Security guard returns 1.4 million baht to owner

PHUKET AIRPORT: Japanese visitor Mitsuru Yamaguchi is a lucky man. After arriving in Phuket on Saturday, the Hokkaido businessman mislaid his tote bag containing his passport, return ticket and the equivalent of 1.4 million baht in cash at the airport. And he got it all back, thanks to Aroon Sanghiran, a guard with Group A Security, which provides security for the airport. Khun Aroon said that he was making his usual rounds of the car park when he came across the bag on the counter at the cold drinks stand. It was nearly quitting time, so at first he decided to hang onto it until the next day before handing it over to his bosses. But when he looked inside it and saw all the money, he said yesterday, “I got very worried that someone might think I was stealing it, so I called a colleague to be my witness and we took it straight to the security office.” Mr Yamaguchi, who is staying with a friend in Phuket Villa 5, was contacted via Thai Airways and rushed back to the airport to collect his belongings. “I am so happy,” he said. “I didn’t even realize I had left the bag until they phoned me. And then I thought the money would probably be gone. But when I got there, everything was still in the bag. Nothing was missing.” The grateful businessmen gave Khun Aroon 50,000 yen (about 15,000 baht) as a reward for his honesty. The guard also received a special certificate from the Governor of Phuket, Chadej Insawang, citing him as an example for all to follow.