Justice at Last: Thai Man Recovers 40,000 Baht After 9 Years

Photo via Facebook/ ToKo

In a long-awaited turn of events, a Thai man finally received justice nine years after losing 40,000 baht (approximately 38,400 Baht) to a trusted friend. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) recently arrested 65-year-old Suthee, who had evaded capture for nearly a decade. He faced charges relating to offences committed against his colleague back in 2016.

The legal charges centred around two key violations:

1. Section 269/5 of the Criminal Law: Using another person’s electronic card, potentially causing damage to the cardholder. This offence carries a penalty of up to five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to 100,000 baht (approximately 96,000 Baht), or both.
2. Section 335(1) of the Criminal Law: Committing theft at night. This charge entails imprisonment ranging from one to five years and fines between 20,000 and 100,000 baht (approximately 19,200 to 96,000 Baht).

The victim, Somchai, lodged a complaint with Mueang Kanchanaburi Police in June 2016, after discovering the deception. Both men had shared a workplace at a car showroom, which had fostered a sense of trust that Suthee ultimately betrayed.

On the fateful day, Suthee asked Somchai to borrow 2,000 baht. Somchai, lacking cash at the time, handed over his debit card and password, trusting Suthee to withdraw the sum. The next day, Suthee returned the card along with a withdrawal slip, but never returned to work and ceased all contact with his colleagues.

The truth emerged soon after, when a finance officer who used the same ATM noticed suspicious withdrawal slips. Upon review, Somchai discovered four withdrawals made by Suthee: 1,000 baht, 4,500 baht, 30,000 baht, and 2,000 baht, with only the final slip having been shown to him.

Pressured by the looming expiration of the case, police acted swiftly. They finally located Suthee at his residence in Kanchanaburi, where he had resurfaced after years in hiding. Confronted with the evidence, Suthee admitted his wrongdoing and agreed to cooperate with the legal process.

This case underscores the importance of vigilance, even among trusted friends, and highlights the persistence of law enforcement in pursuing justice, regardless of how much time has passed.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-08-25