Pattaya Transgender Woman Arrested for Stealing 300,000 Baht Gold Necklace from Swiss Tourist

Pattaya —

A Thai transgender woman was arrested on Sunday by Pattaya police after stealing a gold necklace worth more than 300,000 baht from a Swiss tourist.

The arrest came after Mr. Philippe Bocion, a 60-year-old tourist from Switzerland, reported the theft of his 10-baht-weight gold necklace, valued at over 332,000 baht, around 01:30 AM on January 20th, 2024.

According to his statement, Mr. Philippe was approached by the suspect, later identified as Sunthorn Huajaiphet, 28, while exploring Pattaya’s night scenes. The suspect attempted to hug and touch him, prompting him to lightly push her away. Upon later inspection however, Mr. Philippe discovered that his expensive gold necklace, which he had been wearing around his neck, had been stolen. Confident that the suspect who hugged him was the perpetrator, he promptly reported the incident to the Pattaya police and cooperated with their investigation.

Pattaya police, led by police chief Pol. Col. Navin Teerawit, immediately launched a serious investigation into the incident. On the following day, January 21st, authorities apprehended Sunthorn, the suspect, at the front of Centric Sea Condominium on Pattaya Second Road. Seized from her was one 2-baht-weight gold necklace worth 68,000 baht, three gold bracelets worth 68,000 baht, 34,000 baht, and 35,500 baht, and twenty 1,000-baht banknotes, totaling 20,000 baht.

Pol. Col. Navin said police positively identified Sunthorn as the perpetrator using CCTV footage. The suspect reportedly confessed to the theft allegations, saying she had sold Mr. Philippe’s gold necklace and used the proceeds to buy smaller jewellery. Authorities retained these items and the remaining money as evidence and charged the suspect with nighttime robbery and using a vehicle for convenience in committing the crime. The suspect is currently in police custody as of press time.

The theft of gold necklaces is relatively prevalent in Pattaya during this period due to the return of international tourists.

At the beginning of this month, a Korean tourist in Pattaya was also robbed of his gold necklace worth nearly 200,000 Baht by a group of transgender suspects. It is unclear if the perpetrators in this incident have been arrested.

Tourists are being asked to not wear flashy jewellery or gold while out and about Pattaya.

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