Lawyer says he forgot Bt12 million was in plastic box

A lawyer showed up yesterday at a police station in Nonthaburi province, claiming ownership of 12 million baht in cash found in a plastic box left on a condominium garbage dump.

Thaweewat Sengkaew refused to speak to the media, saying all questions should be addressed to the police.

Pol Maj Gen Kitthanet Thananantaweesiln, commander of the Pakkret police station, said Thaweewat told police that he had stored the cash in a plastic box and kept it in his condo.

The room was recently flooded, however, damaging many of his belongings. As a result, he had to clear out of the room and he disposed of various items in the garbage dump.

Police quoted Thaweewat as claiming that he mistakenly threw away the plastic box, forgetting that it contained the money and that he intends to provide evidence to support his claim.

Investigators will also verify the claim by checking with the banks, from which he said he had withdrawn the money.

The banks are expected to provide documentation showing who withdrew the funds, which Thaweewat claimed was done two years ago.

Initial investigations have confirmed that Thaweewat’s room had indeed been flooded.

The discovery of the cash attracted public attention after pictures of it were widely circulated in the media and on social media platforms.

Found with the cash was an envelope, bearing Thaweewat’s name and the emblem of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), as well as tax refund documentation.

The investigation also confirmed that Thaweewat is not an NBTC official, but serves as an aide to one of the commissioners.

A woman, identified only as “Usa”, discovered the box and the accompanying documents near a garbage dump at the Muang Thong Thani condominium around 7.40pm on May 5.

She told police that she was walking home when she spotted the box, which appeared to have been discarded but was still in good condition.

Upon opening it, she discovered piles of 1,000-baht banknotes and promptly alerted the authorities. Police later confirmed that the cash totalled 12 million baht.