Phuket has rewarded a minibus driver for his honesty in returning a clutchbag containing $15,000 and a passport lost by a Russian passenger.
Thatri Nimnuan was praised at a Phuket civic ceremony and given a "thank you" certificate, The Phuket News reported Thursday.
Phuket tourist officials present the certificate to Mr Thatri. (Photo by The Phuket News)
Mr Thatri, 29, an employee of Tez Tour, found the bag lying on the ground at Phuket International Airport.
He opened it and on seeing the passport and the equivalent of 448,000 baht inside he turned the bag over to his employer, who contacted the Phuket Tourist Assistance Centre (TAC).
Meanwhile, Russian tourist Roman Kozlov had reported the loss of the bag to officers at Tachatchai police station. When police called the TAC, bag and owner were quickly united.
Mr Kozlov gave Mr Thatri a reward of $200 (about 6,000 baht).
At the recognition ceremony at the TAC office on Wednesday, Mr Thatri said that keeping the bag had not occurred to him. "It was not mine to keep," he said.