Police arrested six men who allegedly robbed a Pattaya money changer of 600,000 baht.
Ratchapol Yakantha, 43, Nattapong Saowakul, 29, Narubeth Tanomsuk, 20, Surasit Kabkan, 22, Pongsakorn Pothong, 22, and Chutipath Thipprasert, 19, on Aug. 5 were taken for a police re-enactment of the July 25 beating and robbery of Sitthichoke Charonepipatsin outside the Viriya Apa Apartment on Soi Chalermprakiet 2/2.
The 57-year-old money changer was found unconscious and his motorbike fallen over on him. He was later treated and released from Banglamung Hospital.
Police said Ratchapol was the leader of the gang and had been surveilling Citthichoke for some time before the attack. He knew that the man went around town, changing currency for Chinese tour groups and would often return home with large amounts of baht and yuan.
The robbing thugs are brought to the scene to reenact the crime.
At the press conference, police showed off 90,000 baht cash, a 7.6-gram golden bracelet, a 15.2-gram golden necklace with a 7.6-gram dolphin pendant, two motorbikes and a silver-bronze Toyota Soluna that were taken from the suspects.
They had earlier recovered a metal bar and a plastic bag they believed held the 600,000 baht in various currencies.
Police said Ratchapol recruited the other five gang members and dropped them off near the apartment to lie in wait for the money changer.
At the re-enactment, Chutipath showed how he hit the victim with wooden and steel sticks in the head. After the victim fell down, Pongsakorn used a knife to cut off the bag containing the money and stole his gold bracelet and necklace.
They later divided the stolen objects at a rental room. Ratchapol got about 400,000 baht and the rest got 30,000 baht each before fleeing separately.
Police said this was not the first time Sitthichoke has been robbed. Two years earlier he was jumped and about a million baht in currency stolen. Those suspects also were captured, although not all the money was.
