Housekeeper denies stealing 20 million baht gold in Khon Kaen

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A startling case of theft has emerged from a gold shop in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen, where a housekeeper has been accused of stealing gold worth over 20 million baht since 2021. Despite clear CCTV evidence, the accused continues to deny the charges in court.

 

Footage from a CCTV camera in the gold shop located in Ban Phai district, Khon Kaen province, shows the housekeeper seizing a gold necklace and slipping it into her pocket when left alone at the store. The shop owner first noticed discrepancies on September 9, when a gold ornament was seen falling from the housekeeper’s apron in the kitchen area.

 

Upon questioning, she claimed the gold must have slipped from the display case into her apron. However, the CCTV footage contradicted this explanation, revealing that she had indeed taken the gold from the showcase.

 

The shop’s investigation into records uncovered that the housekeeper had stolen gold jewellery on more than 47 occasions, accumulating over 700 baht in gold, equating to a value exceeding 20 million baht. Social media posts on the housekeeper’s personal Facebook account added to the suspicion, showing her purchasing land, a new motorcycle, and her daughter wearing a large gold necklace, all of which seemed unusual given her employment status.

 

The legal proceedings against the housekeeper saw the initial court sentencing her to 235 years in prison without suspension. Despite this, she has appealed the verdict.

 

The shop owner offered her multiple chances to return the stolen gold but she only returned a portion, worth approximately 7 million baht. Initially confessing when caught, she later hired a lawyer to deny all charges in court and even filed a counter-suit against the shop owner. The court ordered her to compensate the remaining 18 million baht, including interest but she has continued to appeal.

 

The shop owner expressed astonishment at the housekeeper’s persistence in denying the theft, given the overwhelming evidence from the CCTV footage. The owner questioned the rationale behind her reluctance to return the stolen assets.

 

The total value of the 700 baht of gold stolen initially was over 20 million baht, and the partial restitution of 7 million baht still leaves a significant amount to be compensated as per the court’s decision, reported KhaoSod.

 

“I don’t understand why she continues to delay when the evidence is so clear. Why doesn’t she return all the stolen assets?”

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-11-07