Unemployed man charged for stealing royal decorations

[Thaivisa News]

Bangkok:– Police have arrested and charged theft suspect Warakorn Khlongkan, 25, involved in the March stealing of royal decorations from the funeral of a late national artist.

Warakorn lifted the royal decorations, estimated to worth 500,000 baht, from the display case at the funeral of Professor Prayat Phongdam.

Before his death, Prayat was former dean of Silapakorn University’s Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Art. He was named the national artist in 1998.

He received royal decorations in recognition of his academic and arts contributions.

Funeral organisers put the decorations on display to honour him.

During the funeral at Wat Dhepsirin, Warakorn, who was seeking a job placement, took a part-time position in charge to spraying water on the flowers.

While on duty, he stole the decorations. But funeral guests spotted him and alerted relatives and organisers.

He then apologised and agreed to return the decorations. Prayat’s relatives took him to Phlabphlachai 1 police station.

They reported the wrongdoing to police without pressing charges.Warakorn was released pending the completion of police report.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau reviewed the case. It ruled that the theft of royal decorations could not be settled between the disputing parties as it was a crime against the state.

Police launched the two-month manhunt before the yesterday’s arrest of the suspect at Chakkarat district, Nakhon Ratchasima.

The suspect has acknowledged the theft charge and is in the police’s custody. He said he has been out of work for months.

Before the temporary position at the funeral, he used to work as a science teacher at a school in the Don Mueang area.

Police have reminded funeral organisers to take safety precaution in putting royal decorations on display. The decorations contain genuine gemstones.

Police said they are investigating two separate cases for stealing royal decorations from the funerals at Wat Phra Sri Mahathat.

[jerojero]

The funeral guests spotted him? ....shrewd thief.

[delgarcon]

He's in police custody while the guy that killed the cyclist in Bangkok is out on bail! Is there another nation in the world that attaches so much importance to money and so little to seeing justice done?

[Lupatria]

500.000 Baht for the decoration of a dead body. The amount equals 1.666 monthly supports from the government for parents of a retarded child.

Good to know they got their priorities in order.

[ezzra]

500.000 Baht for the decoration of a dead body. The amount equals 1.666 monthly supports from the government for parents of a retarded child.

Good to know they got their priorities in order.

What amazes me is that you're looking for justice, priorities and proportions from a Thai

government, or most governments for that matter...

[halloween]

500.000 Baht for the decoration of a dead body. The amount equals 1.666 monthly supports from the government for parents of a retarded child.

Good to know they got their priorities in order.

Can you point out where it says they were awarded posthumously? Do your parents still get support?

[rkidlad]

Death penalty!

.......unless he can afford bail.