PATHUM THANI, Thailand – Police have arrested a 54-year-old man accused of robbing a ttb bank in Pathum Thani of more than 1.1 million baht before setting a getaway car on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence and evade capture. Police arrested Saifa Thanadetwarakun at a resort in the Ram Inthra area of Bangkok on September 11, one day after the robbery at the TMBThanachart Bank (ttb) branch at Talad Thai in Khlong Luang district.
Investigators said the suspect was tracked through the GPS signal of a rental car he had used to change vehicles during his escape. Police found him hiding at the resort, where he was also suffering burns to his face and left arm.
According to investigators, Saifa allegedly bought the car used in the robbery for 30,000 baht. The vehicle had no documents and was fitted with a false licence plate before being used in the robbery. He later abandoned it and set it on fire in a deserted area opposite the Talad Thai post office.
Police said the suspect was injured when flames caught him while he was burning the vehicle. He then escaped to a rental car parked about 50 metres away and drove through Soi Thep Kunchon 10 before eventually hiding at the Ram Inthra resort.
When arrested, police found him with clothing and a cap allegedly worn during the robbery, along with some cash. The firearm used in the robbery was not found. Saifa allegedly told police it was a plastic gun that he had discarded.
Investigators said the suspect admitted carrying out the robbery alone. He reportedly told police that he had been unemployed after serving a previous prison sentence and had accumulated gambling debts. He claimed the stolen money had been used to repay debts and given to his daughter.
However, acting Khlong Luang police chief Pol Col Wisanurak Phrommet said investigators had not yet accepted the explanation, noting that police had not been able to trace the full amount of the stolen cash or verify that it had been used to repay debts and given to his daughter. Police also said Saifa appeared to have planned the robbery in advance, allegedly driving around the area for several days to study the location before carrying it out.
The suspect has a previous history involving a major robbery. In 2012, he allegedly took part in the robbery of a cash-in-transit vehicle operated by Bangkok Servex near Lotus Bang Pa-in in Ayutthaya, in which almost 16 million baht was stolen. Saifa was taken to Khlong Luang Police Station at about 6:56 p.m. on September 11 for questioning and legal proceedings. Police said he had difficulty speaking because of pain from his burns and had previously sought medical treatment.
He faces a charge of robbery involving a weapon and the use of a vehicle to facilitate the taking of property or escape. Police said further investigation would examine the stolen money, the suspect’s movements and any other people who may have been involved.
