Bangkok police arrest beggars, 1 found with about S$12,000 in cash & S$39,000 in her account

12 people, who worked as beggars, were arrested on Dec. 12, 2024 (Thursday) in Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok, Thailand.

The Thai Department of Social Development and Welfare posted an announcement on Facebook.

The 12 people included:

• Eight Thais
• Two Cambodians (mother and 3-year-old child)
• One Laotian
• One Burmese

Of these 12, four of them were repeat cases.

The eight Thais were fined and sent back to their families.

The four foreigners will be facing an additional charge of illegal entry.

One female beggar was found to be in possession of more than 300,000 baht (S$11,800) in cash, and one million baht (S$39,000) in her account.

She said that she had earned the money from begging.

The 12 beggars were sent to Lumphini Police Station, and recorded under the Control of Begging Act (2016).

According to Bangkok Post, Thai police and officials arrived at the area between Asok intersection and Nana, after receiving complaints about the number of beggars that were present on that particular route.

In 2023, Thailand's Social Development and Human Security Ministry released data on homelessness, with Bangkok coming in on top with the largest number of homeless in Thailand.

Top photos from Department of Social Development and Welfare/Facebook.