A taxi driver has been arrested and charged with theft after taking two Taiwanese tourists from Suvarnabhumi airport to a Bangkok hotel and then driving off with their luggage.
Khamphee Hongsrakhu, 45, was apprehended at the airport on Wednesday night while waiting to pick up more passengers.
He was accused of driving off with suitcases belonging to two Taiwanese passengers he took from the airport to a hotel in Huai Kwang area on Oct 29. He had not since contacted the passengers or airport staff for the return of the luggage, which contained cash in several foreign currencies and valuables worth almost 200,000 baht.
The Taiwanese men, both hockey players, filed a complaint with Huai Kwang police and produced the taxi fare slip they received from the driver, who was subsequently arrested by airport police.
Mr Khamphee initially denied any knowledge of the missing luggage. Police showed him the taxi fare slip and footage from security cameras at the airport showing him picking up the two Taiwanese on Oct 29.
The two victims also showed up to identify him.
Mr Khamphee then admitted having kept the luggage. He said he had later opened suitcases and found several brand-name bags and foreign currencies inside them. He claimed he did not know how to contact the owners, so kept the bags and their contents at his rented room in Bangkok’s Ekkachai area pending contact by officials. A search of his room found the passengers' belongings.
Mr Khamphee was handed over to Huai Kwang police station for legal action.
Kittipong Kittikajorn, the airport deputy general manager, advised passengers who use taxi services at the airport to keep the taxi fare slips, which contain necessary details about the taxi they use.
Cash and other belongings of two Taiwanese passengers are recovered from the taxi driver's rented room. (Photo by Sutthiwit Chayutworakan)