On Thursday, August 17, a Laotian man was detained in connection with the suspected robbery of two gas station employees in Pattaya.
His fugitive accomplice is still at large.
The event happened on August 8th near the Bangchak petrol station on Sukhumvit Road, across from Pattaya City 7 School in Chonburi’s Banglamung area.
Two criminals rode a white Honda PCX motorcycle without a license plate to the station.
The two female pump attendants, Ms. Thanyaporn Sangboonnang, 25, and Ms. Narumon Samart, 25, were then threatened with a gun before they fled with their waist pouches.
The pouches included several things and 850 baht in cash. Thus, after their terrifying encounter, the two women reported it to Pattaya police.
Pattaya police conducted an investigation and were able to immediately identify the two culprits. The first man was a 30-year-old Laotian national only known as Mr. Khem, and the second was a 22-year-old Thai male only known as Mr. Ton.
As they conduct their investigation, the police have withheld the last names of both males.
Police followed Mr. Khem to his place of employment, an undisclosed Pattaya tour bus firm. Before making an arrest, officers let him leave his place of employment.
Mr. Khem testified during questioning that he and his mother had entered Thailand illegally since he was five years old through a natural path along the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province. He also confessed to the robbery charge.
In addition to being accused of robbery, Mr. Khem is also accused of entering the country without authorization.
The last suspect is still being sought by police. It’s unclear, though, if his firm will be penalized for using an undocumented immigrant.
