Australia Australia - Siriyakorn 'Bung' Siriboon, 13, Boronia, Vic, 2 June 2011

[Hercule Holmes]

Hi all. Have followed the case all along, but have only read here.

There is a bit of current discussion on another site (begins with R) around the similiarities between Bung and Karmein Chan. Reference is made to the reported sighting on Harcourt Rd. 130 metres from the school. A poster has said this sighting was made by a young boy and found to be false (he was lying). I've never been aware of that sighting being officially ruled out? I know it's never been confirmed and the last confirmed sighting is via the neighbour whose dog barked out the window as she passed, but does anyone know whether there is any truth to this?

I do find it a bit surprising that police don't do something like official annual updates on the anniversary of cases like this. I don't see the value in confusion around whether a sighting is still considered valid or not. They could come out and say whether there are any updates on the information that has been released publicly. Understandably, they may hold something back and they are not going to update that publicly. For example, we have no idea whether anyone has come forward and identified themselves as the driver of either the white Falcon (Boronia) or the white Kingswood (Rowville). If one or both was explained away as legitimate, it saves people reporting things that are irrelevant. You would assume not, but that's all we can do - assume.

They've gone well past the point of solving this without public help, and yet it's hard not to feel that they don't help the public help them

 

[KathPlumber]

Hi all. Have followed the case all along, but have only read here.

There is a bit of current discussion on another site (begins with R) around the similiarities between Bung and Karmein Chan. Reference is made to the reported sighting on Harcourt Rd. 130 metres from the school. A poster has said this sighting was made by a young boy and found to be false (he was lying). I've never been aware of that sighting being officially ruled out? I know it's never been confirmed and the last confirmed sighting is via the neighbour whose dog barked out the window as she passed, but does anyone know whether there is any truth to this?

I do find it a bit surprising that police don't do something like official annual updates on the anniversary of cases like this. I don't see the value in confusion around whether a sighting is still considered valid or not. They could come out and say whether there are any updates on the information that has been released publicly. Understandably, they may hold something back and they are not going to update that publicly. For example, we have no idea whether anyone has come forward and identified themselves as the driver of either the white Falcon (Boronia) or the white Kingswood (Rowville). If one or both was explained away as legitimate, it saves people reporting things that are irrelevant. You would assume not, but that's all we can do - assume.

They've gone well past the point of solving this without public help, and yet it's hard not to feel that they don't help the public help them

I agree it’s a bit odd how quiet the police are in this case. A million dollar reward was offered 2 years after she went missing, which is not a guarantee (I think of how in the William Tyrrell case, increasing the reward to that much was a big deal and had to be negotiated w the government) . That’s “enough to start a new life if you tell us what you know” money. But no result.

And there’s been no real push for publicity since 2021. I would like to think this means that there’s stuff happening in the background, but I might be being naively optimistic. Police are v busy with many matters and perhaps it’s just going to sit cold unless someone’s loyalties change etc.

I remember Daniel Morcombe’s parents saying that their advice to the parents of other missing children is that you have to be the ones who keep the case relentlessly in the public eye (they definitely did an amazing job of this!). This is because the police have so much on their plate and the drive needs to come from you. Bung’s family isn’t able to do this for a number of reasons that are absolutely not their fault at all. But in the context of the advice from the morecombes you can see it leaves an MP case vulnerable to dropping off the public consciousness somewhat. I wonder if some podcaster taking up the cause would help. I personally don’t find people in Victoria know the case at all. Especially outside the suburbs/ side of town she lived in. (And especially, as you say, compared to Karmein Chan!)

The official page on VicPol talks up the need for public support to solve it - but those quotes are from 2014! (The page does say at bottom it was updated 15th April 2025 though I don’t know what that means exactly.) The appeals to the public are fairly generic and yes, information / specifics/ detail is pretty much non-existent.
From the scant information there it seems like they have discounted any further sightings, @Hercule Holmes

Honestly, including so little information really makes one think that Vicpol think there are a few, select specific people who know exactly what happened, but that the general populace knows nothing at all. Either that or they just don’t have this case on the front burner at all
Reward: Siriyakorn 'Bung' Siriboon

 

[saztina]

Yesterday was Bung’s anniversary and as far as I can see from Ireland, nothing in the media. Breaks my heart.

 

[ScottToorak]

Yesterday was Bung’s anniversary and as far as I can see from Ireland, nothing in the media. Breaks my heart.

was the father ever officially cleared as a suspect or was he ever a suspect?

 

[KathPlumber]

was the father ever officially cleared as a suspect or was he ever a suspect?

He was definitely officially cleared.

 

[Detective Willy]

It’s good that “A Current Affair” is covering this story tonight. Hopefully they can generate some new interest or leads.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Mystery of Bung Siriboon’s disappearance | A Current Affair​

5.55 minute video

 

[Doesitmakesense]

Mystery of Bung Siriboon’s disappearance | A Current Affair​

5.55 minute video

Im quite familiar with this area. What I've never understood is how no-one saw anything. Even with Bung heading towards the back entrance of the school and not the main gates, there was always plenty of students walking in or parents dropping off at all entrances

 

[sunflowersofthenight]

Fourteen years on, haunting questions remain over disappearance of Siriyakorn 'Bung' Siriboon

9now.nine.com.au

Apparently someone spoke to her and made her feel scared before her disappearance and her friend had a similar encounter.

 

[KathPlumber]

Fourteen years on, haunting questions remain over disappearance of Siriyakorn 'Bung' Siriboon

9now.nine.com.au

Apparently someone spoke to her and made her feel scared before her disappearance and her friend had a similar encounter.

Id love to think there was something in this, but as a teacher and a former young girl in a school uniform in public myself, I can confidently state that “random guys” talking to you and being “creepy” happens ALL the time. I’m not ruling out a connection, but it was one FB post 9 months beforehand and may well just reflect the depressing daily reality of being a teen in a school uniform
It’s insane what you have to put up with

 

[Lukey2121]

Not sure if many people saw Adam Shand state that he’s been threatened numerous times over his investigation into Bung’s disappearance.
I’m sure he’s shared this information with the police and they’re aware of who has been threatening him to drop his investigation. Very bizarre and scary.

 

[3llecia]

Secondly, a google map based search with "street view" shows an interesting looking vehicle parked at number 73 Elsie St (google photo would of been taken late 2009). It matches the reported ford above to a T. Makes me think a neighbour (who she may have known and therefore felt comfortable to get in the car) could have seen her walking and offered a lift to school.

“The car was reportedly driven by a male of Caucasian appearance, who was described as being in his late 50s to early 60s and was wearing a blue coloured singlet. He had light brown coloured hair which was combed back in what was described as a rock and roll style. He also had a coloured tattoo on his left upper arm.”

Re-reading earlier posts… If you like strange coincidences, check out the 2025 Google streetview of the property mentioned above…

 

[saztina]

Weirdly enough I was only looking at the route on Google maps last night myself. I just can’t believe how close Bung’s house was to her school and how short her route really was. I really think that it was someone who lured her into a house rather than a vehicle.

 

[mcb265]

Hi there! This is my first post, i joined because i do know the area well, and the school that once was there. I am local to the area and attended the school a couple of years before Bung. I also walked the same streets to school, as my best friend during my school years also lived on Elsie st.

I do want to state that these streets are very empty during the early morning hours when kids are walking to school. The streets not empty at the time would've been Albert Ave and Mount View Rd. Out of all the streets mentioned Elsie st was always the one that people felt was creepy, i'd say its mainly because its long and has a corner. There is no particular reason us teenagers felt it be creepy, it was just one of those feelings.

Mount View Rd was the road with the schools main entrance. There was/is an oval (what us aussies play australian football on) next to the school, at the time there were 3 little entrances onto the oval which some students would take. You had another one onto Mount View Rd, there was one on Ronald Crescent (a little alleyway between 2 houses) and then another as you go down Harcourt Rd to Moncoe St.

I also want to state that the school was horribly slack and i know it only got worse. The fact that the school didn't tell the parents she wasn't at school all day until after the fact, does not shock me at all. Students would just leave school property all the time and the faculty would know and not care, i'm hoping that can give a little more insight into what the area around the school was like in regards to lack of adults on the streets.

At the time of the disappearence, they had mannequins dressed in the school uniform at the station, posters everywhere and it felt like HUGE news and it wasn't until more recently i learned the lack of attention it got Australia wide. I also remember them searching Old Joes Creek (on google maps its just down Dorset rd from Elsie St).

This area is surburban, but we are right next to a mountain and the dandenong ranges and yarra ranges, my words will not explain how dense and large the forest areas around here get, and there aren't nearly as many people.

I hope some peace is found for the family.

Thank you for caring about a case that alot of people locally have given up hope on.

 

[mcb265]

Sorry to barge back in, it wasn't a huge school! I think at the time around 300 students total so not an insane amount of school children walking the streets either, if any neighbours knew her face and that she walked the street around that time and can confirm that they saw her they are probably remembering it correctly.

The one thing that alot of locals found weird/vague was the white station wagons being seen with a girl - uhhhh so many of those cars were around at the time, like alot. I would probably see about 4 just on a 5 min drive these days! So it felt like very nothing information for locals to be able to do anything with, everyone knows someone with a white stationwagon.

 

[Hercule Holmes]

Sorry to barge back in, it wasn't a huge school! I think at the time around 300 students total so not an insane amount of school children walking the streets either, if any neighbours knew her face and that she walked the street around that time and can confirm that they saw her they are probably remembering it correctly.

The one thing that alot of locals found weird/vague was the white station wagons being seen with a girl - uhhhh so many of those cars were around at the time, like alot. I would probably see about 4 just on a 5 min drive these days! So it felt like very nothing information for locals to be able to do anything with, everyone knows someone with a white stationwagon.

The cars themselves should not be looked at in isolation. It is the description of the drivers in the cars, and then the link between a person/s fitting the description and owning a matching vehicle.

Both driver descriptions were somewhat unusual, in that the tattoos on their arms were exposed on a drizzly winter's morning. How many older people wear a singlet at 8:30 in the morning (Ford Falcon in Boronia)? The driver of the Holden Kingswood in Rowville also had to have short sleeves, otherwise how were the sleeve tattoos identified? Presumably no collar either, to be able to see the neck tattoo.

The blue singlet of the Falcon driver strongly suggested a tradie. The time strongly suggests they were potentially on their way to work, or first job for the morning. He had brown hair, combed back rock and roll style and was late 50's, early 60's. That is a reasonably unusual hair style for someone that age. No balding, no grey. Then there was a colored tattoo on the upper left arm. I can't imagine he suddenly wore a singlet for the first time on a June morning, so that suggests the tattoo would have been seen regularly by those that knew him.

The description of the Rowville driver was not as specific. Age was 30's - 40's and the hair was fair or balding. Much harder to narrow that down to a smallish number of people, but the key here would be the tattoos, in particular the neck tattoo. Again, the time of day, short sleeves and station wagon, suggests a tradie or factory worker. The combination of neck tattoo and Kingswood from the early 70's (40 years old) should have provided police with some names.

Did the police get useful responses to the media releases regarding the cars? Did they rule one or both out, because there was a legitimate explanation? Did the driver/s themselves come forward and satisfy police? Were police inundated with reports based purely on the cars and wasted a lot of time on ridiculous scenarios, where the drivers never fitted the descriptions?

I personally feel, given they had virtually nothing else, that they should have pushed these lines of inquiry harder (and earlier). A lot of people miss initial media releases - don't watch the news or buy the paper on the relevant day. People must have known men who fitted the descriptions, unless they were totally made up. The Boronia sighting was reported to police at the beginning, and we know the circumstances; woman was parked next to the Falcon at traffic lights. That smells genuine to me. The Rowville one is harder to gauge, due to less certainty around the reporting details.

There is also the possibility that one sighting was made deliberately to distract from the other. If that were the case, the first one seems a lot more likely to be the one that matters.

 

[mcb265]

The cars themselves should not be looked at in isolation. It is the description of the drivers in the cars, and then the link between a person/s fitting the description and owning a matching vehicle.

Both driver descriptions were somewhat unusual, in that the tattoos on their arms were exposed on a drizzly winter's morning. How many older people wear a singlet at 8:30 in the morning (Ford Falcon in Boronia)? The driver of the Holden Kingswood in Rowville also had to have short sleeves, otherwise how were the sleeve tattoos identified? Presumably no collar either, to be able to see the neck tattoo.

The blue singlet of the Falcon driver strongly suggested a tradie. The time strongly suggests they were potentially on their way to work, or first job for the morning. He had brown hair, combed back rock and roll style and was late 50's, early 60's. That is a reasonably unusual hair style for someone that age. No balding, no grey. Then there was a colored tattoo on the upper left arm. I can't imagine he suddenly wore a singlet for the first time on a June morning, so that suggests the tattoo would have been seen regularly by those that knew him.

The description of the Rowville driver was not as specific. Age was 30's - 40's and the hair was fair or balding. Much harder to narrow that down to a smallish number of people, but the key here would be the tattoos, in particular the neck tattoo. Again, the time of day, short sleeves and station wagon, suggests a tradie or factory worker. The combination of neck tattoo and Kingswood from the early 70's (40 years old) should have provided police with some names.

Did the police get useful responses to the media releases regarding the cars? Did they rule one or both out, because there was a legitimate explanation? Did the driver/s themselves come forward and satisfy police? Were police inundated with reports based purely on the cars and wasted a lot of time on ridiculous scenarios, where the drivers never fitted the descriptions?

I personally feel, given they had virtually nothing else, that they should have pushed these lines of inquiry harder (and earlier). A lot of people miss initial media releases - don't watch the news or buy the paper on the relevant day. People must have known men who fitted the descriptions, unless they were totally made up. The Boronia sighting was reported to police at the beginning, and we know the circumstances; woman was parked next to the Falcon at traffic lights. That smells genuine to me. The Rowville one is harder to gauge, due to less certainty around the reporting details.

There is also the possibility that one sighting was made deliberately to distract from the other. If that were the case, the first one seems a lot more likely to be the one that matters.

I've always felt similar about the Rowville sighting aswell.

I have a feeling someone in Boronia does know someone with that description and just hasn't come forward yet, or if they did and got cleared as a suspect, who knows?

I know as a local, there were so so many rumours at the time, about where she would be and whats happened etc.. so it wouldn't shock me if the police had a quite a few stories and suspects that ended up being just rumours.

 

[Bats]

MOO
I think if someone abducted Bung, then i would expect it to be someone who didn't live locally. Possibly someone that passed through the area semi regularly.

I think the people who commit crimes like the abduction of someone, would probably need to put some thought into how they do it. In this case, the fact they've not been caught, to me means there's been some planning. Maybe it wasn't a plan to abduct poor Bung specifically.