Police Still Searching for Pol Col Pichit Kromprasit

CHIANGRAI TIMES – Royal Thai Police Office has denied that Lao police have arrested Pol Col Pichit Kromprasit who allegedly masterminded a two million baht robbery of a Kasikornbank funds delivery truck.

The document was a misunderstanding as the Lao officers have, in fact, detained Thais accused of robbing a house, deputy national police chief Pansiri Prapawat said yesterday.

The suspects, indentified as Ngiam Sutthichai, Anon Sutthichai and Sanan Khemathophichat, will be prosecuted in Laos, said Pol Gen Pansiri.

His clarification corrects an earlier interview given by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung who said Lao police arrested Pol Col Pichit and his colleagues at a casino in Laos.

Police earlier suspected that Pol Col Pichit had fled from Chiang Rai’s Chiang Saen district to Myanmar or Laos. Mr Chalerm said they was definite Lao officers had arrested him.

However, Mr Chalerm yesterday admitted no such arrest had taken place in Laos and the misunderstanding was caused by the “confused reporting of police”.

Pol Col Pichit, former superintendent of Sai Ngam police station, is among seven suspects, including former Nakhon Sawan policeman Pol Sgt Narai Theppreechathorn.

They allegedly colluded to steal funds from the funds delivery truck in Sing Buri’s In Buri district in March.