Bankrupt millionaire seeks opportunities and jobs after life as thief
A victim urged the Thai police to arrest a former millionaire in Chon Buri who, facing bankruptcy, resorted to becoming a thief. The man evaded several arrests by claiming he was mentally ill, evoking sympathy from some, who wished he could rebuild his life.
One Facebook user, Aroon Kab, shared security camera footage of a man stealing three aluminium step ladders from his home on December 4. Aroon urged anyone who saw the man in the video to contact him.
Netizens commented that the thief was a former millionaire who went bankrupt and turned to a life of crime. Others reported that the man was addicted to drugs and had set fire to 14 motorcycles before being arrested.
After his imprisonment, the man allegedly stole from many homes and was arrested several times. However, officials were unable to charge him because he claimed he was mentally ill and his condition made him steal.
Channel 7 interviewed locals in the area and confirmed that the person in the video was a former millionaire, 34 year old Khet. Khet had over 40 million baht in his bank after his mother sold some land. He had a luxurious life, lots of friends and an expensive car before ending up in jail for drug-related cases and burning a motorbike.
Reporters discovered Khet worked in a furniture shop in the area and interviewed him yesterday, December 6. Khet admitted to the media that he used to have a lot of money but had spent it all. He said that his thieving behaviour was in the past. He no longer stole anything and most of his income came from working at the shop.
Khet denied stealing step ladders from Aroon, saying he saw they were abandoned outside Aroon’s house and thought they were trash. So, he took them and sold them to buy food and drinks.
Khet said he had been punished for his past crimes. He now only does legal work for a living and does not use drugs. Khet also pleaded with other employers to take pity on him and give him a job.
The owner of the furniture shop, Chaliao, told Channel 7 that she had heard about his criminal past and that many people had warned her to stay away from Khet.
Chaliao said that Khet had never stolen anything from her shop. The shop owner said she did fear Khet would lose control because of his mental illness but her son is always close by to keep an eye on him.
After Khet’s story went viral on social media, many Thai netizens agreed that society should give Khet a chance as he had already learnt his lesson and wanted to be a better person.
Others disagreed, saying that Aroon had clear evidence that Khet had stolen his assets, so he should be punished for what he had done. Aroon later posted his opinion on the subject on Facebook.
“A mentally ill man who just stole my stairs begged for opportunities. I am confused. Please forget the 40 million baht story and focus on his thieving behaviour first.”
Another Facebook user commented under Aroon’s post that he had spoken to the furniture shop owner, Chaliao, and she told him that Khet had stolen her goods. He wondered why Chaliao told the media a different story.
There was no report on whether Aroon reported his loss to the authorities and the police had not yet responded to the matter.
