4 days ago
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.
