Court detains six suspects in 197-million yen heist of jewellery company

Sarayuth Ritchainuwat, Narongchai Sawasdiphol, Chawalit Charoenpol, Surasak Srithawong, Pongsak Pitasiripan, and Krissada Atthawet were brought to the Criminal Court as authorities sought their first detention period and further investigation before they would be formally charged in court.
Phahol Yothin police station chief Pol Colonel Yanyong Santipreechawat said investigators were opposed to temporary release of the suspects on bail for fear that they would flee.
Yangyong said police are now hunting for another suspect wanted on an arrest warrant.
He said police knew the whereabouts of the other suspect but declined to confirm whether the suspect had fled the country.
The police chief added that investigators are gathering more evidence before seeking arrest warrants for three more persons suspected of taking part in the heist.
“Police have information that the three belong to the same group but the information needs to be withheld for now,” Yanyong said.
He said police were also checking the source of the stolen money.
The suspects had told police that they would each receive a Bt500,000 share for their part in the crime. The robbery of cash and a pickup truck from two employees who were on the way to deliver cash to gold and jewellery exporter Pattharit Taerattanachai on Monday was an inside job, said police.
Greed and outstanding debts were cited as motives.
Narongchai, who had been employed by Pattharit to bring the money from Japan, was the first to be arrested on Wednesday night and confessed to having planned the robbery with his brother-in-law Natthapong Thanyatoon, 33, who remains at large.