Possibility of Punishment: Up to 3 Years Imprisonment or a Fine of 2.44 Million Won
A man in his 50s from Korea was arrested in Bangkok, Thailand, on charges of stealing a parked taxi.
On the 1st (local time), Thai media outlets Channel 7 and The Tiger reported that on the 31st of last month, a Korean man in his 50s, Mr. A, stole a taxi parked near a gas station in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok and fled, but was caught by the police. CCTV footage released by Channel 7 showed the taxi driver stopping the car and getting out, after which Mr. A, wearing a yellow shirt, approached the taxi. Initially, he tried to open the front passenger door but failed, then opened the driver's door, got in, and drove away.
The victim asked another driver for help, but Mr. A sped off from the scene. The taxi driver said, "I left the engine running when I went into the gas station convenience store," and expressed disbelief, saying, "I never expected it would be stolen."
Mr. A was caught by the police after crashing into a railway crossing barrier about 1 km away. At the time of arrest, he was staggering as if intoxicated by alcohol or drugs and was unable to undergo police questioning. Mr. A was carrying 20,400 baht (approximately 830,000 KRW) in cash but was not in possession of drugs or alcohol, so the police did not conduct drug or alcohol tests. According to the police investigation, Mr. A arrived in Thailand on the 30th of last month and is scheduled to return to Korea in March 2025.
Local media speculate that Mr. A will be charged under Article 358 of the Thai Penal Code for "damaging or causing damage to another person's property," punishable by up to 3 years in prison and/or a fine of up to 60,000 baht (approximately 2,440,000 KRW), and Article 334 for "stealing another person's property," punishable by up to 3 years in prison and/or a fine of up to 60,000 baht.
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