Police have recovered and returned Warida
Sae-Ung’s boat, 5 years
after it was stolen.
Patcharapol Panrak
Five years after his 7.8-meter yacht was stolen
from a Jomtien Beach marina, the owner of Pattaya Floating Market is
sailing again after the boat was found in a jungle-rimmed harbor in
Kanchanaburi.
Warida Sae-Ung, 34, showed off the “Base” at a
Sept. 20 press conference. The fiberglass boat still had its two
Volvo engines but apparently had been unused for some time when it
was found.
The boat allegedly was stolen Oct. 15, 2006 by
21-year-old Thewada Sattaboon, who is accused of cutting mooring
lines and piloting the then newly renovated vessel out of Jomtien
Beach. However, the boat was recovered from the property of Aphirom
Supphaporn, who runs the Maaka Harbor where it was found. Police had
not yet charged Aphirom with any crime, but said he was under
investigation.
Pattaya Floating Market CEO Manus Meephong said Warida purchased
the yacht in dilapidated condition for 2 million baht, then spent
500,000 baht to install new engines and design a luxurious interior.
It had been taken out for just a single test voyage before it was
stolen.
