Three stolen coconuts land man in jail

Naruebet Phetchumpol, 25, is interrogated by police on Saturday for stealing three coconuts for his pregnant wife. (Photo by Nucharee Rakrun)

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT - A man who admitted stealing three coconuts for his pregnant wife is in jail after being unable to come up with 50,000 baht in compensation demanded by an angry orchard owner.

Naruebet Phetchumpol, 25, was arrested at his rented house in tambon Na Pho of Thung Song district on Saturday. Police seized three stolen coconuts there.

Mr Naruebet, a hired hand who earns 200 baht a day tapping latex, confessed to having stolen the fruit from a nearby orchard. He said he did it because his wife Janjira Rakkarn, who is five months pregnant, told him she had a craving for young coconut meat.

Orchard owner Aree Wongtrakul, 67, filed a complaint with police after a closed-circuit television camera captured Mr Naruebet stealing the fruit from one of her three coconut trees on Thursday.

Mrs Aree showed up at the Thung Song police station on Saturday to identify Mr Naruebet as the person who stole her fruit. The father of three tried to persuade her to drop the charges and explained why he had stolen the coconuts. However, she refused to relent.

Mrs Aree said she would drop the criminal complaint only if he paid her 50,000 baht in compensation. However, Mr Naruebet said he didn't have any money.

Pol Col Jian Chunoo, the district police chief, said officers tried to mediate but the negotiations failed. The suspect was then sent to the Thung Song provincial court for detention pending further legal action.

The case has attracted a lot of attention in the community, with many criticising the orchard owner for demanding such high compensation for a loss of about 60 baht.