SRI RACHA, THAILAND – A 43-year-year-old man set his hostel room on fire on Saturday morning under the influence of methamphetamine, but the quick thinking of the owner prevented a wider disaster.
Around 7 AM, Mr. Rungrawee Sawatdee, the owner of the hostel, noticed the peculiar behavior of a guest. The man, identified only as Mr. Thongkan, was seen wandering aimlessly in front of the building.
Sensing something was amiss, Rungrawee rushed to the guest’s room and discovered a raging fire inside. He managed to extinguish the blaze himself before the flames could spread to other rooms.
Hostel owner discovered fire in the room
The village headman of Moo 3, Mr. Apichat Numchai, was alerted to the incident. His assistant, Mr. Kampanat Saen-to, apprehended the suspect and handed him over to the Bo Win Police Station.
“I took a methamphetamine pill last night, and it caused me to hallucinate and set my room on fire.”
said the 43-year-old. During questioning, the man confessed to consuming a methamphetamine pill the previous evening. The drug induced hallucinations, leading him to start the fire in his room.
Mother wants to cover damages
Despite the incident, the hostel owner stated he would not press criminal charges. The man’s 60-year-old mother, Mrs. Thongkam Premkiao, voluntarily offered compensation for the damages.
She also requested authorities to not only prosecute her son but also to arrange for him to be admitted to a hospital for drug rehabilitation. The authorities have initiated the process and are now preparing for the man’s medical examination and treatment.