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A Senior Thai official was arrested in the Japanese city of Kyoto for stealing paintings worth around 130 dollars from the hotel where he was staying, the Thai government on Wednesday said.
Suphat Sa-nguandeekul, deputy director-general of Thailand’s Department of Intellectual Property, was identified as the suspect by Japanese authorities and later confirmed by Thai authorities.
Suphat was arrested on Tuesday while on an official trip to Japan to discuss intellectual property rights, after being caught stealing three paintings valued at a total of 132 dollars from the hotel in Kyoto, Wiboonlak Ruamrak, permanent secretary at the Thai Commerce Ministry said.
According to Japanese media, the arrest came after hotel staff noticed that paintings hanging on the wall were missing and alerted the police.
Suphat was about to check out of the hotel when he was detained.
The hotel’s surveillance camera showed the Thai guest taking the three paintings, according to Japanese media Sankei.
Wiboonlak said Thai embassy officials in Japan were working with Japanese police on the case and a full probe in Thailand would be launched upon Suphat’s return.