Bangkok: Bank, the alleged ringleader of a recent e-cigarette robbery involving goods seized from the Customs Department, has shifted his narrative, claiming it was his first offense and denying any insider assistance. He also refuted allegations of intending harm towards a security guard during the incident.
According to Thai News Agency, the Tha Ruea Police Station, aided by a special task force comprising over 20 officers, conducted a reenactment of the crime involving five suspects at a container located in the Stadium Warehouse on Tha Ruea Road 1, Khlong Toei District. The suspects were later presented at the Bangkok South Criminal Court for an initial detention hearing. Bank, the ringleader, was taken separately to reenact his confession due to concerns about potential attacks by the relatives of the deceased security guard. Following the reenactment, Bank was returned to Tha Ruea Police Station for additional questioning.
During an interaction with the press, Bank insisted that the theft of e-cigarettes was a one-time occurrence and refrained from disclosing any information about potential buyers. He maintained that no insiders had identified the target, noting that the storage area was widely known as a site for goods destined for destruction. Bank expressed regret towards the family of the deceased security guard, explaining that his actions were unintentional, as he reversed the car accidentally after being startled by the guards’ actions. He extended his apologies to the grieving family.
Contradicting his latest statements, Bank had previously informed the chief of investigation at the Metropolitan Police Bureau that he had committed the crime on two separate occasions. He admitted to stealing e-cigarettes worth 270,000 baht in the first instance and selling them online. He also mentioned that an individual with area expertise had assisted in identifying targets during both incidents.