Thai taxi driver returns lost 300k baht to Sri Lankan

A Thai taxi driver, Pathapee Yamsano, 50, from Samut Prakan province, returned more than 300,000 baht in cash to a Sri Lankan tourist after finding a bag left behind in his vehicle. The incident began at 08:37 on 2 June when Pathapee contacted FM91 Trafficpro Radio Station in Bangkok after discovering a black shoulder bag left in his green-and-yellow taxi. The bag contained €8,500 in cash, worth about 322,000 baht, a pair of white Tommy Hilfiger trainers, and a room key. Pathapee said he had picked up the passenger from Suvarnabhumi Airport and dropped him off in Silom Soi 19 at about 08:10. The handover took place at FM91 Trafficpro Radio Station in Bangkok, where station representatives witnessed the return of the lost property to its owner. The owner, Mohammed Aashif, was later identified and arrived at the station accompanied by Mohammed Onaiz to collect the belongings. Aashif said he had accidentally left the bag behind after feeling tired and sleepy during the journey from the airport. He expressed gratitude to the driver and FM91 for helping recover the property. The driver, Pathapee Yamsano, said he had previously returned lost mobile phones and smaller amounts of cash, but in this case, he did not know who the bag belonged to because it had been left on a storage shelf behind the rear seat. He said keeping it would only create problems because he would have to find the owner. The money was not mine, he added. Aashif presented the driver with a cash reward as a token of appreciation. At least this shows that taxi drivers like us do not think about taking passengers’ belongings. If we find something, we return it, Pathapee said. This incident highlights the honesty and integrity of Thai taxi drivers, which is reassuring for tourists and expats in Phuket.

What happened

A Thai taxi driver, Pathapee Yamsano, 50, from Samut Prakan province, returned more than 300,000 baht in cash to a Sri Lankan tourist after finding a bag left behind in his vehicle. The incident began at 08:37 on 2 June when Pathapee contacted FM91 Trafficpro Radio Station in Bangkok after discovering a black shoulder bag left in his green-and-yellow taxi. The bag contained €8,500 in cash, worth about 322,000 baht, a pair of white Tommy Hilfiger trainers, and a room key. Pathapee said he had picked up the passenger from Suvarnabhumi Airport and dropped him off in Silom Soi 19 at about 08:10. The handover took place at FM91 Trafficpro Radio Station in Bangkok, where station representatives witnessed the return of the lost property to its owner. The owner, Mohammed Aashif, was later identified and arrived at the station accompanied by Mohammed Onaiz to collect the belongings. Aashif said he had accidentally left the bag behind after feeling tired and sleepy during the journey from the airport. He expressed gratitude to the driver and FM91 for helping recover the property. The driver, Pathapee Yamsano, said he had previously returned lost mobile phones and smaller amounts of cash, but in this case, he did not know who the bag belonged to because it had been left on a storage shelf behind the rear seat. He said keeping it would only create problems because he would have to find the owner. The money was not mine, he added. Aashif presented the driver with a cash reward as a token of appreciation. At least this shows that taxi drivers like us do not think about taking passengers’ belongings. If we find something, we return it, Pathapee said. This incident highlights the honesty and integrity of Thai taxi drivers, which is reassuring for tourists and expats in Phuket.

Background and context

The development matters for buyers comparing Phuket districts, rental demand, and exit liquidity against Thailand’s broader 2026 market backdrop.

Why it matters for Phuket buyers

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Source: Khaosod English

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