Haunting CCTV shows Brit, 19, leaving Thai hotel before vanishing as family fears he’s been abducted by Chinese mafia
A HAUNTINGLY normal video of a young British traveller leaving his hotel show the last moments he was seen before vanishing.
Lawrence Honour, 19, was last seen leaving his hotel in Kanchanaburi, western Thailand before attempting to cross the border into war-ravaged Myanmar.
In CCTV footage from the hotel lobby, Lawrence can be seen walking out the front doors, with one black backpack on his back while carrying a black duffel bag.
The last moment he is seen on camera at around 3.30pm on September 27 is a bone-chillingly normal occurrence for travellers world wide.
The computer whizz has not been seen or heard from since, leaving his concerned parents distraught.
Thai police have launched an investigation into his disappearance, fearing that he could have been kidnapped by the Chinese mafia.
Chinese gangs and Burmese militia are known to run notorious call centre factories, where abducted workers are subject to torture and extortion.
Gulnara Honour, Lawrence’s mother, lives in the Thai province Chonburi with his British father Julian.
“Lawrence left home on September 26 and we were unable to contact him,” she said.
“I filed a report at Pattaya City Police Station.
“I checked my son’s email and found records of his movements around Kanchanaburi province, which was very worrying,” she continued.
Lawrence has been described as a “very shy and quiet boy, but excellent with computers”.
“I’m afraid that he has spoken to people online and been tricked into going to one of these scam centres in Myanmar, where they don’t let people leave,” his mother said.
It is believed Lawrence attempted to enter Myanmar at the border but was stopped by border agents who informed him the crossing was closed due to ongoing conflict in the country.
Later he allegedly tried to climb a nearby fence to enter the country, however was again stopped and sent away by authorities.
Witnesses have told police Lawrence was seen that evening hitchhiking.
He was eventually picked up by a passing teacher.
Officers are now searching for the driver.
Police Colonel Santi Phitaksakul, superintendent of Sangkhlaburi district station, said: “The boy’s mother said she still has hope”.
“She doesn’t know how he came here,” he said.
“The last time she was able to contact him he was already in Sangkhlaburi.
“Someone later saw him at Sai Yok Waterfall, where he was hitchhiking and heading toward the border.”
Colonel Phitaksakul said a Thai driver had seen him and given him a ride.
“We now believe he may have crossed into Myanmar,” he revealed.
“Immigration officers at the border reported he came to the checkpoint and tried to leave, but they didn’t allow him to enter because the border was closed,” he continued.
“They arranged for him to be put in a van and returned home, but … he never got on because police later checked with the van company and confirmed he didn’t buy a ticket.”
Colonel Phitaksakul said Lawrence had been seen waiting around for a while and told people he was “waiting for a friend” when asked.
“Police have asked the military to coordinate with Myanmar to help locate him,” Colonel Phitaksakul said.
“Informants have reported sightings of someone resembling him in Myanmar, and we are waiting for confirmation.”
Colonel Phitaksakul said there were “many possibilities” for Lawrence’s motivation to cross the border.
“He may have been persuaded by someone, it doesn’t seem like he went just for tourism,” he said.
“We need to trace his movements to verify whether he went to a casino or elsewhere.
“It is suspected he may have crossed through natural routes, possibly with the help of people on the Myanmar side who know the paths well.”
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