A warrant was obtained and the raid carried out at 6am yesterday by a 30-strong team of Thai and Australian police and related agencies following an initial probe that found the illegal posts came from a house occupied by suspect Stephen Kim Le Cornu, 62, who has been in Thailand for 10 years.

A four-hour search did not yield any evidence linking the man to alleged child molestation. But police said the man confessed to posting the messages so he was initially charged with possession of child pornography – punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to Bt100,000 – and violating the Computer Crime Act.

He was arrested on Friday for allegedly working without a work permit.

Police said he entered and exited the country more than eight times and made more than Bt362,500 from modelling merchandise for several firms.

The offence of working without a work permit carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a Bt100,000 fine.

The police writ stated that from November 26 to December 3, the suspect claimed on social media that he had been threatened by Kitti Prateepnatsiri, owner of Elite Model Management (Thailand) and chairman of the Modelling Industry Association, and a Thai businessman involved in a project to stop illegal modelling and human trafficking in Thailand.

The message allegedly defamed Kitti, who then filed a complaint with police, who in turn sought an arrest warrant for Rojas on Thursday.

Bt200,000 bail

The Colombian model denied the charges. The court released him on Bt200,000 bail on the condition that he not leave the country without permission.

TWO COLOMBIAN who are allegedly members of a transnational criminal gang – which had stolen valuables worth Bt22 million from luxury homes in Bangkok – were arrested at a shopping mall in Sukhumvit Soi 77, police announced yesterday.

The burgaled houses included residences of a public prosecutor, a judge, a customs official and other well-to-do people

Christian Robeldo Donne and Gresson Joan Hernadez Gomez, both 27, were allegedly part of a four-member team that cracked safe boxes at luxury homes in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces on nine occasions in March and April.

They reportedly got away with valuables worth Bt22.193 million, including 62.84 grams of gold bars and 70 gold ornaments, said acting Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt-General Sanit Mahathaworn.

The gang used two sedans to scout targets at large housing estates, mostly during the daytime. They would press the doorbell to test if the house was unoccupied at the time before breaking in and cracking open safes to look for valuables, Sanit said.

The police team that investigated several theft cases linked to this gang spotted them on security-camera footage in Don Muang and Tha Kham districts.

Their actions were closely followed, and evidence gathered, before arrest warrants were sought for them from the Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court.

The two suspects were apprehended while allegedly carrying stolen gold ornaments, while their Thai female friend was also captured. Two other Colombian gangsters, including the leader identified only as Rodriguez, managed to flee. The Thai woman, who remained unamed, also faced a charge of possessing stolen items.

Sanit said the fugitives abandoned one vehicle used in the crime in Pattaya.

The two suspects were brought for interrogation at the city police office while some of their victims came to identify their stolen items and to file complaints against the duo, Sanit added.

They now face charges of theft, breaking into houses at night, using getaway vehicles, and having in their possession stolen items.

Sanit said the gang was more afraid of alarms than security cameras, so homeowners should consider installing such systems or find someone – a worker, neighbour or police – to monitor their houses.

He said police would hunt for the two fugitives and would also contact an international delivery-service firm so they could watch out for criminals because the gangsters reportedly sent some stolen items back home.

“We believe the victim’s body parts were gradually dumped along the Chao Phraya River and it’s likely that more than two people have played a role here,” said Metropolitan Police acting chief Lt-General Sanit Mahathavorn yesterday.

Police began investigating the grisly crime last month after several human body parts were found floating in various locations in the river. DNA tests confirmed the body parts belonged to Bernat, who was reported missing.

Earlier this month, as the police investigation intensified, Segarra Princep fled Thailand to Cambodia, where he was arrested.

“Our investigation is more than 80 per cent complete and we believe evidence already gathered is convincing enough to prove him guilty in court,” Pol General Panya Mamen said yesterday, in his capacity as the chief investigator.

Panya said available evidence clearly suggested that Segarra must have detained, tortured and killed David Bernat at a condominium in the Rama 9 area in Bangkok and then dismembered his body there.

“Money is the motive,” Panya said.

Girlfriend’s information ‘useful’

Body parts of Bernat were found floating in the Chao Phraya River at various locations since last month. Police investigations confirmed that those body parts belonged to Bernat – a Spaniard who was reported missing.

Central Scientific Crime Detection Division chief Pol Maj-General Tawatchai Mekprasertsuk said police also checked the Bernat’s condo on Sukhumvit Soi 8 and Segarra’s townhouse on Ramkhamhaeng Soi 174.

“We can’t disclose details. But we can say that we found the victim’s DNA in the townhouse,” Tawatchai said.

Deputy National Police chief Pol Maj-General Suwaj Jangyodsuk said police were unable to disclose key information on the case at this stage because doing so might affect the ongoing investigation.

Panya said Segarra’s girlfriend, Pridsana Saen-ubon, had been a key witness.

“She has provided very useful |information,” he said.

She said that Segarra quickly left a bar in her hometown of Surin after he was recognised by locals who saw his photo on a news bulletin.

Police quickly located Segarra’s motorcycle near the Thai-Cambodian border.

The following day, Cambodian authorities apprehended Segarra in Sihanoukville, then handed him over to Thai officials.

Panya said at this point, police still did not know exactly where Segarra dumped his victim’s body parts and dismemberment tools.

“So, we are checking recordings from more security cameras,” he said