A Thai taxi driver returned more than 320,000 baht in cash to two Sri Lankan tourists after they accidentally left a bag containing EUR8,500 and personal belongings in his vehicle in Bangkok.
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The handover took place on 2 June 2026 at the FM91 Trafficpro radio station headquarters, operated by the Royal Thai Police Communications Division on Phahonyothin Road in Bangkok. Representatives from FM91, including Dr Jaiton Sriwangpol, Deputy Managing Director of Vilai Center and Sons Co Ltd, and senior station executives, witnessed the return of the cash and belongings to their owners.
Earlier that morning, at 8.35am, taxi driver Pathapee Yamsanor, 50, from Samut Prakan, contacted FM91 after discovering a black Biaowang shoulder bag in his green-and-yellow taxi. Inside were EUR8,500 in cash, a pair of white Tommy Hilfiger trainers and a room key.
Pathapee explained that he had picked up foreign passengers from Suvarnabhumi Airport and dropped them off at Silom Soi 19 at approximately 8.10am. He only noticed the bag afterwards, as it had been left on the rear shelf behind the passenger seats. Unsure of the owner’s identity, he decided to take the property directly to FM91 to help locate the rightful owner.
Picture courtesy of Thaitabloid
The driver said he was shocked by the amount of money inside the bag and wanted to return it immediately. He explained that keeping it would only create a burden, adding that the money did not belong to him. Pathapee noted that he had previously returned lost mobile phones and smaller amounts of cash to passengers and wanted to demonstrate that taxi drivers act honestly when finding property left behind.
FM91 subsequently broadcast an appeal to locate the owner. Staff from the tourists’ accommodation later contacted the station after learning that guests had reported missing property, allowing arrangements to be made for its return.
The owners, Sri Lankan nationals Mr Mohammed Aashif and Mr Mohammed Onaiz, said they had become extremely worried after realising the bag had been left behind. They explained that they were tired and sleepy during the journey and had placed the bag behind the headrest before forgetting it when leaving the taxi.
The tourists reported the loss to police but were unable to enter their accommodation because the room key was inside the missing bag. They thanked both the taxi driver and FM91 for helping recover the cash and belongings and said they would offer the driver a reward as a gesture of appreciation.
Thaitabloid reported that the case serves as another example of cooperation between taxi drivers, police-affiliated media services and the public in returning lost property to its rightful owners.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thaitabloid 3 June 2026