On May 26, Pol. Col. Thanapong Phothi, Superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, and investigative police authorities reported the arrest of a ladyboy, Watcharapong Ponphan, 27, of Buriram province, for robbing a Russian tourist of two gold necklaces worth more than 25,000 baht each.
Mr. Nikolay and Mrs. Elena, two 51-year old Russian vacationers, were walking in Jomtien on May 23 at midnight when this incident happened.
Watcharapong came up to them and claimed to be interested in taking pictures of them.Watcharapong grabbed the Russian woman tourist’s necklace and another 2,500 baht in cash as soon as she wrapped her arms around her shoulder and ran.
The Russian couple then reported to the investigator at the Dong Tan sub branch of the Pattaya City Police Station. On May 25, Watcharapong was apprehended at a gold-buying store in Chonburi Province’s Nong Prue Subdistrict of Pattaya, Bang Lamung District. She initially acknowledged for the first time that she was the offender. She played online slots and lent friends money with the stolen funds.
