Phuket bombing suspect confesses

Phuket bombing suspect confesses

Police seal off an area near Patong beach in Phuket on Aug 12, 2016 after three bombs went off in three locations. (Photo by Achadtaya Chuennirun)
Police seal off an area near Patong beach in Phuket on Aug 12, 2016 after three bombs went off in three locations. (Photo by Achadtaya Chuennirun)

Deputy police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul flew from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat on Wednesday morning to question a man suspected of involvement in two explosions in Phuket on Aug 12 after he allegedly confessed to bombing charges.

The suspect, Muhamad Muhi, 21, was arrested on Oct 20 and had been detained at the Nakhon Si Thammarat correctional institution for young offenders. He was initially charged with having explosives in his possession, bombing, arson and illegal assembly.

He had previously been investigated by police, and recently confessed to the bombing charges. He allegedly admitted to having taken part in laying bombs at two spots in Phuket along with Yuso Maetimo, 32, a native of Pattani, who is still at large.

Mr Muhamad said he took the bombs from a team leader in Pattani, met Mr Yuso in Songkhla's Hat Yai. After that they proceeding by bus to Phuket to lay the bombs.

On Aug 12, a bomb exploded at a police booth at the end of Walking Street in Thawiwong Road in Patong. A motorcycle taxi driver suffered minor injuries. A second device exploded at Loma Beach on the same road but caused no injuries.

After learning of the confession, Pol Gen Srivara and other officers left for Nakhon Si Thammarat on Wednesday morning to investigate the man.

The deputy police chief is in charge of the investigation into a string of 13 bomb blasts and four arson attacks that took place in Trang, Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin, Phuket, Surat Thani, Phangnga, Krabi and Nakhon Si Thammarat on Aug 11 and12 that left four dead and 35 injured.  

After questioning Mr Muhamad inside the prison for about 30 minutes, Pol Gen Srivara confirmed the suspect had confessed, saying that he and three other suspects were involved in the bombings.

Mr Muhamad gave useful information that could be a clue to establishing the motive of the attacks.

After the bombing and arson attacks in the seven provinces, police investigators have obtained court warrants for the arrest of 11 suspects. Of them, only two -- Mr Muhamad and Abdulkodir Salae -- have been arrested.

Mr Abdulkodir Salae, who is a suspect in the Trang bombing, has denied any involvement. He has been detained at Thung Song Prison in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

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