Honest cabbie honored by Thai govt

Honest cabbie honored by Thai govt

THAILAND: A Thai taxi driver has been honored by the government
as a "good example" for his countrymen after he returned $6,800
in cash plus other valuables mistakenly left in his cab by a pair
of Russian tourists, news reports said on Friday.

A reward of 3,000 baht ($71) and a plaque were presented to
cabbie Samarn Surairam, 31, on Thursday by Tourism and Sports
Minister Sontaya Kunplome.

Accepting the honor along with his eight-month-pregnant wife,
Samarn said he was happy he did the right thing, even though he
earns only 200 baht ($4.75) per day as a taxi driver.

On Thursday Tourist Police returned the valuables to the
couple, identified as Mikhail Fedorov and Shana Kim. They thanked
the honest taxi driver and gave him a reward of $500. --DPA