Australian government to help pensioner, 75, after he begged for rescue from Thailand when his wife squandered his fortune on drugs
Last week, Daily Mail reported on the situation Marcus, 75, found himself in after his 45-year-old wife 'Pikun' allegedly squandered his life savings on methamphetamine.
Community leader Boonthom Sorumpha, from Ban Dung district in Thailand 's northeastern Udon Thani province, urged the Australian government to step in to assist the disabled retiree.
Marcus, who lost his left leg in a car accident, had relied on Pikun as his primary carer and entrusted her with managing his finances after moving to live with her in Udon Thani.
But she became addicted to methamphetamine and burned through his $189,000.
He now has only 1,500 baht ($72) to his name.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which aims to provide consular assistance to Australian citizens whose welfare is at risk abroad, told Daily Mail it was trying to help Marcus.
'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to an Australian in Thailand,' a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said.
Due to privacy reasons, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade would not comment any further on Marcus's case.
The Aussie pensioner said last week he was desperate to return to Australia and wanted nothing more to do with Pikun, who is currently in a drug rehabilitation centre.
After losing his leg in a car accident, he sold his Bangkok property for $189,000, and she took the money to manage on behalf of the couple.
Her alleged drug habit then took over, and Thai media claimed she spent it all on substance abuse.
It has been reported that the couple's son was also addicted to meth.
Pikun's mother, Ting, said her daughter used drugs but maintained that she loved her foreign husband.
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