Four british tabloids wrote an apology on Tuesday to the family of two northern hilltribe girls who they had accused – in reports published online – of stealing a watch from a British tourist.

The two young Thai girls were accused of being pickpockets after posing for a picture with a British woman who visited Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai provincial governor Pawin Chamniprasert and Ben Robert Svasti, Britain’s Honorary Consul in Chiang Mai, delivered letters of apology from The Sun, the Daily Mail (Australian edition), The Telegraph, and Daily Express to the Hmong girls’ family.

The papers’ reports were published last October, and affected both the Hmong family and the tourism image of Chiang Mai.

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2015-02-05 14:59:16

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After an investigation, it turned out that the tourist in the article had not lost her watch. The four tabloids then edited the article to note that the allegation was groundless.

Phujaras Jirapakorn, the father of the girls, said he was glad that justice was done for his daughters. He felt relieved after the foreign media outlets had apologised, he said.

He had yet to think about seeking compensation but would discuss that with concerned agencies.

Read also: 53 credit-for-sex scams reported in first half of March, victims cheated of $304,000 since Jan: Police