Phuket family seeks runaway boy

PHUKET: The family of a 13-year-old boy who disappeared from his home in Wichit almost three weeks ago are offering a 5,000-baht reward for clues leading to his safe return.

Anuchit “Erk” Tan-a-pirom went missing on the morning of June 19.

His aunt, 33-year-old Warangkana Tan-a-pirom, appeared at the Phuket Reporter’s Club office at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday afternoon to ask the media for help in locating the boy.

“Some people told me they saw him at an Internet gaming shop on Phun Pol Road, Soi 7 five days ago, but when we went there we couldn’t find him,” she said.

There have been similar sightings over the past three weeks, but every time they follow up on them the boy is gone before they arrive, she said.

Anuchit lived with his grandfather at a house on Sakdidet Road in Wichit after his parents separated. His father works in Kata, Ms Warangkana said.

She appeared very worried about the boy and said she was dissatisfied with the police effort to help locate him.

Describing the youth as “quiet and naughty,” she said she feared he might start doing drugs or commit robberies to try and support himself.

“His money must have run out not long after he left home,” she said.

As of 9:30am today Anuchit was still unaccounted for.

Anyone who thinks they have seen the boy can contact Ms Warangkana (Tel: 081-7882175; 089-7475704) directly.

— Atchaa Khamlo