MCMC, cops hunting owner of mobile phone involved in Thai bombings

Thai members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and other officials inspect the scene where a bomb exploded at a Police box station in the Patong beach area, in Phuket province, southern Thailand - EPA.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will work closely with police to track down the owner of the mobile phone used to detonate bombs in the recent Thai bombings.

In a statement Sunday, the MCMC said it would work closely with police and other relevant agencies in tracking down the owner according to the serial of the phone.

Bernama reported that Thai security forces have asked for Malaysia’s help in their investigation into a series of bomb blasts in several districts in the southern part of the country, which killed four people and injured 35.

The report quoted a security source said Thailand had requested help to trace the owner of a handphone, said to be from Malaysia, used to detonate one of the bombs in Phuket.

The source said the blast did not destroy part of the handphone and the serial number of the Malaysian Communi­cations and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on the phone was still visible while Thai investigators have asked Malaysia’s cooperation to identify the origin of the handphone.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported on Saturday that police had already received fragments of the of the phone that contained the serial number of the MCMC on the phone.

The report quoted Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar saying that they received a fragment has the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC) serial number on it.

Khalid was quoted in the report saying that police were willing to give full cooperation to Thailand’s authorities to facilitate investigations into the incident,

Handphones were used to detonate the self-made bombs during the blasts that shattered the southern part of the country, including Phuket, Hua Hin and several popular tourist spots.

On Aug 10, security officials found two self-made bombs at Phuket’s Paradise Market and China Town Market after a tip-off, and successfully deactivated them.