A sister accompanied her mentally ill brother who stole ramen worth over 180 baht to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and report to the police every Wednesday for three months to see if his mental condition improves, as part of his legal defense.
Updates on the case of a mentally ill man accused of stealing Japanese ramen: At 1:00 p.m. on 20 February 2026, reporters met Mr. Yo, 34, the accused, and his sister, Ms. Namfon Pui-on, 32, under the Bang Khlo Expressway at Soi Charoen Rat 5, Bang Khlo subdistrict, Bang Kho Laem district, Bangkok. They found his shelter was a makeshift hut. Mr. Yo tried to speak with reporters but was incoherent. Ms. Namfon summarized his words as follows. “I was very hungry that day, so I stole the food to eat.”
Ms. Namfon said with sadness that Mr. Yo is the eldest of five siblings. Their parents separated over 10 years ago. The other siblings have moved away to start their own families, including herself. Mr. Yo lives with their father, who works as a laborer taking care of a flea market in Soi Cha Lem, Bang Khlo area. The market owner provided them a place to stay. After the market closed and was sold, they built a shelter under the expressway. Their father does odd jobs. Mr. Yo has had mental health issues since childhood, never attended school, and as an adult, has not worked. He holds a universal health coverage card and receives treatment at Lertsin Hospital. Their father provides food daily or gives him 40-50 baht to buy food. Sometimes acquaintances give him food. Everyone in the neighborhood knows about Mr. Yo’s mental condition and feels sympathy. Their father even bought him a bicycle and tattooed a phone number on his left arm in case he gets lost.
“The incident happened on the evening of 17 February, Chinese New Year’s Day, at Bang Rak market before the police arrested him and took him to the station. Our father and I begged the victim to forgive him, and acquaintances who heard the news also pleaded. Our father was willing to pay over 180 baht for the two bags of ramen, and acquaintances offered to pay ten times that amount. However, the victim refused and wanted to take legal action, claiming their child did not eat dinner and wanting to discipline Mr. Yo. I asked why, knowing my brother’s condition, would they still want to press charges? I think they want satisfaction more than justice,” said Ms. Namfon.
Ms. Namfon added that earlier this morning, her family took Mr. Yo, along with a police referral letter from Yannawa Police Station, to Charoenkrung Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation to confirm his mental disability as part of the case evidence. The doctor recommended that her brother continue treatment at a mental health clinic. They have submitted the hospital evaluation documents to the police. Currently, she must closely care for Mr. Yo because their father has to work outside. Since the arrest, she has to take Mr. Yo to report to Yannawa Police Station every Wednesday for three months to monitor whether his mental condition improves, which will be used in his legal defense.