Brief encounter: Indian woman strips to prove theft innocence (video)

An Indian woman accused of theft in the Isaan province of Udon Thani removed her underwear in front of police officers to prove her innocence.

Officers from Mueang Udon Thani Police Station were called to a motorcycle garage to intervene in a heated argument between a 50 year old Thai man named Thanabordin Jansook and a 23 year old Indian woman named Arziza, who spoke Thai fluently.

Thanabordin explained that he took his sidecar motorcycle to the garage for repairs. While discussing matters with the garage owner, he placed his bag on a yellow swing inside the garage.

Arziza later arrived to inflate her bicycle tyres and sat on the swing where Thanabordin’s bag was placed. When he retrieved his bag, he discovered that 3,000 baht in cash was missing, leading him to suspect the Indian woman.

The police intervened as the argument escalated, with Arziza loudly proclaiming her innocence. The officers asked Thanabordin’s wife to search Arziza in the bathroom but no money was found.

Arziza emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a black cloth. Unexpectedly, she removed her underwear, bra and knickers, showing the officers there was no money hidden there.

The Indian woman was about to discard the towel protecting her modesty and strip completely naked to further prove her innocence but the police and others present urged her to stop. She insisted that she did not take anything from Thanabordin’s bag, explaining that she returned it to him as soon as she realised she was sitting on it.

Arziza told the police that she had been living in Thailand for two years. She initially ran a flower shop in Chiang Mai before relocating to Udon Thani. She emphasised that she earned enough money and had no reason to steal from anyone.

As there was no evidence of theft, the police asked Thanabordin to apologise to the Indian woman. Both parties then left the scene.