Police inspect the tattoos on
suspected snatch thief Ekalak Chaemchoi.
Boonlua Chatree
A convicted thief pardoned last month in an act of royal goodwill has been
arrested again for allegedly snatching gold chains.
Ekalak Chaemchoi, 21, was apprehended Sept. 14 following a protracted chase
after he and an accomplice allegedly stole a half-baht weight necklace and
amulet from Jatupon Krataiwongjan, 27, in Naklua. Police still are searching
for the second man.
Police said Ekalak confessed to snatching the chain while the victim was
riding a baht bus on Soi Kitty Car Care after midnight. He said he was just
released from prison last month following a Mother’s Day pardon from HM the
Queen. He had been serving time in Rayong for necklace thefts in 2010.
Ekalak said he stole the necklace because he had no money after getting out
of prison and he needed to pay for schooling for his girlfriend. He told
police his accomplice, identified only as “Bank” had also been pardoned Aug.
12 and they had committed two similar crimes together the day of their
arrest.
The suspect was corralled by police volunteers after a chase from Naklua
through side streets and on Sukhumvit Road, ending only after Ekalak crashed
is motorbike into a volunteer’s.
