British Tourist Hires Car In Patong, Vanishes

[churchill]

A BRITISH tourist has disappeared in mysterious circumstances after hiring a car from Patong and driving off Phuket.

Bloodstains were found in the car, which was left at a petrol station in Phang Nga Town. The cream Toyota Fortuna contained a half-drunk can of beer and bags of clothing.

Missing is Stone Brown, 31, whose passport was issued in London. His passport was left with the car-hire firm in Patong.

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Mr Brown hired the car for three days, from September 4-7. Yesterday the car hire firm, Patong Suthin Car Rent, received a telephone call.

A man who did not give his name said the Fortuna had been parked at Ratchapuk petrol station in Phang Nga Town for three days.

He said he was the driver for Khun Stone Brown.

Anong Snonporn, 44, the owner of the car, went to Phang Nga and received another mysterious telephone call from the same man when she arrived at the petrol station.

The man, a Thai, did not identify himself. ''Did you arrive? Are you wearing a pink shirt?'' he asked.

Khun Anong said ''Yes I am. Where is the key to the car?''

The caller said: ''He has taken it to Bangkok,'' then rang off. The number has been unavailable since.

Police were called and searched the Fortuna, dusting it for fingerprints. Three torches were found in the vehicle, along with clothing and the half-drunk can of beer.

The blood was on the rear of the driver's seat.

Mr Brown's passport showed that he arrived in Thailand from Cambodia. He paid for the car at 1800 baht a day for three days.

The British embassy in Bangkok has been notified and Phang Nga police are keen to hear from Mr Brown.

http://phuketwan.com/tourism/british-touri...anaishes-11548/

[bkkjames]

a tough day for British tourists...

British tourist dies in Chiang Mai

A British tourist died of unknown cause Wednesday morning while travelling in Chiang Mai with his Thai girlfriend, police said.

He was identified as Richard James, 33.

His girlfriend, Praweenuch Khahamuk, 33, told police that she woke up at 7 am to find that her boyfriend had already died.

She said she and James owned a restaurant in Mae Hong Son's Pai district and the two traveled to Chiang Mai and checked in a the Sri Phum House guesthouse Tuesday.

She said James drank beer and went to sleep before she found him dead.

His body was sent for an autopsy at the Chiang Mai provincial hospital.

The Nation

[bdenner]

Having hired many cars in Thailand over the years I have never had to hand over my Passport and never would. Always done with a credit card unless using the unlicensed vendors out in the rice paddies where we pay cash up front.

Strange!

[Boater]

any updates on this?