Malaysian man arrested after snatching bag of New Zealand woman
A Malaysian man was arrested in Chiang Rai after he snatched a New Zealand woman’s handbag.
Asri Bin Awng was captured by Pol Senior Sgt Maj Kittidej Khothawee, a traffic policeman of Mueang Chiang Rai’s police station, who was directing traffic at the Mae Fah Luang airport intersection.
Kittijdej saw the woman chasing the Malaysian man who was running from a passenger bus that was slowing down at the intersection. The Malaysian was seen throwing away a bag.
When the policeman caught up with the Malaysian and managed to overpower him, he found a Bt1,000 note in his back pocket.
The woman, identified as Campbell Madeline, suffered bruises on her arms and knees when she fell during the chase.
The Malaysian told police that he came to Thailand to look for his wife but failed to find her and ran out of cash.
He said he was taking the Mae Sai bus to Bangkok and noticed the woman was carrying an expensive bag, so he decided to snatch it when the bus was slowing down at the intersection.