The sister of missing Australian Nathan Hansford arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday evening to assist Thai and Australian authorities in the search for her brother, colleagues express new concerns for his safety.
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The family has issued a new statement, confirming Thai authorities were now also involved in the search.
“Nathan’s sister will be working tirelessly to learn any information about Nathan and to ultimately find him. We remain hopeful for news soon,” it said.
A Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson confirmed Thai Police are searching for Mr Hansford.
"Thai authorities involved including the Royal Thai Police are fully aware of the matter. The Thai authorities concerned have been working closely with the Australian Embassy in Bangkok on the case," he said.
Mr Hansford, who has worked in Bangkok and Southeast Asia for 10 years as an international contractor specialising in public finance and capital market development, has not been in contact with family and friends since Christmas.
His family said he regularly travelled internationally for work assignments but had always kept in contact with his Australian family and friends.
Concerns were raised when Mr Hansford’s phone was disconnected and when he stopped using his email and social media accounts.
Mr Hansford worked as a cash management expert at Adam Smith International and as a debt management specialist and team leader at the Asian Development Bank.
A spokesperson from Adam Smith International voiced concerns for Mr Hansford’s safety and said the organisation had been in contact with his family.
“Nathan Hansford has worked with Adam Smith International but was not working for our company at the time he went off the radar, however we are very concerned as to his whereabouts and are in touch with his family,” the spokesperson said.
Asian Development Bank Thailand director Yasushi Negishi said Mr Hansford had been working as a consultant in the Thailand office for several years and he had been in contact with the Australian until mid-December.
Mr Negishi said staff at the Asian Development Bank had been trying to find Mr Hansford since reports of his disappearance in recent days.
Mr Hansford was last seen leaving his home in the gated suburb of Thungkru on January 31 to travel in a taxi to Mo Chit in central Bangkok.
The Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce has appealed for information regarding Mr Hansford’s whereabouts and posted his photograph on the internet.
In the statement, Mr Hansford’s family said they “wish to thank the Thai and Australian authorities and the Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce for the amount of support and assistance they have shown and continue to show us since we reported Nathan missing.”
The family is urging those with further information to contact the Australian Embassy in Bangkok or the Australian Federal Police.
