Good deeds bring year-end cheer - The Nation

Bangkok taxi drivers have been in the news for all the wrong reasons this year but yesterday one hit the headlines for his honesty. Cabbie Boonruam Boonchuchuay yesterday turned over US and Thai currency totalling Bt630,000 left by an American passenger.

The 51-year-old hopes his "good deed" will generate a better image of taxi drivers and generate a feel-good factor among foreign visitors. The relieved passenger gave Boonruam a US$100 (Bt3,525) reward.

At 2am yesterday Boonruam picked up 50-year-old American tourist Daniel Melga from Suvarnabhumi Airport bound for Sukhumvit Road. After dropping off Melga, Boonruam headed back to the airport. An hour later airport staff asked him to check if Melga had left a bag in his taxi. Boonruam found the bag and handed it over. The bag contained $17,000 and Bt30,000 in cash and important documents.

"I didn't look inside the bag and I call the Jor Sor 100 radio station if I find anything passengers leave behind. I'm happy the passenger got his bag back and I want foreign visitors to know there is at least one good taxi driver working at the airport. "I want visitors to feel good about Thailand. I want to erase the negative image of unregistered taxis that do bad things," Boonruam said. Melga has a business in Thailand. He had travelled from San Francisco.

He thought he had taken all his belongings when he got out of the taxi. He later realised his mistake and had a friend call the Ruam Duay Chuay Kan and Sor Wor Por 91 radio stations to help locate the taxi. "I'm thankful for the taxi driver's kindness and also for the others who helped get my bag back," he said.

In related news, Lampang roadside-restaurant dishwasher Sutri Manoy, 35, reported a customer had left a handbag with more than Bt28,800 in the restaurant.
Kamphaeng Phet police later said Vipavadi Vongkhoksung, 27, reported the missing bag. The two were reunited and the honest dishwasher was rewarded with Bt1,000. Vipavadi earned the money selling rice and was about to settle some debts. "It's New Year good luck that Thailand still has good citizens like this person," she said.

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