An honest appliance shop proprietor is returning a small fortune in gold bars and necklaces he found in a bag in a taxi to the forgetful owner.
Vallop Jongsuwat, 55, who has a store in Muang district of Ubon Ratchathani province, on Friday told police that he found a backpack in a taxi in Bangkok and later discovered a large quantity of gold in it.
Mr Vallop said he had just returned from Japan and was on his way to catch a domestic flight back to Ubon Ratchathani province when he found the backpack in the taxi. The driver said he did not know who it belonged to.
When he opened it, he saw that inside a velvet bag were five 96.5% gold bullion bars, three one-baht-weight gold necklaces, two gold rings, a locket and some cash. Mr Vallop also found some documents with the name of Supanan Apisan, 52, of Suan Luang district of Bangkok.
Before taking his flight back to Ubon, Mr Vallop told the ctaxi driver to call a local radio station, asking it to help locate the backpack's owner. He also left his business card and phone number.
That very same day, after he arrived back home, Mr Vallop received a telephone call informing him that the owner had been identified. He agreed to give the bag and contents back, but just to protect himself he reported the incident to the police.
Ms Supanan, the overjoyed owner, thanked Mr Vallop and told reporters that she accidentally left the gold, which is her life savings, in the taxi when she was on her way to sell it for cash to keep her business afloat. Without the gold she would have had a serious problem, she said.