Reward offered for help in recovery of missing Phuket rental car

PHUKET: A Hungarian man who rented a car in Phuket in mid-April has yet to return it and the owner is offering a reward to anyone who can help recover it.

Supornchai Thuenthin, a 43-year-old car rental operator in Patong, held a small conference at the Tourism Authority of Thailand office in Phuket Town on Monday in hopes of getting publicity for the case.

The Hungarian, identified as 40-year-old Andras Szckszar, rented a black Toyota Vigo on the morning of April 16 and has not been seen since, he said.

Having been friends with the man for five years, he trusted him and let him sign the rental agreement without any form of surety.

Mr Szckszar took possession of the car over the Songkran holidays with a Thai woman, saying he intended to take his parents on a tour around Phuket.

Mr Supornchai finally reported the car stolen on May 28.

An acquaintance familiar with the case told the Phuket Gazette there have been reports of sightings in places as far-flung as Pattaya and Nong Khai, home of Mr Szckscar’s 29-year-old female companion.

Mr Szckszar’s passport number has been reported to both the Hungarian Embassy and Thai authorities, he said.

Asked if it were possible that the man might have had some unforeseen difficulty that might have prevented him from returning the car, Mr Supornchai said, “No. He definitely stole it.”

He estimated the value of the vehicle at 940,000 baht.

Mr Supornchai is offering a 10,000-baht reward to anyone who provides information leading to its recovery and will pay police 30,000 baht for bringing the Hungarian to justice.

Mr Supornchai can be contacted at 084-626 8231.

Ten cases of auto theft were reported in Phuket in May, with police making five arrests for the charge.