Deny robbing bank and shooting policeman in cold-blood
Boonlua Chatree & Vichan Pladplueng
Four bank robbers made off with 2.4 million baht in cash
after killing one police officer and injuring a security guard at the Bank of
Ayuthaya in South Pattaya at 8.30 Friday morning, August 30, as bank employees
began preparing for the day’s trade.
(L to R)
Russians Renat Udarov, Mapat Mimlikeev and Felix Cheremnykh, the three suspects
arrested for connection with bank robbery and murder, with a man police believe
to be the 4th suspect, Illiyes Karfarleen (sic) who, at the time of going to
press was still at large. This photo of the alleged bank robbers was found on
the escape boat and provided by police.
Three of the four suspects, Russians Felix Cheremnykh, Mapat
Mimlikeev, and Renat Udarov were arrested Saturday on their way to Prachuap
Khiri Khan by boat. At the time of going to press, the fourth suspect, believed
to be Illiyes Karfarleen, was still at large.
The men were flown to Chonburi police headquarters for
questioning before being transferred to Pattaya police station.
(L to R)
Russian suspects Mapat Mimlikeev, Renat Udarov and Felix Cheremnykh after their
arrest for their alleged connection in the murder of Pol. Sgt Maj. Songkitti
Maneechote and armed robbery of the Bank of Ayuthaya in South Pattaya.
According to bank employees, four masked men barged their way
through the rear entrance of the bank after pistol-whipping the bank security
guard. The four men fired warning shots before pointing a gun to the head of the
branch’s finance manager, Vichien Manasin and ordering him in English to open
the safe.
Before fleeing the scene, the armed robbers shot Pol. Sgt
Maj. Songkitti Maneechote in the head, then took his .38 caliber revolver. The
men fired more shots as they made their way to the getaway car, which sped off
in the direction of Jomtien Beach.
Pol.
Sgt Maj. Songkitti Maneechote’s sister broke down when seeing her brother laid
out on the bank floor after he had been shot dead by the gang of bank robbers.
Pattaya police set up roadblocks throughout the city and
outer areas. The getaway vehicle, a pickup truck that had been reported stolen
10 days earlier, was eventually found at a vacant lot in Soi Wat Boon in Jomtien.
A witness told police he saw the pickup being driven erratically before the
driver and passengers abandoned it, changed vehicles and drove off in a Toyota
Crown.
The
Isuzu pickup used as a getaway vehicle was found abandoned in Jomtien.
Felix Cheremnykh, a former mercenary who suffered a minor
gunshot wound to his right leg during the robbery, allegedly drove the car to
Suraphol Samut shop near Wat Sawangfa Phuttharam in Naklua where he allegedly
used some of the stolen money to pay 570,000 baht cash to Suthep Samut, 57, for
a speedboat called the Four Wind 195.
Cheremnykh and his accomplices then returned the car to a
rental company in front of Welcome Plaza Hotel on Pattaya 2nd Road before
heading to Bali Hai pier, South Pattaya, where they boarded the speedboat and
left.
This is when things started going really bad for the felons,
as the speedboat broke down, forcing them to hire a fishing trawler to tow them
back to the coast to get it fixed. There the gang bought 60 liters of petrol
from a Bangsaray market at about 9 p.m. on Friday evening.
Meanwhile, Pol. Lt. Gen. Pakorn Sampkij, Region 2 Police
Commander ordered officers to gather information from the immigration department
on all foreigners in the region.
The following day, Saturday, August 31, fisherman tipped off
police that the boat was headed in the direction of Prachuap Khiri Khan. Three
police vessels, a naval vessel and a navy helicopter were dispatched to take
part in the chase. Marine police from Chonburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan captured
the three suspects off the coast of Hua Hin.
Family and
high-ranking police officials try to console Pol. Sgt Maj. Songkitti
Maneechote’s sister at the wat during the wake. Police officials announced
they will post humously promote Pol. Sgt Maj. Songkitti Maneechote to a higher
rank so that his family will receive better benefits for the officer’s brave
actions in trying to stop the robbery.
The men denied any involvement with the robbery, although at
the time of their arrest they had with them a bag containing 986,000 baht cash.
Police Chief Gen Sant Sarutanont said the bank had marked
secret codes on the banknotes.
The Four Wind 195, the men’s passports, boat purchase and
car rental documents, a map and two cell phones were seized as evidence.
Police divers also began searching the escape route for any
items used in the holdup, as witnesses said they saw the men throw a bag
overboard. Police believe the bag may contain the murder weapon and the weapons
used in the robbery.
Early on Sunday morning, September 1, the body of foreigner
was discovered floating in the waters off Laem Charoen Beach in Rayong. Police
suspect it may be the fourth member of the gang; however, there was no evidence
at this stage to confirm the report until an autopsy at the forensic institute
is performed and a check of immigration records have been completed.
Also on Sunday, the owner and staff of the car rental company
identified Felix Cheremnykh, Mapat Mimlikeev, and Renat Udarov from a lineup at
Pattaya police station.
After 24 hours of constant interrogation, the 3 men denied
involvement, saying they had bought the boat for fishing and were heading for
Samui. Ms. Kuntol Petchsena is acting as Russian translator for the tourist
police.
Pol Gen Amnuay Petchsiri, the assistant police chief, said he
believes the gang may have as many as five or six members, including some Thais,
with the rest still at large. “It is impossible for the Russians to know all
escape routes unless they get information from Thai accomplices,’’ Pol Gen
Amnuay said.
Police have refused to give further details on other suspects
as it may hamper their investigation, but did say they are confident that they
will make further arrests.
At 11.30 a.m. Monday September 2, Pol. Lt. Col. Mana Inthipak
and 20 armed officers in 6 police vehicles escorted the three suspects to the
Pattaya courthouse for their initial court hearing. Judge Songwon Intaraynont
presided.
The three are being charged with armed robbery causing death,
murder of a police officer on duty, possession of loaded gun without a license,
carrying loaded weapons within the city and residential area without permission,
armed assault causing grievous bodily harm, and residing in the Kingdom of
Thailand without a valid visa.
Judge Songwon set the hearing date at September 13, 12 days
after the case was presented.
During a subsequent search of the Four Wind 195,
investigators found a photo of a person they believe might be the fourth
suspect, identified as Illiyes Karfarleen (sic), a Russian national. The photo
shows Illiyes standing next to the three other suspects whilst holding an
assault rifle.
Pol Lt-Gen Pakorn Sanpakij, commissioner of Region 2 police
took Suthep Samut, the man who sold the boat to the three fugitives, to the Siam
Commercial Bank to withdraw the 570,000 baht he had deposited from the sale of
the speedboat and release the amount to police officers to return to the Bank of
Ayuthaya. Once the case is over the boat will be returned.
Pattaya Mail learned that a phone call had been made to the
Pattaya police station from someone claiming to be a Russian tour guide. The
person told police that a Thai man and Russian national were on Chang Island,
holed up in a hotel. However, the informer did not leave the details of which
hotel or what room the two were staying in.
The guide said that the two men seemed to be waiting for
someone, obviously unaware that their comrades were now in custody. The guide
asked for police to collect them. However, when police asked the caller for a
return phone number, the caller promptly hung up. Criminal investigation
officers are following up on the lead.
The suspects had been staying in a rented house in Ek Mongkol
housing estate, Banglamung, before moving to a room at the Palm Delight Hotel on
Aug 3.
