PHUKET: Tourist Luigi Maraldi, made famous briefly by having his passport stolen on Phuket, was called in today for questioning at Immigration headquarters in Phuket City.

With several confused accounts of how he lost his passport already made public, Immigration officers were keen to get the story straight.

Mr Maraldi, a 37-year-old electrical engineer, told Phuketwan that he remained shocked that another man disappeared with 238 other people on Flight MH370 using his name and passport.

Officers also released a photograph of Russian woman Daria Borisova, 21, whose stolen passport was exchanged at a Patong motorcycle hire shop when Mr Maraldi's passport was taken.

Although many people have noted that Mr Maraldi was on Phuket last year when his passport was stolen and back eight months later for a second holiday as the flight disappeared, Mr Maraldi insists it's pure coincidence.

Reports that Ms Borisova's passport was stolen just the day before Mr Maraldi's was picked up by a man of ''Middle East'' appearance in a full face motorcycle helmet appear to be untrue.

Ms Borisova was only on Phuket for a maximum of a month, with her passport showing a Thai entry stamp from February 1, 2012.

Mr Maraldi was first on Phuket in July last year. ''I came back to Patong for my holiday and rented a motorbike at the same shop because Thais are my friends,'' Mr Maraldi wrote today.

''Normally when I have need for my passport I ask the owner and she gave it back without problems, and she didn't want another passport for guarantee.''

Mr Maraldi thinks the employee who gave his passport to the mystery man was in a state of confusion.

His only complaint: dealing with the issue of the passport stolen on his holiday last year has cost him three days of his Phuket holiday this year.

Local authorities are expected to make it plain to motorcycle and car renters on Phuket that it's illegal to take passports as collateral.