native dropped 1,000-baht banknotes totaling 58,000 baht from his unzipped waist bag while travelling to a motorcycle shop to make a down payment on a new motorbike. Photos circulating on the social media showed motorists stopping their vehicles in the middle of the road and rushing to gather up the money. The frenzy reportedly caused a three kilometre-long traffic jam.
Mr Wuthipong said his mother was working in Japan and she sent him the money for the down payment on a new motorbike. Police were not convinced and said they would investigate whether the money came from drug dealing.