BANGKOK, Thailand – Authorities recently discovered two bank books belonging to a 75-year-old female beggar, revealing a combined total of 2 million baht, Dec. 14. The elderly woman claimed the money was given to her by her daughter and saved from selling fried bananas. She also held 300,000 baht in cash, which she refused to deposit in a bank, citing fear of fraud and annoyance with banks promoting insurance policies. She has since been sent back to her hometown in Nakhon Ratchasima.
The discovery followed public complaints about a large number of beggars in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area, particularly from Asoke to Nana. A joint operation by immigration officers, Lumpini police, and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) led to the arrest of 12 beggars—8 Thais, 2 Cambodians, and 1 Lao national. The foreign nationals were charged with illegal entry and solicitation, while Thai beggars faced further investigations.
Among the arrested was the 75-year-old woman, found with over 300,000 baht in cash and a bank account initially believed to hold 1 million baht. Further investigation uncovered a second bank account, bringing her total savings to 2 million baht—1.5 million baht in one account and 500,000 baht in the other.
The woman declined assistance from MSDHS, expressing her wish to return to her hometown. She insisted that her savings were not from begging but from selling fried bananas and money given by her daughter. Since authorities could not verify whether her funds came from begging, no further legal action was taken regarding her finances.
When asked why she did not deposit her cash savings in the bank, she explained her distrust of banks and dislike of aggressive insurance sales. The authorities respected her decision and arranged for her return to Nakhon Ratchasima.
