The Thai-Cambodian coordinating centre is to arrange for the return of the body of a homeless Thai man, who was found on a street in the Poipet border town.
According to the centre, the victim has been identified as 24-year-old Methacharn Yorsaeng, a native of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, who used to work as a chef on cruise ships.
He later went to Cambodia to work and had since lost contact with friends and family in Thailand, until he was found homeless and, ultimately, dead.
The centre reported that Methacharn tried to return to Thailand, but Cambodian officials at the border checkpoint in Poipet refused to allow him to exit, as the border between the two countries is closed indefinitely.
The centre believes, however, that his remains may be returned to his relatives via the Klong Luek border checkpoint this afternoon.
Thailand’s labour minister, Treenuch Thienthong, said today that labour officials have checked with the Fund for Helping Thais Working Abroad and did not find any record of Methacharn applying to work in Cambodia.
They did, however, find a record in the Social Security Fund, showing that the man was a member of the Fund for only two months last year.
The minister also said that, since there is no labour attaché in Cambodia, it is difficult to get any information about the victim, adding that only a few Thais are working legally in Cambodia.
