A man caught on CCTV pocketing a mobile phone belonging to one of the two teenagers crushed to death by a garbage truck in Phuket yesterday afternoon has returned the phone amid an outpouring of outrage on Thai social media sites.
The incident came to light when the man, who so far remains unidentified, was caught on CCTV footage posted on Facebook showing him picking up the phone from the scene, at the entrance to Soi Palai on Chao Fa East Road.
Prince of Songkla University Phuket campus student Potsathorn Chaijaroensup, 19, and Panitcha Mingkanitkul, an 18-year-old enrolled to begin her studies at Prince of Songkla University Trang campus, were both killed in the horrific accident.
The stolen phone belonged to Panitcha and was returned today at 11:40am.
“He said that he picked up the phone because he was afraid that it might be crushed by vehicles on the road,” university staff posted on the Phuket campus official Facebook page earlier today.
“He said police and rescue workers were very busy and he did not know who to hand it to, so he came here today to hand it to us. He was sincere,” the post said.
University staff said they would hand the phone back to the victim’s relatives.
“The Prince of Songkla University Phuket Campus and our students are all deeply saddened by the accident,” the Facebook post read.
Lt. Col. Parinya Tansuwan of the Chalong Police noted that the man, who remains unidentified, stood to face charges of theft if the phone was not returned.
Story: The Phuket News
