Hua Hin expat seeks compensation after only 34 stolen records returned
A bedridden Swiss expat in Hua Hin says he has instructed his lawyer to begin legal proceedings against the nursing company that supplied his former carer after only 34 records were returned from his stolen collection.
Peter Kalt said the collection comprised about 1,000 vinyl records and 400 CDs, with losses he estimates at more than 12.5 million baht.
He had hoped to recover most of it after police traced a buyer in Korat. But Peter said the buyer failed to attend an arranged handover and had since sold the records on.
“Why should I be the victim?” Peter told Hua Hin Today. “It’s only fair I get compensation.”
The update follows Peter’s account in June, when he said police had arrested the former carer and he expected about 90 per cent of the collection to be returned.
Planned return did not happen
Peter said he prepared a catalogue of the missing collection at the request of police and handed it to officers to help identify the items.
Police then asked the buyer to travel to Hua Hin to return the records. The handover was expected on 28 June, but Peter said the buyer never arrived. He questioned whether officers had done enough to secure their return.
According to Peter, the buyer said he had purchased the collection in good faith from the former carer and had not known it was stolen.
Peter previously said the collection had been sold for 60,000 baht, far below his estimated value.
Peter plans legal action against nursing company
Peter said he is seeking compensation from the Hua Hin-based nursing company because it supplied the woman to care for him at home.
“The nurse wasn’t my employee,” he said.
He questioned what background checks the company had carried out before hiring her. Peter alleged that she had a history of theft and said officers had told him she was already known to police.
Peter said he had instructed his lawyer to begin proceedings, although it was not clear whether a claim had been officially filed.
The company has not been accused of taking part in the alleged theft. Peter’s complaint concerns its responsibility for supplying the carer and the checks conducted before she began working in his home.
Collection built over 30 years
Line messages from the nurse attempting to sell Peter’s record collection. Image: Hua Hin Today
The alleged theft took place on 2 May at the Hin Lek Fai home Peter shares with his wife, Brigit. It was reported to police on 5 May after she discovered the collection was missing.
Peter requires regular care after complications from a medical condition left him unable to use his legs.
In June, he said police had arrested the former carer after his lawyer followed up on the case. He said officers found Line messages relating to the sale of the records and postal receipts for packages sent.
Peter believes the woman remains on bail.
He assembled the collection over 30 years, including time spent working in Chicago and Switzerland. It consisted mainly of rock music from the 1960s to the 1980s, with rare releases and original sleeves he says would be difficult or impossible to replace.
Peter previously described the distress of discovering that someone entrusted with his care was suspected of taking the collection.
“You let someone into your house to take care of you, and then something like this happens,” he said.