A 29-year-old Thai woman was arrested in Bangkok after allegedly stealing more than 90,000 baht from a 62-year-old Finnish man who flew to see her in Nakhon Sawan province after some Facebook chat.
Pol Col Paisal Chaiyabutr, chief of the Mae Poen station in Mae Poen district, Nakhon Sawan, told the press on Wednesday that Ratree Sonpa from Roi Et was arrested on Nonsi 14 Road in Yannawa district, Bangkok, on Tuesday allegedly for stealing from Matti Vesala in Nakhon Sawan on Sunday.
Earlier Mr Vesala told Mae Poen police that he had got to know Mrs Ratree via Facebook and she had invited him to visit a Bang Fai rocket festival in Mae Poen.
When he arrived from Finland on Saturday, her friend took him to a local hotel in Mae Poen. At about 8pm that night, Mrs Ratree picked him up and took him to the festival where they drank beer. Later they spent the night together at the hotel.
The following morning, she allegedly disappeared with 12,000 baht in Thai notes and 2,100 euros (nearly 80,000 baht) of his money.
Pol Col Paisal said police found 1,800 euros of the Finn's money with the woman when she was arrested.
Mrs Ratree said in the press conference that she had not stolen his money, but he had quarrelled with her. He then threw money at her and ordered her to leave the room.