Woman Arrested in Bangkok After Phuket Tuk-Tuk Driver Robbed of Gold Jewelry

A 23-year-old Thai woman has been arrested in Bangkok in connection with a theft case involving a Phuket tuk-tuk driver who reported losing valuables worth more than 300,000 baht after allegedly being given a drink that left him incapacitated.

The suspect was taken into custody by Patong Police on June 10 at a condominium in Bangkok’s Asoke area. She was arrested under a warrant issued by the Phuket Provincial Court on charges related to theft committed at night.

The investigation stems from an incident that occurred on June 4. According to the victim, a tuk-tuk driver identified as Somnuek, he picked up a Thai woman at around 9 p.m. and drove her to Karon. After arriving, the passenger asked him to help film a video, which he agreed to do.

The woman then requested another ride to an area near Kalim School in Kathu district. Upon reaching the destination, she reportedly offered the driver a cup of coffee, explaining that she planned to open a coffee shop and wanted his opinion about the drink.

Somnuek later told police that he began feeling unusually sleepy shortly after consuming the coffee. He said he lost memory of subsequent events and only regained consciousness inside his tuk-tuk sometime later.

When he came to, he discovered that several valuable belongings had disappeared, including a gold necklace, a gold bracelet, and his mobile phone. According to investigators, the stolen jewelry weighed approximately five baht, or about 75 grams, with a combined value exceeding 300,000 baht.

Following the complaint, police collected evidence and successfully obtained an arrest warrant from the Phuket Provincial Court. Investigators subsequently tracked the suspect to Bangkok, where she was detained and transferred back to Phuket for further legal proceedings.

Authorities have not yet released details regarding whether toxicology tests confirmed the presence of any substance in the coffee. The investigation remains ongoing as police continue gathering evidence related to the case.