KOTA BARU: Thai authorities have released photofits of five suspects involved in last month’s gold shop heist in Sungai Golok town who are believed to have fled to Malaysia.
Fourth Army Region commander Lieutenant-General Naratip Phoyanok said the five were among seven suspects wanted by Thai police in connection with the robbery, during which more than RM4 million worth of jewellery was stolen.
He said two suspects, identified as Bakri Samae, 25, and Matnari Jeheng, 43, were arrested recently.
“The Sungai Golok police and army detained two suspects recently and are searching for the other five.
“The remaining five were identified as Asmin Sakaelse, 34; Toyeb Samaela, 32; Musopha Jeheng, 36; Si Manzo, 44; and Manzo Putit, 31,” he said.
Naratip said the Narathiwat Provincial Court had issued arrest warrants for all five suspects, who are also linked to a series of incidents of unrest in the southern provinces.
“Authorities believe the suspects are either still hiding in Narathiwat or have crossed the border into Malaysia.
“All security forces have been ordered to conduct joint operations to track them down,” he said.
He added that the two suspects in custody had admitted to taking part in previous attacks, including the car bombing at the Sungai Golok District Office on March 8 and the armed assault on the Ban Kia subdistrict protection unit in Sukhirin district on June 28.
On Oct 5, a group of armed robbers stormed the Big C shopping centre in Sungai Golok town, escaping with an estimated RM4.6 million worth of gold jewellery.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
