Accused hotel maid says she thought $200 was a tip

An 18-year-old hotel maid arrested for stealing money from a Russian tourist's room is taken to the currency booth where she exchanged the US banknotes for baht, during a re-enactment of the crime on Tuesday. (Photo: Pattaya tourist police)

CHON BURI: A hotel maid arrested for stealing US$200 from a Russian tourist's room in the Pattaya area told police she thought the money was a tip and used it to buy a gold ring.

Siriwimol Sriwilaisuk, 18, who is employed at a hotel on Jomtien beach in tambon Nong Prue, was apprehended at work and taken to Pattaya city police station on Tuesday, said Pol Lt Piyapong Ensarn, tourist police inspector.

Her arrest followed a complaint by Nikolay Lavanov, 37, a Russian national, that US$200 cash had been stolen from his room.

The young maid admitted she took the cash, saying the $200 had been left twice on a desktop in the room. She did not intend to steal the money. She thought the foreign tourist had placed the money on the desk as a tip for her.

She then exchanged the money, receiving about 6,500 baht, with which she purchased a small gold ring and kept the rest for personal use.

She was charged with theft.