Crime Desperate Son Attempts Bank Robbery to Pay for Mother’s Kidney Treatment

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A 38-year-old man has been arrested after attempting to rob a bank in Buriram province with a kitchen knife, claiming he was driven to the act out of desperation to pay for his mother’s life-saving kidney treatment.

 

Police in Non Suwan district responded swiftly to an emergency alarm from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) branch in Non Suwan, Buriram, where the suspect, later identified as Mr Somporn, was detained by security staff before officers arrived at the scene.

 

Mr Somporn had entered the bank carrying a backpack and wielding a kitchen knife. He was overpowered by the bank’s security guard, Mr Somphop Chansirisuk, 59 and male staff members after a brief struggle. No injuries were reported.

 

According to police, the suspect arrived on a Honda motorbike without a registration plate and carried no other weapons apart from the knife. He was taken into custody and brought to Non Suwan Police Station for questioning.

 

During the interrogation, Mr Somporn admitted to the attempted robbery. He claimed it was not premeditated and that he had only decided to carry out the act earlier that day. He explained that his mother suffers from kidney disease and requires weekly dialysis treatments, each costing approximately 20,000 baht. He said his family could not afford the treatment and that the government’s universal healthcare scheme, known as the “gold card,” did not cover dialysis.

 

Mr Somporn’s father, Mr Khamman, 72, confirmed his wife’s illness and explained that the family had been preparing to raise funds for treatment. However, after being informed by neighbours that the 20,000 baht fee would only cover one session and with dialysis needed weekly, they abandoned the plan. He said he was unaware that his son had taken such drastic action.

 

Mr Somphop, the security guard praised for his quick thinking, said that he had become suspicious of the man upon entering the bank due to his behaviour, wearing a hat and a mask. When asked to remove them, Mr Somporn left, only to return shortly afterwards. Mr Somphop had already alerted staff and prepared to act in case of an incident.

 

“When he pulled out the knife and said, ‘This is a robbery,’ I grabbed the hand holding the knife and dragged him outside,” Mr Somphop recounted. “We wrestled for a few minutes before another male employee came to help me subdue him.”

 

Following his arrest, Mr Somporn underwent a urine test which returned positive for methamphetamine. He now faces charges of attempted robbery and drug use.

 

Mr Somyot Yosachan, director of the BAAC in Buriram province, visited the branch to personally commend Mr Somphop for his bravery and effective response during the incident.

 

Authorities are continuing their investigation, and Mr Somporn remains in custody pending legal proceedings.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-06-20