All smiles as poor trishaw driver,74, returns 100,000 baht to South African cop

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All smiles as poor trishaw driver,74, returns 100,000 baht to South African cop

 

Picture: Thairath

 

SURAT THANI: -- It was all smiles in Surat Thani yesterday when a visiting South African policeman was reunited with his wallet.

 

Now the grateful tourist wants to repay the honesty of the man with a monthly allowance, reported Thairath.

 

Rachendeen Ayer, 52, had given up hope of ever seeing his money and credit cards again after losing his wallet on Wednesday.

 

But he had not bargained for the honesty of 74 year old "samlor" operator Banphot Chotikphan who found the wallet and immediately took it into the police.

 

Banphot cycles around the To Rung market area on Na Muang Road in the southern Thai town. He has been doing that for decades.

 

He said at the police station yesterday that even though he is poor he would not dream of keeping another person's possessions as he understood their problems in losing money. He was just happy that the owner was found.

 

Rachendeen said that he had come to Surat on February 25th to visit his Thai girlfriend.

 

He was most impressed with modest Banphot and has talked with officials on ways that he can transfer a monthly allowance to the old man as a way of repaying his kindness.

 

All concerned had their smiling pictures taken yesterday at Surat police station.

 

Source: Thairath

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-03-10

[Thaiwrath]

By the look of things, buying him a decent meal wouldn't be a bad start.

Fair play to the old fella though. 

[Rimmer]

A troll post attempting to divert the story before it even gets started has been trashed

[DM07]

Paying a monthly allowance?

Now that is a reward!

Well done, all involved!

[Cuchulainn]

What an exceptional old man. My respects to you, sir.

[bheard]

10,000 baht tip in order.

[DaveE13]

Well done to the old boy 

And what a kind gesture from Mr Ayer

[elgordo38]

A monthly allowance is better than a straight cash reward. See Russians can be nice people to. OOOPS realized my mistake South African. Got to cut back on my sugar levels. 

[Falcon]

Very nice to hear of such honesty, makes a change to read about something good happening these days. A monthly 'reward' is far better than a lump sum and I am sure would be gratefully received by the old chap.

[Dukeleto]

Oh man! They don't make em anymore like they used to. Triple thumbs up for the honest old bloke...even I enjoyed the good feeling that gave me which is unusual reading anything here.

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Nie story, great photo too

[ronrat]

74  and still working a Samlor. I am tipping a carton of smokes and a crate of Sangsom wouldn't be a good reward.Give the man a reward that gives him big face or much merit. Maybe throw him a party at his house.I had 20000 returned by a motosai rider who would take nothing so I gave his baby granddaughter a bag of near new baby clothes my niece gave me to donate and his family were very happy. 

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Nice story. Only problem is how this policeman can carry around B 100 k which is approximately R 40 k. That is 2 months or more salary for a normal policeman in South Africa.  My G search of the policemans name also only came up with the TV story nothing else. Maybe I am just too sceptical these days. 

[captspectre]

if he follows through with the monthly allowance that would be great! if not then some of us would like to help the old man. it is truly refreshing to see an honest person do what's right. wish there were ore like him! but he certainly is entitled to a reward for his honesty.

[Destiny1990]

A Very respectful deed.

[Destiny1990]

Wonder about the outcome if he had lost his wallet in his home country.

[connda]

Honesty repaid with kindness and generosity.  That's nice to see. 

[JAG]

ThB 100,000 is a jolly good fare.....

 

Mind you South Africa is a long way to peddle a samlor, and the South African isn't exactly a lightweight.

 

No wonder the poor old soul looks knackered....

 

[NextStationBangkok]

Fairy tale comes to reality!

 

Good deeds always pay you back!

 

Great human beings together!

[NRGF]

To be honest, with that amount of money I would be very sorely tempted.

[TSF]

I'm amazed that the cops didn't keep it. Just shows there's some hope for these people yet.

[Chongalulu]

1 hour ago, Destiny1990 said:

Wonder about the outcome if he had lost his wallet in his home country.

He wouldn't have to wait to lose it,he would most likely be relieved of it,tortured into revealing the PIN numbers and held captive for several days while his account was emptied and then his body would be dumped. But hey,they've got rid of apartheid and the economy storming ahead to catch up with Zimbabwe ,so  relief all round. 

[Essaybloke]

Who says good news doesn't sell newspapers? (ahem, metaphorically speaking). 

Isn't it nice to read an entire page of good ol' Thaivisa, and all the comments are positive!

Thanks for posting.

[mike324]

Help the man set up a bank account and transfer the money monthly....easy 

[ttrd]

3 hours ago, elgordo38 said:

A monthly allowance is better than a straight cash reward. See Russians can be nice people to. OOOPS realized my mistake South African. Got to cut back on my sugar levels. 

Yes indeed - With the provisio that this is not a clever twist to unvoi pay anything at all - future gentlemans promises may tend not to materialize over time especially when the vacation is over, the distance increase and the relation With the gf has come to an end ...

I assume a 74 year old would be old enough to handle a Direct tip of 10%...10.000thb cash in the hand now may be far better than a unsecure possible future monthly payment - after all, he is not only a South African, he is as well a "cop"...;)

[Essaybloke]

3 minutes ago, ttrd said:

Yes indeed - With the provisio that this is not a clever twist to unvoi pay anything at all - future gentlemans promises may tend not to materialize over time especially when the vacation is over, the distance increase and the relation With the gf has come to an end ...

I assume a 74 year old would be old enough to handle a Direct tip of 10% and10.000thb in the hand now is better than a unsecure possibble future monthly payment ...;)

...hmmmm.... spoke too soon.... 

[Asiantravel]

what an amazing guy at 74 years old

at that age maybe he would appreciate an electric motor to assist him sometimes and some fancy lights!

I bet all the customers will be after him then in Surat Thani

 

 

[bazza73]

74, still working. He looks as if a breeze would blow him away. Great if the cop keeps his promise, nice to see a good news story.

 

If that's the girlfriend in the photo, she looks quite tasty.

[Gonefortea]

Fantastic a positive story about an honest Thai. Well done that man and we'll done TV for running a positive story for a change. 

[sambum]

Well done, old man - not all Thais are rogues!

 

Not wanting to be cynical, however, but does that wallet not seem a trifle small to be containing 100,000 baht?