SURIN — Cambodian authorities have released a Thai man known as “Uncle Yot” and returned him to Thailand following coordination between Thai and Cambodian regional border committees, officials said on Friday.
According to reports, Maj. Gen. Nid Narong, deputy chief of staff of Cambodia’s Border Protection Force 4 and head of the Cambodian Regional Border Committee (RBC), contacted Thailand’s 2nd Army Region on Thursday regarding the repatriation of Yot Sainoi, or “Uncle Yot.”
The handover took place at Chong Sa-ngam border checkpoint in Phu Sing district of Sisaket province at around 11:00 on 15 May. Maj. Gen. Kampanat Waphansu, chief of staff of the 2nd Army Region and head of the Thai RBC delegation, received the 58-year-old Thai national from Cambodian officials.
Officials said Yot appeared to be in good health and showed no signs of injury.
The 2nd Army Region said the return was achieved through close coordination between Thailand’s 2nd Army Region and Cambodia’s Border Protection Force 4 under the RBC mechanism, which both sides described as a positive sign of continued bilateral cooperation aimed at easing tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border.
Yot, a resident of Prasat district in Surin province, had earlier been reported missing by his family after entering a forest area near the Thai-Cambodian border in Kab Choeng district on 25 April. Thai authorities later found his motorcycle abandoned near the forest edge and launched a joint search and coordination effort with security agencies.
Following talks with Cambodian officials, Thai authorities were informed that Yot had illegally crossed into Cambodia and was arrested by Cambodian forces. He was prosecuted in Oddar Meanchey province on charges of illegal entry and trespassing in a military area before being detained in a provincial prison prior to his release.
