Armed robber ‘not Prawit’s guard’

>> The police and army yesterday denied a news report that a suspect in an armed robbery is one of the security officers deployed outside the residence of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.

The move came after a 47-year-old Indian businessman lodged a complaint with police in Bangkok’s Min Buri district saying he was illegally detained by a man dressed in a military-like uniform and forced at gunpoint to transfer almost 300,000 baht via ATM on Thursday.

Some media reports claimed the suspect, who was captured on security cameras, was a military police officer who was deployed outside Gen Prawit’s house in Bangkok’s Min Buri area.

Speaking at a press conference, Lt Col Nattapol Kraiwad, chief of an anti-tank unit attached to Prachin Buri-based 2nd Infantry Division, said security guards deployed outside Gen Prawit’s house were all from the unit.

However, he said the suspect in the armed robbery case was not one of them.

The press briefing was attended by Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Charnthep Sesavej and Pol Maj Gen Somnuek Noikhong, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 3.

Commenting on the armed robbery, Pol Lt Gen Charnthep said the incident was reported by a man identified as Rama Yador.

According to the complaint, an armed man arrived at Mr Yador’s house in Ram Intra Soi 117 on a motorcycle and accused him of offering illegal high-interest loans.

The armed man drew his weapon and forced Mr Yador to go with him saying “Come with me. I’ll take you to my boss.”

They rode off on a Yamaha motorcycle and stopped at soi Ram Intra 109 where Mr Yador was forced to hand over 11,500 baht in cash and two ATM cards.

The suspect took Mr Yador to a convenience store on Panyaintra Road and forced him to reveal the Pins. The assailant transferred 221,000 baht from one account and another 17,640 baht to an unknown account before releasing him.