Since learning of the calamity on Wednesday and reporting it to his bank and the police, the 61-year-old man named as Hieraem Ekkaphat has had to be hospitalised at a local hospital. On Thursday, he received a visit from a mysterious Thai woman from the head office of the bank who appears to have offered him a deal.
As police launch an urgent investigation into what appears to be the theft of ฿5 million from a Thai restaurateur’s bank account this week, a mysterious woman from the bank’s head office appeared at his hospital bedside to cut a deal with him.
A hard-working Thai restaurant owner was landed in hospital yesterday for emergency care after he learned that his bank accounts with a balance of ฿5 million had been wiped out.
The bank involved in the incident has not been named in press reports. It is thought to be a commercial bank.
Filed a police report on Wednesday
61-year-old Hieraem Ekkaphat filed a complaint with local police on Wednesday right after discovering that his bank account had been closed.
This shocking discovery was made by him when he went to an ATM to update his deposit account bank books which is a normal practice for many Thai people.
He had before that deposited ฿5 million into his account at a bank branch on the Bangpoo Industrial Estate in Samut Prakan province. The older man was seeking to withdraw funds but was left empty-handed.
Immediately alerted his bank, informed that a 2nd account had been opened in his name
In a panic, he immediately reported the matter to the bank in question. They informed him that the money from his now-closed account had been transferred to a second account which was also in his name.
However, the bad news was that ฿2.5 million had already been withdrawn from the new account. Someone had forged Mr Ekkaphat’s signature.
Businessman sought medical attention on Thursday
The shock at the loss of such a significant sum and the task of reporting it to the bank and then to the police on Thursday led to Mr Ekkaphat seeking medical attention at Muang Samut Paknam Hospital in the centre of Samut Prakan.
Doctors diagnosed him with high blood pressure and found that he was showing symptoms of extreme stress to the point that the man was losing his faculties and consciousness.
Phone call from a woman at the bank’s head office
While at the bank on Thursday, the distraught man received a phone call from a woman working at the head office of the bank.
She assured Mr Ekkaphant that the bank would be taking full responsibility for the misfortune he had suffered and even enquired if he would afford her the opportunity to visit him at the hospital to discuss the matter.
Mystery woman arrived for a meeting with the 61-year-old at his bedside on the hospital’s 2nd floor
The woman later arrived at the hospital with a basket of fruit for the senior bank customer.
Again, she assured him that the bank would deal with the problem but were now trying to ascertain if there was still some money in the account or that could be recovered.
The mysterious head office woman then left Mr Ekkaphat’s hospital bed on the 2nd floor and was questioned by local Thai reporters following the story.
She refused to comment as she headed back out again and to her car except to suggest as she got into the car that there was now a deal and understanding between Mr Ekkaphat and his bank.
Police have issued formal requests from all documentation to the bank branch manager
Police officials in the meantime have accepted the complaint filed by Mr Ekkaphat and have already issued legal requests to the bank and all relevant bank officers demanding full access to all documentation and evidence relevant to their enquiries concerning the missing money.
The bank manager of the branch and all staff have been summoned as police delve into the disturbing episode.
Police not yet informed when the request for information from the bank will be complied with
Police sources say they have yet to be informed when they will receive this documentation but remain determined to identify who sanctioned and set up a second bank account in the man’s name, who transferred the funds and who ultimately received the money.
At that stage, senior police officials will issue a further statement.
