Latest news with #Boonthom Sorumpha
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Australian government to help pensioner, 75, after he begged for rescue from Thailand when his wife squandered his fortune on drugs
The Aussie pensioner whose Thai bride spent his life savings on drugs is receiving help from the Australian government. 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.
Daily Mail
14-08-2025
- Daily Mail
Aussie pensioner, 75, begs for rescue from Thailand after his much younger wife squanders his fortune on drugs
A disabled elderly Australian man is pleading for help to return home from Thailand after his much younger Thai wife allegedly squandered his life savings on drugs. Community leader Boonthom Sorumpha, from Ban Dung district in Thailand's northeastern Udon Thani province, has urged the Australian government to step in to assist 75-year-old Marcus. Ms Sorumpha claimed Marcus's 45-year-old wife, 'Pikun', who is 30 years his junior, became addicted to methamphetamine and burned through his $189,000. 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. Local officials say Pikun was taken to a rehabilitation centre after she allegedly went on a meth-induced rampage. This left Marcus isolated and unable to cope with daily life due to his disability. Marcus told reporters he had once travelled regularly between Thailand and Australia and previously owned a house in Bangkok. After losing his leg in a car accident, his wife took him to her home province. They then sold his Bangkok property for $189,000, and she took the money to manage on behalf of the couple. Her alleged drug habit took over, and Thai media claims she spent it all on substance abuse. Marcus now has only $72 to his name. He is desperate to return to Australia and said he wanted nothing further to do with Pikun, rehabilitation or not. 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.
