A taxi driver was arrested in Chiang Mai on Monday for the theft of 300 baht weight of gold jewellery worth more than 6.8 million baht from a Bangkok gold shop, Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Khamronwit Thoopkrachang said.
Pol Maj Gen Khamronwit said at a press briefing that the 65-year-old taxi driver, Pichai Boonchuay, was caught with about 4.5 kilogrammes of gold ornaments outside a dormitory on Sri Chiang Mai road in Chiang Mai's San Sai district.
The suspect was initially accused of stealing 300 baht weight of gold adornments from Fuang Saimoon, a 50-year-old employee of a gold shop in Bangkok's Bang Kapi district.
Ms Fuang told police that she took the items to Nakhon Ratchasima to have them modified. She hired Mr Pichai to return the gold to the shop's owner. However, the taxi driver stole the gold and fled, she claimed.
"We interrogated Ms Fuang and many irregularites were found. Police did not completely believe that this was a normal gold theft.
"Ms Fuang later admitted that she was Mr Pichai's wife," Pol Maj Gen Khamronwit said.
He said the couple apparently had an argument on the day the husband allegedly stole the gold. However, the wife insisted she was not in any way involved with the theft. She then informed investigators of his whereabouts.
He said Mr Pichai confessed that he committed the crime alone and did not plan it in advance, but police were hesitant to believe him.
Police later discovered that Mr Pichai was in debt and had not paid the rental on his taxi for weeks, and that he had sold his house because he needed money.
The gold shop owner, Pensri Jarukamnerdkanok, donated 100,000 baht to the Metropolitan Police Bureau as a reward for their swift action.
Pol Maj Gen Khamronwit said at a press briefing that the 65-year-old taxi driver, Pichai Boonchuay, was caught with about 4.5 kilogrammes of gold ornaments outside a dormitory on Sri Chiang Mai road in Chiang Mai's San Sai district.
The suspect was initially accused of stealing 300 baht weight of gold adornments from Fuang Saimoon, a 50-year-old employee of a gold shop in Bangkok's Bang Kapi district.
Ms Fuang told police that she took the items to Nakhon Ratchasima to have them modified. She hired Mr Pichai to return the gold to the shop's owner. However, the taxi driver stole the gold and fled, she claimed.
"We interrogated Ms Fuang and many irregularites were found. Police did not completely believe that this was a normal gold theft.
"Ms Fuang later admitted that she was Mr Pichai's wife," Pol Maj Gen Khamronwit said.
He said the couple apparently had an argument on the day the husband allegedly stole the gold. However, the wife insisted she was not in any way involved with the theft. She then informed investigators of his whereabouts.
He said Mr Pichai confessed that he committed the crime alone and did not plan it in advance, but police were hesitant to believe him.
Police later discovered that Mr Pichai was in debt and had not paid the rental on his taxi for weeks, and that he had sold his house because he needed money.
The gold shop owner, Pensri Jarukamnerdkanok, donated 100,000 baht to the Metropolitan Police Bureau as a reward for their swift action.
