"All a misunderstanding" as Thai Elite staffer mistakenly takes Thai tourist's bag containing 300K at Bangkok airport

[webfact]

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Siam Rath reported on what they called was a complete misunderstanding at Suvarnabhumi Airport that happened this week. 

 

A Thai tourist called Thongthai had arrived back from a trip to South Korea and had put his (carry on) grey backpack on a trolley as he waited for his check-in luggage at the carousel on Wednesday.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

CCTV from a booth selling sim cards showed a woman in a gold jacket - later revealed as a Thai Elite staffer - remove the backpack.

 

It contained more than 300,000 baht's worth of Thai and Korean currency and other items.

 

He reported the incident to the airport tourist police who contacted the director of the airport.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

It was found that the Thai Elite staffer - who had been on the same flight - who was looking after a group of South Korean businessmen, had mistakenly taken the bag and left the airport with it in a van with the businessmen.

 

The bag and the staffer were traced and yesterday the Thai tourist was reunited with his property that was all there.

 

Wais and apologies were made all round as it was explained that the staffer thought the bag was part of her group's property.

 

Thai Elite's rep said that they would train staff to be more careful in future.

 

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[Boomer6969]

Hmmmhh 300000 THB is 8,628.38 USD, in cask? and nobody asks any question?

[Mr Meeseeks]

As if the insult of being conned into buying one of these Elite Cards wasn't enough, they steal your bags too! ????

[BE88]

32 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

Hmmmhh 300000 THB is 8,628.38 USD, in cask? and nobody asks any question?

Why ?

[Boomer6969]

20 minutes ago, BE88 said:

Why ?

While legal it is so stupid that it can only be intended for some deal he'd rather conceal.

 

[In a country where foreigners aren't allowed to have a Paypal account]..

[JoePai]

3 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

While legal it is so stupid that it can only be intended for some deal he'd rather conceal..

Nonsense

[malathione]

8 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

While legal it is so stupid that it can only be intended for some deal he'd rather conceal.

 

[In a country where foreigners aren't allowed to have a Paypal account]..

Only in your obviously very limited experience.

[richard_smith237]

Is Thailand the Hub of people carrying large amounts of cash around with utter disregard for security ??? 

[HuskerDo2]

A few Wais can heal all wounds (and get you off the hook for stealing). 

[it is what it is]

 

i love the fact they have to rely on the CCTV from a booth selling sim cards to solve the crime.

 

gives you great confidence in the security infrastructure at thailand's main airport...

[Boomer6969]

23 minutes ago, malathione said:

Only in your obviously very limited experience.

Yep I am totally inexperience in cash economy. I use banks...

[ThailandRyan]

13 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Is Thailand the Hub of people carrying large amounts of cash around with utter disregard for security ??? 

Yes. I watched a Cambodian construction worker open up her waist purse, and it was stuffed with cash. Guess they don't believe in banks 

[malathione]

3 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

Yep I am totally inexperience in cash economy. I use banks...

You carry a bank with you? Must be tiny.

[Boomer6969]

Just now, malathione said:

You carry a bank with you? Must be tiny.

Talking of nonsense.. Thanks for the pleasant conversation.

[malathione]

Just now, Boomer6969 said:

Talking of nonsense.. Thanks for the pleasant conversation.

My pleasure. Let us know how you get along using your Thai bank app overseas.

[bdenner]

9 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Is Thailand the Hub of people carrying large amounts of cash around with utter disregard for security ??? 

Not about security rather than frustration. Ever tried to get a cashiers cheque from a bank in this country?

A few years ago I bought a new car and wanted a cheque from my bank, it took 3+ hours because I could not perfectly replicate my 20 year old signature in the back of the "BS" bank book AND to top it off I was charged a percentage of the value.

A few trips to an ATM machine over a number of days would have been much easier.

[2baht]

22 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Is Thailand the Hub of people carrying large amounts of cash around with utter disregard for security ??? 

$8,600,00 is not a large amount of money, the limit without declaration id $20,000 USD! I have no idea why they'd carry 300,000 baht in checked baggage, in the pocket is safer!

 

 

[Upnotover]

8 minutes ago, 2baht said:

why they'd carry 300,000 baht in checked baggage

They didn't.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

had put his (carry on) grey backpack on a trolley

 

[mikeymike100]

24 minutes ago, it is what it is said:

 

i love the fact they have to rely on the CCTV from a booth selling sim cards to solve the crime.

 

gives you great confidence in the security infrastructure at thailand's main airport...

Exactly, you would think they would have multiple cameras covering all of the carousels, showing different angles?

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, Boomer6969 said:

While legal it is so stupid that it can only be intended for some deal he'd rather conceal.

 

[In a country where foreigners aren't allowed to have a Paypal account]..

Nonsense

[Robin]

"Exactly, you would think they would have multiple cameras covering all of the carousels, showing different angles?"

There might be cameras, but is anything recorded?

[Bill97]

2 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

Hmmmhh 300000 THB is 8,628.38 USD, in cask? and nobody asks any question?

Not unusual, many people keep money in a cask.

[jaywalker2]

1 hour ago, Boomer6969 said:

While legal it is so stupid that it can only be intended for some deal he'd rather conceal.

 

[In a country where foreigners aren't allowed to have a Paypal account]..

He was probably earned it working Korea. Maybe he didn't have a bank account here to transfer it to.

 

 

[RichardColeman]

OK, assuming this staffer is not lying, there should be a spare bag from the flight - if so , show us.

[mikeymike100]

40 minutes ago, Robin said:

"Exactly, you would think they would have multiple cameras covering all of the carousels, showing different angles?"

There might be cameras, but is anything recorded?

Fair point knowing Thailand, but I would certainly hope so!

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Is Thailand the Hub of people carrying large amounts of cash around with utter disregard for security ??? 

Yes. I watched a Cambodian construction worker open up her waist purse, and it was stuffed with cash. Guess they don't believe in banks 

Indeed.... we’re probably due another ‘....left 800,000 baht in a bag in a taxi...’ thread.... 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, 2baht said:

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Is Thailand the Hub of people carrying large amounts of cash around with utter disregard for security ??? 

$8,600,00 is not a large amount of money, the limit without declaration id $20,000 USD! I have no idea why they'd carry 300,000 baht in checked baggage, in the pocket is safer!

 

The money wasn’t in checked baggage.... 

 

Thongthai [the guy who was carrying the money] left his hand-carry [a grey backpack with 300k bahh cash) on the baggage trolley while he collected his check-in bag from the carousel. 

 

The Thai Elite Staffer, looking after several South Korean Tourists obviously confused that trolley with one from their group and inadvertently took the wrong bag.

 

-----

 

The strange part of the story for me: 

Thai Elite are an arrival / departure service....  I suspect the report that the Thai Elite staffer was on the same flight is wrong and in fact the ’Thai Elite staff’ met Thai Elite members who’d been on the same flight as Thongthai.... 

 

 

 

 

[still kicking]

1 hour ago, Bill97 said:

Not unusual, many people keep money in a cask.

But only in red wine casks 

[Bangkok Barry]

3 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

Hmmmhh 300000 THB is 8,628.38 USD, in cask? and nobody asks any question?

Why would they? I've many times brought in that amount in US$ and it's within the legal limit. And I'm getting that amount transferred to my bank next month for a job I'm doing.

[Bangkok Barry]

13 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

The money wasn’t in checked baggage.... 

 

Thongthai [the guy who was carrying the money] left his hand-carry [a grey backpack with 300k bahh cash) on the baggage trolley while he collected his check-in bag from the carousel. 

 

If I had a carry-on bag with that amount of money with me, and I have many times, I'd keep a very, very close eye on it. And I did. Always.