Pakistani Gold Thieves Try Using “We Were Drunk” Defence after Arrest in Bangkok

 

SURAT THANI – Police have reported that two men from Pakistan charged with stealing a 102,000-baht gold bracelet from a gold shop are trying to use the defence that they were drunk and not thinking correctly when they committed the crime.

Muhammao Bashis, 41, and Allah Basksh, 29, made the claim during a crime re-enactment staged by police on Saturday at the Mae Malee 7 gold shop on Na Muang Road in Muang district.

The two were arrested on Khao San Road in Bangkok by Chana Songkhram police on Thursday, a day after the incident in Surat Thani.

Mr Muhammao, wearing a white T-shirt, and Mr Allah, wearing an orange single, entered the gold shop on Wednesday afternoon. They showed an interest in buying a gold ring worth 2,800 baht.

While discussing the price with a saleswoman, Mr Muhammao asked to see a 5-baht weight (75 gramme) gold bracelet worth 102,000 baht. His friend started talking with the saleswoman while Mr Muhammao took the bracelet and quickly concealed it under his wallet. He then took 2,800 baht from his wallet to pay for the ring to divert the attention of the saleswoman.

Security camera video showed the man in the white T-shirt covering the bracelet with his wallet.

After the crime re-enactment, the two men apologized to the shop’s staff. They claimed they had no intention of committing a crime but were under the influence of alcohol at the time. However, police were not convinced.

Pol Maj Gen Apichart Boonsriroj, chief of Surat Thani police, said checks found that the suspects had entered Thailand on June 9. They rented a car in Pattaya before heading to Phuket and other southern provinces.

Police say the two men are also suspected of having stolen a diamond-studded Rado watch worth 61,200 baht from the Srithong shop in Hat Yai, and that they may be linked to thefts in other provinces.

 

Meanwhile, in the resort town of Pattaya a Russian man was charged with stealing a motorcycle from a Hungarian retiree was also found to have been in the country illegally on an expired tourist visa, police say.

Vladimir Zhulabrev, 26, and his Thai wife also tested positive for illicit drugs following their arrest on Saturday.

The arrest followed a complaint from Gabor Tamas Pethoe, 71, a retired Hungarian physician, that thieves had stolen his motorcycle from the parking lot of a condominium on Soi Wat Bunyakanjanaram in Nong Prue of Bang Lamung district on June 10.

Closed-circuit television footage showed the pair taking the bike from the scene, said Pol Col Apichai Krobphet, chief of Pattaya city police.

Mr Zhulabrev, 26, and Parichart Ninnon, 25, were taken for urine tests which were positive for illicit drug use. Passport checks showed that the Russian had overstayed his visa for more than one year, said Pol Capt Apichai.

By Supapong Chaolan
Bangkok Post