YALA: Thai security forces are pursuing seven out of 10 male suspects believed to have fled to Malaysia following an armed robbery at a shopping complex in Sungai Golok, Narathiwat, on Oct 5.
Commander of the Thai 4th Army Region Lt Gen Naratip Poynok said authorities were cooperating with Malaysian security forces through the exchange of cross-border intelligence to facilitate coordinated action.
"The incident is believed to have been carried out by a group of desperate criminals after their illegal financial channels were blocked by the government.
"Thai security forces believe the recent robbery at the Big C shopping complex stemmed from the government’s move to tighten and cut off the group’s illicit financial flows," he told Malaysian media through a local interpreter during a special interview session at Fort Sirindhorn on Thursday (Oct 30).
Naratip said investigations revealed that the group had previously raised funds through drug trafficking, smuggling of untaxed goods and human trafficking activities.
He said the authorities’ efforts to curb the group’s financial resources had disrupted their operations, forcing them to seek new sources of funding to sustain their criminal activities, while attempting to sabotage the local economy and businesses in the affected areas.
Naratip, who is also the director of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4 (South), said the authorities would continue to track down and apprehend the perpetrators so they could be brought to justice through proper legal channels.
"Our team, together with the Royal Thai Police, has applied to the court for arrest warrants against seven suspects based on solid forensic evidence confirming their involvement in the robbery.
"All the suspects also have existing warrants under the Criminal Procedure Code for several internal security-related cases in the southern provinces and are currently on the run," he said.
He also said that three suspects were arrested on Oct 15 at three separate locations in Sungai Padi, Narathiwat.
Naratip stressed that Thai security forces would continue to intensify efforts to locate and arrest all those involved to ensure they are brought to justice as soon as possible.
On 5 Oct, 10 armed men robbed a gold shop at the Big C shopping complex, triggering gunfire and injuring a policeman at the Thai mall popular with Malaysian tourists. The incident, which occurred at about 6.30 pm, was followed by two explosions at Sungai Golok. - Bernama
