Phuket Gold Thief Surrenders To See Dying Wife

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Phuket gold thief surrenders to see 'dying wife'

Phuket Gazette

Mr Koson, wanted for robbing a Phuket gold shop on Monday and making off with millions of baht in jewelry, surrendered voluntarily to police today, saying that he wanted to see his wife again before she died from a heart condition. Photo: PR Dept

Mr Koson explains to police the circumstances of his voluntary surrender to face charges for the robbery of a Phuket gold shop on Monday. Photo: PR Dept

PHUKET: -- One of the two men wanted for making off with millions of baht in jewelry from a Phuket gold shop on Monday surrendered to police today, saying that he wanted to see his wife again before she died from a heart condition.

The man, a Burmese national named by police only as “Mr Koson”, arrived in front of Phuket City Police Station on a motorbike taxi at about 1pm.

To ensure his safety in being taken into custody, Mr Koson called the police emergency hotline 191 before his surrender to tell police that he was about to hand himself in.

Mr Koson, an ethnic Mon, told police in fluent Thai that he and his close friend “Mek” planned to rob the gold shop together.

“My wife was not involved in the robbery at all. She knew nothing about it,” he said.

Mr Koson had spent the previous day hiding in the forest near Kathu Waterfall.

“At midday yesterday, I walked out of the forest to ask Burmese workers for food. I was told that police were surrounding the area, so I went back into the forest and hid. I left the forest in the evening and went to stay at a hotel on Koh Sireh,” Mr Koson said.

“I saw the news that my wife had been arrested on the TV this morning. I wanted to see her at least one more time. My wife has a serious heart condition. Her heart valves are ‘leaking’. She may not live long,” he explained, holding up a bag of sweet bread rolls he bought to give her and their 13-year-old daughter, who also lives in Phuket.

Mr Koson told police that he robbed the gold shop because he wanted money to pay for an operation for his wife and to pay off debts of 400,000 baht that he racked up over snooker gambling, as well as other debts from people he had borrowed money from.

After the robbery, Mr Koson shared the spoils, which police estimates have valued at 2.9mn to 3.9mn baht, by giving a handful of gold to Mr Mek.

He kept one necklace for himself to use while he was on the run.

“The rest I gave to my wife, Mooza,” he added.

Moe Moe San Mooza was subsequently arrested at Mo Chit Bust Station in Bangkok on Wednesday. She was found in possession of 69 gold necklaces valued at 1.8 million baht hidden in shampoo bottles, of which Mrs Mooza denied any knowledge.

It was Mrs Mooza who alerted police as to where her husband was hiding in Phuket, and pleaded for him to hand himself in.

Mr Koson faces charges of gang robbery and carrying a weapon in a public place, as does Mr Mek if he is captured.

“Mek called me two days ago to tell me that he had left Phuket. He said that he was safe from police, as Chumphon Police had called him in for questioning and then let him go,” Mr Koson said today.

“We haven’t spoken since because my mobile phone battery went dead,” he added.

Police this afternoon were continuing their questioning of Mr Koson, and their search for Mr Mek.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...wife-17973.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-09-22

[meatboy]

let him go on grounds of compassion,let his wife have the operations she needs new aota valves,gold shops have also been robbing people, tourists and thai's as well.

[BookMan]

If the wife is dying and he will be going to jail for a long time, the real loser here is the 13 year old daughter who will be without 2 parents very sooon.

[uty6543]

I felt sorry for this guy until I saw the gambling debts of 400,000 Baht and I have no sympathy for his wife either on the run with stolen property. This is not the way to sort out your problems.

[raro]

I felt sorry for this guy until I saw the gambling debts of 400,000 Baht and I have no sympathy for his wife either on the run with stolen property. This is not the way to sort out your problems.

the way I read the story, the wife was not aware of the stolen gold.

sent from my Android phone

[Payboy]

I felt sorry for this guy until I saw the gambling debts of 400,000 Baht and I have no sympathy for his wife either on the run with stolen property. This is not the way to sort out your problems.

the way I read the story, the wife was not aware of the stolen gold.

Could be, but 69 gold necklaces hidden in shampoo bottles is seriously heavy for mere haircare.

[uty6543]

quote from OP "The rest I gave to my wife, Mooza," he added.

he didn't say to his wife here is the most expensive shampoo in the world take good care of it. I think it is fair to assume she knew.

[how241]

If the wife is dying and he will be going to jail for a long time, the real loser here is the 13 year old daughter who will be without 2 parents very sooon.

+1

[jsflynn603]

,gold shops have also been robbing people, tourists and thai's as well.

From my experience which is only in Chiang Mai, gold shops work on a tiny margin. I purchased a 1/2 baht necklace, this is equivalent to just about 1/2 troy ounce of gold from a Chinese Thai near the Ping river a while ago. Thai gold is among the finest in the world being 23 1/2 karat. At today's price of gold that means that the gold value in the necklace is about $880 US. The price that I paid was about 11% higher than the value of the gold in the necklace.

In the US it is difficult to find even 18kt gold jewelry (18kt = 18/24 or 75% pure gold). Most US gold is 14kt or 58.6% gold. Now if I were to buy the same necklace in the US I would pay double or triple the actual bullion value of the gold content. So while the American market sells necklaces for 100 to 200% more than the bullion value of the gold in it, the Thai market sells it for 11% more.

Frankly I have no clue as to how they can even survive on an 11% margin. Perhaps shops in Phuket or other places have higher markup but in Chiang Mai I went to over a dozen shops and the markup was similar.

In fact Thai gold jewelry is about the best value for your buck (or Euro, or Pound, etc) in the world.

[meatboy]

beware of gold being sold without the stamp.still think this lot should recieve a light sentance its not as if anyone was injured,just remember death by dangerous driving,no licence,no insurance,multible deaths 2years suspended sentance.t.i.t.