BANGKOK — A jewelry merchant filed a police report after a Canadian man allegedly stole three gemstones worth 14.5 million baht ($400,000), expressing particular distress because the suspect was a trusted friend of 10 years. Police investigation revealed the suspect had already fled Thailand for Switzerland on July 17.
On July 19, Police Lieutenant Phuwiwat Jira-akkaratas, Deputy Inspector (Investigation) of Yannawa Police Station, received a report from a 40-year-old gem merchant claiming three gemstones had been stolen:
- A yellow gemstone weighing 149.02 carats, valued at approximately 10.5 million baht
- A blue gemstone weighing 13.03 carats, valued at approximately 2 million baht
- Another blue gemstone weighing 13.01 carats, also valued at approximately 2 million baht
The total value of the stolen gems was approximately 14.5 million baht. The incident occurred at 10:00 a.m. on July 17.
According to the victim’s statement, he had arranged to meet Mr. A (alias) a 40-year-old Canadian he had known for a decade, to discuss gem trading business. They met at a luxury hotel on Charoen Krung Road in Yannawa Subdistrict, Sathorn District, Bangkok.
Mr. A claimed he had customers interested in the gemstones and needed to take them for viewing. The merchant then handed over the three stones to Mr. A, who subsequently disappeared. When the merchant’s attempts to contact him failed, he filed the police complaint.
Police Lieutenant General Thiti Saengswang, Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, ordered investigation teams from Yannawa Police Station and Metropolitan Police Division 6 to examine CCTV footage. The evidence showed Mr. A calling for a Grab taxi at the hotel.
Immigration records confirmed that Mr. A departed Thailand at 11:39 a.m. on July 17 aboard Swiss Air to Switzerland.
Investigating officers are now gathering evidence to request an arrest warrant.
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