A Northeast man believed to have been the armed bandit in the March heist of 8.8 million baht from a Siam Commercial Bank cash-delivery truck in Pattaya has been arrested. Top Royal Thai Police officers announced the arrest of Uthai Thani resident Sitidej Phomee, shown here reenacting the crime for police and media.
A Northeast man believed to have been the armed bandit in the March heist of nearly 9 million baht from a Siam Commercial Bank cash-delivery truck in Pattaya has been arrested.
The apprehension of Sitidej Phomee of Uthai Thani, 40, was announced May 7 by top Royal Thai Police officers before he was led to the bank’s South Pattaya branch to re-enact the armed robbery of the Siam Administrative Management Co. (SAMCO) armored car, escaping with 8.8 million baht.
A Northeast man believed to have been the armed bandit in the March heist of 8.8 million baht from a Siam Commercial Bank cash-delivery truck in Pattaya has been arrested. Top Royal Thai Police officers announced the arrest of Uthai Thani resident Sitidej Phomee, shown here reenacting the crime for police and media.
Police said they believe Sitidej snatched the cash from the two SAMCO employees while they were taking money from the bank branch near Big C South Pattaya to their van. The thief fired a gun into the air and one driver admitted that he dropped the bag out of fright. He also left the key in the ignition because a spare had broken.
Only 5.8 million of the sum stolen has been recovered.
Police said Sitidej was cooperating fully.
Pol. Gen. Panya Mamen, advisor to the RTP Office, said investigators are tracking Sitidej’s telephone and online history to see if they can determine where he spent the rest of the money. One item they know he bought was a flashy new car that the suspect admitted to buying to impress women.
A crowd gathers in the parking lot at Big C Pattaya South to watch accused bank robber Sitidej Phomee reenact the crime for police.
Sitidej was charged with armed robbery and illegal possession of a firearm. He also was wanted on four arrest warrants, three from Pichit Province for attempted murder in 2013, murder in 2014 and violating road rules in 2014. The other was from Kamphaeng Phet for possession of methamphetamines in 2005.
Police earlier also arrested a former Navy SEAL accused of robbing an armored car in 2008 in the SAMCO caper. Thanom Puangkratok, 40, was captured by Provincial Police Region 2 officers in his Chaiyaphum Province hometown April 22. He denied all charges and it is unknown at this point what his status is.
