CHON BURI: A songtaew driver has been praised for his honesty after returning a bag containing 50,000 baht and other documents to an American tourist who left it in his vehicle.
Prawit Meepian, 48, returned the bag containing the cash in both Thai and US currencies to Mr John Edward Hass, 68, at Pattaya City police station on Saturday.
Pol Capt Theerawat Na Ranong, investigation chief at the police station, and representatives of a Pattaya public vehicle cooperative witnessed the return.
Mr Prawit found the bag left in his vehicle on Tuesday. After finding cash and necessary documents inside, he immediately gave it to Pattaya police to help find the owner. The officers had recently managed to contact the tourist.
The American tourist thanked the driver and police for returning his bag with cash and all documents intact.
He said he had travelled to Thailand on several occasions and recently visited Pattaya, where he took the songtaew to a pier. He was not aware that he had lost his bag until the police called him after he arrived in Bangkok. He then returned to Pattaya, said the tourist.
Mr Hass will return to his country on June 22. He said he appreciated the driver for his good deed and Thais for their hospitality.
