The Criminal Court on Wednesday approved a police request to further detain Spanish murder suspect Artur Segarra Princep.
The court routinely extended his detention from Feb 10 to allow police to complete preparation of the case against him.
Boworn Mongkhol police took him from the police station in Bang Phlad district to the court on Ratchadaphisek road for the hearing. Police opposed bail, deeming him a flight risk.
From the court, Mr Segarra was taken by Corrections Department officers to Bangkok Special Prison.
The 37-year-old Spaniard was charged with premeditated murder and concealing the body of David Bernat, also from Spain, who was dismembered and the body parts thrown into the Chao Phraya River.
The suspect fled Thailand to Cambodia through Surin after the murder. Cambodian authorities arrested him in Sihanoukville and handed him over to Thai police at the border in Khlong Yai district of Trat on Monday.
Investigators will not forward the case to state prosecutors until forensic police give them a more detailed report, including fingerprints and other items related to the murder, according to a police document presented to the court. Police also want to question about 20 more witnesses.
Forensic experts were due to present the remaining evidence to the investigation team on Thursday.
Panya Mamen, a senior adviser to the Royal Thai Police Office who leads the investigation, on Wednesday reiterated police expressions of confidence they had arrested the right man for the murder. The case was almost wrapped up, he said.
Pol Gen Panya alleged earlier that Mr Segarra had acted alone, and that the prime motive was money.
Mr Segarra has denied all charges and refused to answer all questions related to the case during interrogation.
The first body part was found on the Chao Phraya on Jan 30 in Bang Phlad district, which is under the jurisdiction of Boworn Mongkhol police station. Other body parts were subsequently found in Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani.
Boworn Mongkhol was assigned to handle the case.
