PHETCHABURI – The driver for a Bangkok Bank manager has been arrested for allegedly burglarising the Cha-am Beach branch and making off with about 10 million baht in cash.
Wichukorn "Tam" Sudthanom, 36, was brought to a news conference on Tuesday attended by national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda and the heads of the Region 7 and Phetchaburi police.
Regional chief Pol Lt Gen Chanthep Sesavej said questioning of bank employees, examination of their background records and footage from security cameras pointed to Mr Wichukorn as the prime suspect.
At the news conference, Mr Wichukorn confessed he did the burglary alone out of malice toward the manager, but did not elaborate. He said he first thought about killing the woman, but changed his mind, believing if money was stolen from a bank safe, the manager would be sacked.
Mr Wichukorn said late May 9 he entered the bank through a side door from an adjacent building. He proceeded to a section where the bank's safe was located, disconnected the CCTV cable, and opened the safe with an oxyacetelene torch.
While he burned about 2 million baht with the torch, he took the remaining 10 million and slipped out undetected.
Mr Wichukorn said he then hid 6 million baht in two locations and spent the rest on 40 baht-weight in gold ornaments. Police retrieved money from one location and put it on display for the media.
After the news conference, officers took Mr Wichukorn to fetch the rest of the cash and gold.