Phuket Rider Accused of Extorting Tourist for Lost Phone
A motorcycle rider in Phuket is facing online backlash after allegedly demanding a substantial sum from a foreign tourist in exchange for the return of a lost mobile phone. An audio recording of the purported negotiation has circulated widely across social media platforms.
Reports indicate that the tourist lost their phone, which was subsequently found by the rider. When a local representative acting on behalf of the tourist contacted the rider to arrange for the phone’s recovery, the rider allegedly requested 5,000 Thai baht.
Negotiations and Alleged Refusal
The shared audio clip appears to capture a conversation where the rider initially stated the demand of 5,000 baht. The tourist’s representative attempted to negotiate the price down, first to 2,000 baht and then to 1,500 baht. During the exchange, the representative also inquired about the location where the phone could be retrieved if payment was not made.
According to the audio, the rider responded that they would simply leave the phone where it was, implying the owner would have to search for it themselves. When pressed for a specific location, the rider reportedly claimed ignorance, stating it would be wherever they happened to leave it.
Rider’s Justification and Public Reaction
The rider reportedly explained their demand by citing travel costs from Thalang and a need for fuel money or a gesture of gratitude. They asserted that they had not stolen the phone and claimed that discarding it would leave them with nothing.
Following the spread of the audio clip, numerous online commenters expressed criticism. Many argued that returning lost property should not be conditional on a fixed payment. While some acknowledged that a finder might reasonably expect reimbursement for travel expenses or a small token of appreciation for their effort, they strongly objected to such demands being made as a prerequisite for returning the item.
The incident has sparked considerable discussion online, with calls for a thorough investigation into the allegations and for a fair resolution for all parties involved.
Related Incident in Pattaya
In a separate, but related, incident, a motorcycle taxi rider in South Pattaya was reportedly arrested for refusing to return a smartphone to a Russian tourist who had dropped it on the street.
