A conscientious taxi driver has reunited two Sri Lankan tourists with a forgotten bag containing over 300,000 baht in cash. The incident occurred in Bangkok yesterday, June 2, when the driver discovered the valuable item left behind in his vehicle.
Honest Discovery and Swift Action
Pathapee Yamsanor, a 50-year-old driver from Samut Prakan, contacted FM91, a local traffic and public assistance radio station, at 8:37 AM. He had found a black shoulder bag tucked behind the rear seat of his green-yellow taxi shortly after dropping off passengers. Upon inspection, the bag yielded 8,500 euros, equivalent to approximately 322,269 Thai baht, a pair of white Tommy Hilfiger trainers, and a room key.
Mr. Yamsanor recounted picking up the foreign passengers from Suvarnabhumi Airport around 8:10 AM and transporting them to Silom Soi 19 in Bangkok. He expressed his immediate concern upon discovering the substantial amount of cash, emphasizing his commitment to returning lost property. “The money does not belong to me,” Mr. Yamsanor stated. “Whenever I find lost items, I always return them.” He noted that while he has previously returned lost phones and smaller sums, this was a particularly significant find.
Tracing the Owners
Following Mr. Yamsanor’s call, FM91 initiated a search for the bag’s rightful owners. A representative from the tourists’ accommodation soon contacted the station, reporting the missing item. Arrangements were subsequently made for the bag’s return at FM91’s radio station on Phahon Yothin Road in Chatuchak, Bangkok.
Grateful Tourists Express Thanks
The owners were identified as Mohammed Aashif and Mohammed Onaiz, both Sri Lankan nationals visiting Thailand. One of the tourists explained that he had felt tired and sleepy upon entering the taxi and had placed the bag behind the headrest. They only realized the bag was missing after arriving at their hotel. The tourists had reported the loss to the police and were awaiting its recovery, but faced an immediate challenge as their room key was inside the lost bag.
Reports indicate that the tourists expressed profound gratitude for the taxi driver’s honesty and the successful recovery of their belongings. They also presented Mr. Yamsanor with a reward as a token of their appreciation.
Similar Acts of Integrity
This act of honesty follows a similar incident where another Bangkok taxi driver returned over 154,000 baht to a Japanese passenger. In that case, the passenger had already departed for Japan on March 6, making the recovery of her valuables seem unlikely.
