In a swift operation, Bang Yi Khan police detained a taxi driver found in possession of gold valued at 1.9 million baht. This follows a gold shop employee’s report of losing over 40 baht of gold while en route to deliver the valuables to her workplace in Yaowarat.
Chaiyaporn Jariyadham, the owner of the gold shop, initially offered a 100,000 baht reward for the gold’s return but warned that legal action would ensue if police intervention was required.
On May 24, 2024, at 1:20 PM, the taxi driver was apprehended in Nang Loeng while transporting passengers. He had been captured on CCTV picking up a bag from the middle of Borommaratchachonnani Road two days earlier. Following his arrest, police searched his residence in Sathu Pradit but withheld specific details about their findings.
During his transfer to the investigation room, the driver was questioned by journalists regarding the gold’s whereabouts. Although he did not verbally respond, he nodded when asked if he knew the bag contained gold when he picked it up. When questioned why he had not returned the gold or contacted the owner, he indicated he had not done so.
Authorities recovered 47 baht of the missing gold, with the remaining two baht having been sold to a shop for 60,000 baht. This money has been seized and remains unused. The driver claimed he sold a portion of the gold to confirm its authenticity.
Police have also summoned the taxi driver’s wife for further questioning to shed light on additional details of the case, as reported by Khaosod. The incident began when Pailin Kaewphet, a 58-year-old courier, filed a complaint with Bang Yi Khan Police Station on May 23, 2024. She reported losing gold necklaces and bars worth about 2 million baht near a pedestrian bridge outside Lotus’s supermarket in the Bangkok Noi district of Bangkok at around 8:20 AM.
Pailin, an employee at a gold shop in the Wang Burapha neighborhood, explained that she was delivering gold from another shop in Phetchaburi province. She lost her tote bag, which contained her purse, ID card, and a white paper box with the gold, while taking a motorcycle taxi outside the supermarket. Initially, this led police and news agencies to suspect her of theft. However, security camera footage confirmed that she had indeed dropped her tote bag at the location mentioned.
Chaiyaporn, the Phetchaburi gold shop owner, was summoned for questioning. He explained that he had operated his gold shop for nearly 30 years and had known Pailin for over a decade. Pailin, who has worked at the Bangkok gold shop for more than 25 years, had been trusted to deliver gold multiple times, with values exceeding 4.2 million baht on some occasions.
Chaiyaporn spoke with Pailin following the loss and noted no suspicious behavior from her. He encouraged her to be honest about any financial issues, but she maintained that she had no problems and did not steal the gold. Chaiyaporn urged anyone who found the gold to return it, offering a 100,000 baht reward.
