Briton charged with stealing tourist's cash at Phuket airport

Briton charged with stealing tourist's cash at Phuket airport

Mr Chapman (standing) is taken into police custody while Mr Barhoumi talks to officers. (Photo by Achadtaya Chuenniran)
Mr Chapman (standing) is taken into police custody while Mr Barhoumi talks to officers. (Photo by Achadtaya Chuenniran)

A British national was arrested for allegedly stealing hundreds of dollars in US and Canadian currency from a Tunisian man at Phuket airport on Monday.

The theft was reported to police at about 1pm by 40-year-old Tissam Barhoumi.

He said he had gone to inquire about an airfare at Thai AirAsia's sales counter and forgot an envelope there containing US$320 and C$100. He returned to find the envelope gone.

Pol Col Somchai Sanprasert, chief of Tha Chatchai police station, said police checked security-camera footage and a man identified later as Darren Paul Chapman, a 49-year-old British citizen, was caught taking Mr Barhoumi's money and leaving.

Police later found Mr Chapman checking his baggage for a Bangkok Airways flight to U-Tapao airport, near Pattaya in Chon Buri, and asked to search him.

Mr Chapman reportedly confessed to taking the cash. Pol Col Somchai said authorities found three US$100 banknotes, a US$20 bill and a C$100 note in his possession and charged him with stealing on airport property.

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