Thai 'ghost' alarms villagers

A man in north-eastern Thailand has been shunned by relatives who believed he was a ghost, after he re-appeared in their midst when they thought they had cremated him.

Thanom Wongsupheng, of Ban Maed village in Roi Et province, was thought to have died in a motorbike accident during the New Year holiday, Thailand's The Nation newspaper reported.

Mr Thanom told the paper he had lost his identity card, and said the person killed in the motorcycle accident may have been carrying it, leading to the misunderstanding.

The "resurrected" man said he had been working as a security guard in Bangkok.

The Nation said Mr Thanom's surprise reappearance led to a three-hour emergency meeting by the village's funeral assistance fund committee, who had handed over 23,050 baht ($545) to his relatives.

The committee decided to that his family did not have to repay the money, but said they would be not entitled to any financial assistance when Mr Thanom died "again", the paper said.