Thai taxi driver returns $450,000 in gold to owner

[March 17, 2012]  BANGKOK (AP) -- A Thai taxi driver has returned gold worth $450,000 to a customer who left the jewelry behind three days earlier.

Police Col. Naradet Tiprak said driver Saksi Ketsikaew turned in 8.2 kilograms (289 ounces) of jewelry in cardboard boxes Friday.

He said gold seller Ekarat Kanokwannakorn bought the gold Tuesday in Bangkok but forgot it in the taxi while he was helping his sick wife.

Naradet said police were skeptical about the delay but that Ekarat was happy to get back the gold and didn't seek to press charges. The loss had been widely publicized.

Ekarat rewarded the driver with two necklaces together worth about $10,000.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.