Chon Buri-based Pol Lance Corporal Withoon Phetchpankan, 24, has been arrested for allegedly plotting with his elder brother and others to rob a Krungthai Bank money truck while it was refilling an ATM at a gas station in Suphan Buri’s Song Phi Nong district last Monday.
Somneuk Somsuay, 35 – a fugitive in a separate attempted murder case who allegedly served as a lookout – is also in custody. He allegedly sold popcorn near the ATM to observe the money truck’s routine. When he was detained he implicated Chaidech and his brother, a police officer.
The gunman who robbed the truck and got away with Bt5.13 million was later identified as Withoon’s elder brother Chaidech Phetchpankan, 35.
He allegedly swooped in on a motorcycle and forced the truck security guard to give up the cash bag at gunpoint before speeding away.
Chaidech allegedly left a mobile phone at the scene of the robbery in an effort to distract police attention.
However, investigators found the phone and SIM card were registered to a Thai woman whose house registration had been copied on October 24 by Withoon at the Ban Bung Police Station.
Under questioning, Withoon confessed to making the copy for Chaidech and gave details of the robbery maintaining he was helping his financially troubled brother.
Investigators found that after the phone was bought in Suphan Buri on November 6, Withoon got the gun used in the robbery by Chaidech from a man identified as Toon. He admitted he also let his brother use his bullet-proof vest during the robbery.
Withoon told officers he last heard that Chaidech hid the stolen cash in a forest near his wife’s house in Tambon Don Manao of Song Phi Nong. A police search team found a motorcycle, the suspect’s jeans, helmet and shoes in the wooded area.